Alternative name: Green Figbird. Not to be confused with the Australasian Figbird, where some subspecies often are referred to as the Green Figbird (see also taxonomy).
- Sphecotheres viridis
Identification
28cm. Essentially unmistakable, but the streaky females and juveniles can be confused with the Olive-backed Oriole, Olive-brown Oriole and juv. Short-tailed Starling. Black head with red around the eyes, green on the wings and back and yellow throat and belly.
Distribution
Eastern Lesser Sundas on Timor and the nearby islands of Roti and Semau. See also taxomomy.
Taxonomy
There are conflicting taxonomic treatments for the figbirds. Previously, Sphecotheres vieilloti and S. viridis were treated as a single widespread species, the Figbird (Sphecotheres viridis). Some Australian field guides continue to consider the two a single species, but following Schodde & Mason (1999), which essentially follow Andrew (1992), most current Australian authorities accept the split.
Among the sources that treat these as separate species, there is not an agreement on which subspecies belong to which species; specifically in regards of flaviventris. The problem relates to the background used for the split. The first possibility, as recommended by most authorities, incl. the earlier mentioned sources and Howard & Moore, mainly rely on size, zoo-geography and hybridization. Following this taxonomy, S. vieilloti includes nominate (S. v. vieilloti; eastern Australia and southern New Guinea), ashbyi (northern Australia) and flaviventris (northern Australia), while S. viridis, based on its small size, its green throat and chest, and its isolated distribution, is considered a monotypic species restricted to the eastern Lesser Sundas. On the contrary, Clements base the split on morphology, specifically the colour of the throat and chest in the male. Male flaviventris has a yellow throat and chest rather similar to the green throat and chest of male viridis, but unlike the grey throat and chest of males vieilloti and ashbyi. Hence, following this treatment, flaviventris is considered a subspecies of S. viridis (i.e. S. viridis flaviventris) rather than a subspecies of S. vieilloti (i.e. S. vieilloti flaviventris). This, however, is questionable, as flaviventris interbreeds widely with vieilloti where their ranges meet in Australia (photo of presumed hybrid male), suggesting that flaviventris is best considered a subspecies of S. vieilloti.
Habitat
Forest, woodland and mangrove.
Behaviour
The diet includes figs, other soft fruits and berries, insects.
It builds a cup-shaped nest from vine tendrils and twigs, attached by rim to a horizontal fork of an outer branch of tall tree. 2-3 eggs are laid.
References
- Andrew (1992). The Birds of Indonesia A Check-list. Kukila Check-list No. 1. Indonesian Orn. Soc. Jakarta.
- Clements (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World. Ed. 6. Christopher Helm. ISBN 9780713686951
- Dickinson (2003). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Ed. 3. Christopher Helm. ISBN 0713665362
- Schodde & Mason (1999). Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 0643064567
- White & Bruce (1986). The Birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas & Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia). BOU Check-list Ser. 7: 1-524. London.
