figbird
sphecotheres latin

The Australasian Figbird has five subspecies, in taxonomic order:

Seeds eaten by rainforest birds including the Figbird and Regent Bowerbird.

The Wetar Figbird (Sphecotheres hypoleucus) is a species of bird in the Oriolidae family.

Timor Figbird, Sphecotheres viridis.

As well as other seldom seen species such as the Noisy Pitta, Green Catbird, and Figbird.

The fruit is eaten by various birds, including the Brown Cuckoo Dove, Figbird, Green Catbird and Rainbow Lorikeet.

Birds recorded in the reserve during the survey that help fill the distributional gaps include the Pacific Baza, Little Bronze-cuckoo, Figbird and White-breasted Whistler.

It has sometimes included the two other figbirds as subspecies, in which case the combined species simply was known as "Figbird", but today all major authorities consider them as separate species.

The parasitic koels and Channel-billed Cuckoo in particular consume mainly fruit when raised by frugivore hosts such as the Australasian Figbird and Pied Currawong.

The Yellow Oriole, Figbird, Pacific Koel, Spangled Drongo, Dollarbird and the Rainbow Bee-eater inhabit the sheltered areas close to waterfalls.

Fruit matures between February and August, eaten by a variety of birds; including Brown Cuckoo-dove, Australasian Figbird, Lewin's Honeyeater and Olive-backed Oriole.

The figs eaten by a large variety of birds including Australasian Figbird, Green Catbird, Lewin's Honeyeater, Topknot Pigeon and Pied Currawong.

Fruit are eaten by many rainforest birds, including the Lewin's Honeyeater, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove and Australasian Figbird.

Prominent examples of such birds include the Brown Cuckoo Dove, Crimson rosella, Australasian Figbird, Green Catbird, Regent bowerbird, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Topknot Pigeon and Wompoo Fruit-Dove.

It was formerly considered a subspecies of S. viridis, then simply referred to as the Figbird (a name still commonly used in Australia, where the Australasian Figbird is the only figbird).

Compared to the "typical" orioles of the genus Oriolus, the figbirds are more frugivorous (though they also take some small insects, nectar and seeds) and gregarious, even breeding in small, loose colonies (at least the Australasian Figbird; nesting habits still unknown for the remaining).

The mid sized edible berry matures around December to February and are eaten by many rainforest birds including Brown Cuckoo Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Currawong, Regent Bowerbird and Australasian Figbird.

Traditionally, all figbirds have been considered part of a single species, S. viridis, but all recent major authorities recognize three species, the Australasian Figbird (S. viieilloti), the Timor Figbird (S. viridis) and the Wetar Figbird.

Additionally, the Australasian Figbird has sometimes been split into two separate species, the northern Yellow Figbird (S. flaviventris) and the Green or Southern Figbird (S. vieilloti), but the two intergrade widely where they come into contact, supporting the view that they are part of a single biological species.

Species in the genus Sphecotheres listed in taxonomic order:

The Wetar Figbird (Sphecotheres hypoleucus) is a species of bird in the Oriolidae family.

Timor Figbird, Sphecotheres viridis.

The family Oriolidae comprises the figbirds in the genus Sphecotheres, and the Old World orioles in the genus Oriolus.

It also yielded the rare Sphecotheres maxillaris or southern sphecotheres, and a fine specimen of the southern fig bird (Sphecotheres vieillori) among others; and provided Mrs Gould with plenty of ideas for botanical backgrounds.