Orioles (Oriolidae)

Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti) - HBW 13, p. 715

French: Sphécothère de Vieillot German: Vieillotfeigenpirol Spanish: Oropéndola de Vieillot
Other common names: Figbird, Banana-bird, Mulberry-bird, Red-eye; Green/Grey-breasted/Southern Figbird (vieilloti); Yellow/Northern Figbird (ashbyi, flaviventris)

Taxonomy: Sphecotheres Vieilloti Vigors and Horsfield, 1827, near Rockhampton, east Queensland, Australia.
Original description of genus included two different spellings, "Sphecotheres" and "Sphecotera"; former selected by first reviser as the valid name for this genus. Has sometimes been considered conspecific with S. viridis and S. hypoleucus; moreover, race flaviventris has been treated as a separate species, but hybridizes widely with nominate in E Queensland; further research, including molecular-genetic analyses, is required. Five subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

cucullatus ( Rosenberg, 1866) - Kai Is (off SW New Guinea).
salvadorii Sharpe, 1877 - SE New Guinea.
ashbyi Mathews, 1912 - N Australia (N Western Australia and N Northern Territory).

See all 5 subspecies

cucullatus ( Rosenberg, 1866) - Kai Is (off SW New Guinea).
salvadorii Sharpe, 1877 - SE New Guinea.
ashbyi Mathews, 1912 - N Australia (N Western Australia and N Northern Territory).
flaviventris Gould, 1850 - islands in Torres Strait and NE Australia (Cape York and NE Queensland).
vieilloti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 - E Australia.