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).
- 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.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
male preening in tree top Locality Palmerston, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia (ssp ashbyi)
Martin Kennewell 26 July 2009 3 years ago 31 sec 4 -
A male preening Locality Northern Territory, Australia (ssp ashbyi)
Rigdon Currie 31 October 2004 5 years ago 10 sec 4 -
A male singing in a tree Locality Tyto Wetland, Ingham, Queensland, Australia (ssp flaviventris)
Peter Nash 24 October 2006 6 years ago 46 sec 3.9 -
A male perching in a tree in the rain and calling. Locality Letitia Sandspit, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia (ssp vieilloti)
Nick Talbot 17 September 2010 2 years ago 14 sec 3.7 -
A male perching in a tree in the rain and calling. Locality Letitia Sandspit, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia (ssp vieilloti)
Nick Talbot 17 September 2010 2 years ago 19 sec 3.7 -
A male preening in a tree. Locality Banora Green, Banora Point, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia (ssp vieilloti)
Nick Talbot 26 December 2005 3 years ago 24 sec 3.5
-
female on branch over the cliffs near Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse
Locality Seal Rocks, New South Wales, Australia
Dirk Tomsa 31 October 2010 1 year ago 3.7 -
female on a tree
Locality Townsville, Queensland, Australia (ssp flaviventris)
Georges Olioso 21 September 2007 4 years ago 3.7 -
a male on a tree
Locality Cairns, Queensland, Australia
marianhw 3 February 2013 14 weeks ago 3.6 -
A female on the branch of a Coral Tree
Locality Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (ssp vieilloti)
Bruce Ramsay 30 June 2008 2 years ago 3.6 -
A Female of the Southern Subspecies
Locality Featherdale Wildlife Park, New South Wales, Australia (ssp vieilloti)
nrg800 13 June 2010 2 years ago 3.6 -
Ventral view of male bird calling
Locality Kingfisher Park, Julatten, Queensland, Australia (ssp flaviventris)
Mikko Pyhälä 21 August 2010 2 years ago 3.6
-
Several birds calling from a tree. Locality Banora Green, Banora Point, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
(ssp vieilloti)
Nick Talbot 18 August 2012 37 weeks ago 4 -
Calls made by adult birds foraging in a tree Locality Cairns, Queensland, Australia
(ssp flaviventris)
Joe Angseesing 2 March 2009 3 years ago 3.5 -
Two birds calling from trees. Locality Banora Green, Banora Point, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
(ssp vieilloti)
Nick Talbot 18 August 2012 37 weeks ago 3 -
A juvenile begging from its mother Locality Cairns, Queensland, Australia
(ssp flaviventris)
Joe Angseesing 2 March 2009 3 years ago 2.5
Email this page