Disambiguation: Not to be confused with the Australasian Figbird, where some subspecies often are referred to as the Green Figbird (see also taxonomy).
Alternative name: Timor Figbird.
- Sphecotheres viridis
Identification
28cm.
- Black head
- Red around the eyes
- Green on wings
- Back and yellow throat and belly
Similar Species
Essentially unmistakable, but the streaked females and juveniles can be confused with the Olive-backed Oriole, Olive-brown Oriole and juvenile Short-tailed Starling.
Distribution
Eastern Lesser Sundas on Timor and the nearby islands of Rote and Semau. See also taxonomy.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
In the distant past, all Figbirds were considered one species. After the split of Wetar Figbird, there was a lot of confusion over which subspecies belonged with Green Figbird and Australasian Figbird, but the main authorities seems to agree now. Therefore, currently there are no birds in Australia that should be named Green Figbird.
Habitat
Forest, woodland and mangrove.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes figs, other soft fruits and berries, insects.
Breeding
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
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Andrew (1992). The Birds of Indonesia A Check-list. Kukila Check-list No. 1. Indonesian Orn. Soc. Jakarta.
- Dickinson, EC, ed. 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd ed., with updates to December 2007 (Corrigenda 7). Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691117010
- 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.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Green Figbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Green_Figbird
