Green Catbird
Ailuroedus crassirostris
Chunky rainforest bird with emerald green upperparts, dark eye, and green-olive underparts with pale streaking. Inhabits the east coast of Australia from southeastern Queensland to the south coast of New South Wales, thus does not overlap with Spotted Catbird. Forages mostly in middle and upper story of the rainforest. Compare female and juvenile Satin Bowerbird (with blue eye, darker bill). Call a very loud yowl, which sounds just like a cat.
Identification
Green catbirds are a medium-sized stocky bird with long, powerful legs and a long, stout bill. The back, wings and rump are brilliant emerald green, with very conspicuous pure white spots at the tips of the tertiaries and secondaries, which, on the tips of coverts, form two white wing-bars. The tail is brownish emerald with white tips. The head is greenish brown mottled black and finely flecked pale buff. The chest is greenish buff to dull emerald with distinctive short white streaks.<p>The bill is horn coloured and the legs are greyish brown.<p>The iris is bright red in direct sun with a partial white eye-ring.<p>Male and female birds share similar plumage, making it very difficult to distinguish between the sexes. Juvenile birds also have similar plumage, although it is duller. Very young birds have fluffy grey down on their heads (Donaghey. R. 1996).
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ailuroedus crassirostris
- Authority
- (Paykull, 1815)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ptilonorhynchidae
- Genus
- Ailuroedus
Range and habitat
According to The Field Guide to Australian Birds (Michael Morcombe, 2003) (2nd edition), green catbirds are found along the length of the east coast of NSW (in areas of suitable habitat) through to the Cooloola Coast in South East Queensland.<p>The birds are found in subtropical and temperate rainforest and paperbarks, and occasionally in adjacent eucalypt forest.<p>The average home range of the birds is five acres, although this is greatly reduced during breeding season. Breeding territories usually contain several fig trees which regularly produce large amounts of ripe fruit for several months which coincides with the catbird breeding season. Green catbirds drink and bath in pools of water that are found in the crevices of surrounding trees or water courses.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
Although the green catbird is listed as Least Concern on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, it is listed as Vulnerable in NSW, which is the majority of its range.<p>Although it is widespread and common in its favoured habitat, ongoing clearing of rainforest and paperbark swamps for development is likely to continue to threaten the green catbird in the future.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-headed Barbet
Lybius leucocephalus
Chunky, medium-sized black-and-white barbet. There is a wide range of geographical variation in the distribution and extent of black and white in the plumage. The tail can be black or white, the wings can be all black or heavily white-spotted, and the underparts can be all white or all black with thin white streaks. Found locally, usually in the vicinity of fig trees, in a variety of habitats including open savanna, gardens, lush woodland, and gallery forest. The calls are a repeated “wheet” and rapid chatters which are usually given together by a group.
Godlewski's Bunting
Emberiza godlewskii
This large bunting is a common sight in dry open areas such as fields and rocky slopes. The male is brown with a gray-and-brown head pattern that is unique within this species’ range. The female has a pale head with a ghost of the male’s pattern. Often found perched boldly on boulders, exposed branches, and telephone wires, from which the male sings a long jumbled song started off by a short, sharp introductory note.
Mauritius Kestrel
Falco punctatus
Typical kestrel with a rufous back, white underparts, a barred tail, and a dark “moustache” mark on the face. Endangered and endemic to the island of Mauritius. Originally found in areas of rainforest with cliffs and other rocky areas; now found locally in secondary habitat as well as in remnant natural habitat. Spends much of its time on the wing. Call is a high, repeated “keek.” Shares general falcon shape with migrant Eleanora’s and Sooty Falcons, but smaller, with shorter, less pointed wings.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.