Green Figbird
Sphecotheres viridis
Male figbird is a distinctive oriole with a moss-green body and a black head with bright red facial skin. Female is brown, with a heavily streaked lighter underside and dull blue-gray or pinkish facial skin. Juvenile resembles a less boldly marked female. Gregarious; typically found in pairs or small groups within forest, edge, woodland, and mangroves in the lowlands. Occurs in a restricted range in the eastern Lesser Sundas, where it is the only figbird. Song comprises imitations, chattering, and twittering. Also gives harsh “wit,” “burr,” and trill notes: “klerr-wit-wit-wit-wit.”
Identification
It resembles the more widespread Australian figbird, but is smaller, and except for the paler crissum (around the cloaca), the male is entirely yellow-olive below (including the throat).
Taxonomy
Formerly, some authorities have classified the green figbird in the genus Oriolus. 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.
- Scientific name
- Sphecotheres viridis
- Authority
- Vieillot, 1816
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Genus
- Sphecotheres
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown-backed Flowerpecker
Pachyglossa everetti
Generally uncommon, dull flowerpecker. Drab brown overall with paler underparts, olive-tinged wings, and pale eyes. Found in lowland and foothill forests; favors wetter habitats. Forages actively. Gives hard metallic “tchip” calls.
Olive-streaked Flycatcher
Mionectes olivaceus
Small, fruit-eating flycatcher found in lower to middle levels of humid forest. Most common in the mountains, but occasionally seen in lowland areas. Yellow belly, large spot behind eye, and streaky neck are all good ID features. Often seen following mixed species flocks, plucking berries from fruiting trees. Song is an incredibly high-pitched siren-like whistle that requires good hearing to be able to detect. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Olive-striped Flycatcher; note Olive-streaked Flycatcher’s limited range in Costa Rica and far western Panama.
Henst's Goshawk
Astur henstii
A big, powerful goshawk. Adults are gray on the back with fine gray barring below; females much larger. Immatures have a brown back and thick streaks below. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is a scarce resident of all types of primary forest. Rarely sits in the open, and only occasionally soars. Territorial call is a loud repeated “khew” which is often given in flight. Males can be very hard to separate from similarly-sized female Madagascar Sparrowhawk. On Henst’s, look for fine bars on the undertail, a completely barred throat, and a central toe of normal length. Immatures may only be separable based on toe length. Also very similar to the rare Madagascar Serpent-Eagle. Subtle differences include slightly smaller size, evenly-spaced barring on the chest, thicker black bands on the tail, and an unbarred back.
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