Rusty Pitohui
Pseudorectes ferrugineus
A fairly large bird of lowland and foothill primary and secondary forest. Rusty brown color, paler below and darker above with a white eye. Races differ. Northwestern birds more rusty with a yellow bill and others less rusty with a black bill. Similar to several other rusty-colored birds, like Piping Bellbird, Papuan Babbler or some female cicadabirds, but note the white eye. Voice, varied and forceful, whistled song often including “woo-pat!” notes.
Identification
The rusty pitohui is a medium-sized, approximately 28 cm long, rusty brown songbird with a strong black bill, pale iris and yellowish-buff below. The subspecies P. f. leucorhynchus and P. f. fuscus of Waigeo and Batanta islands off Western New Guinea have a whitish bill. It is the largest member of its family. Both sexes are similar.
Taxonomy
The rusty pitohui was originally classified within the genus Rectes (a synonym for the genus Pitohui) until moved to Pseudorectes by the IOC in 2013. Alternatively, some other authorities classify the rusty pitohui in the genus Colluricincla. Alternate names for the rusty pitohui include the ferrugineous pitohui and rusty shrike-thrush.<p>Six subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Pseudorectes ferrugineus
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Genus
- Pseudorectes
Range and habitat
The rusty pitohui is distributed and endemic to lowland and hill forests of New Guinea, Aru Island and West Papuan islands.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The rusty pitohui is usually seen in small parties, mixed with other gregarious species. It builds a deep, cup-shaped nest of sticks, leaves and stems in a fork of a tree.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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