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FigbirdAlternative names: "Mulberry-bird", "Banana-bird*" Size: 28-29 cm |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Figbirds are found along the eastern and northern parts of the Australian continent. Race "flaviventris" is found in the Kimberleys, the top end of the NT and Cape York, race "vieilloti" is found along the eastern seaboard, up to about 500 km inland. Figbirds are most common along the coastal fringe.
Figbirds can be found along the edges of coastal and near-coastal rainforest.
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Sightings |
Figbirds are usually found on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range. Living west of the range, we did not spot any for a number of years.
Our first sighting of a Figbird, race "vieilloti", came in January 2008, 30 km east of Narrabri, in the western foothills of the Nandewar Range.
Race "vieilloti" was spotted by us in many coastal National Parks during a trip to central Queensland in July 2009. Also seen along the NSW coastline in January 2011. Spoted again in the area of Old Bar, NSW, and Gloucester, NSW, in September 2011.
L. Tonnochy reports spotting an immature bird of race "vieilloti" 20 km north of Townsville, QLD, in January 2011. More Figbirds were spotted at the same location in early September 2011.
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Photos |
Race "vieilloti"
Near-frontal view of a male Figbird
Lateral view of a male Figbird issuing its call
Dorsal view of a male Figbird spotted on the western side of the Nandewar Range, 30 km east of Narrabri, NSW
Frontal view of a female Figbird with its plumage ruffled by
wind from behind
Male (right) and female (left) Figbirds high up on a dead branch
Two immature birds, probably still very young
Transition to race "flaviventris"
The birds shown in the following where observed near Townsville, QLD, in the transition region between the two races, where males are partly green and partly yellow breasts.
Lateral view of a male Figbird; photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
More dorsal view of a male Figbird, with a female above him;
photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
Frontal view of a female Figbird;
photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
This frontal view shows a female bird hunched while relaxing;
photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
In this photo one can clearly see the half-green, half-yellow
front of the male bird
Near-frontal view of an immature bird; photo courtesy of L.
Tonnochy
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Small flock |
Note that immature birds are nomadic.
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Food |
As their name already suggests, Figbirds feed on native figs, but also other fruit. They will also take nectar and insects.
Male Figbird "vielloti" feasting on local fruit at Deepwater National Park,
central Queensland
Figbirds "vieilloti"/"flaviventris" in their "land of milk and honey".
.. - these look like a male (centre), female (top) and immature (bottom);
photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
