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Australasian FigbirdAlternate name(s): "Figbird", "Mulberry-bird", "Banana-bird*" Size: 28-29 cm Weight: 100-150 g |
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Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Race "vieilloti"
This race is also called the "Green Figbird".
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Near-frontal view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2021]
Near-frontal view of a male Australasian Figbird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]
Near-lateral view of a male Australasian Figbird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2020]
Lateral view of a male Australasian Figbird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a male Australasian Figbird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]
Close-up lateral/ventral portrait of a male Australasian Figbird's
bright-red wattled skin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]
Lateral/ventral view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, October 2021]
Near-dorsal view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, September 2017]
Dorsal view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, July 2017]
Dorsal view of a male Australasian Figbird conveniently displaying
its upperwing pattern for study (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2015]
Ventral view of a male Australasian Figbird issuing its
call
[Near Old Bar, NSW, September 2011]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Australasian Figbird with its
plumage
ruffled by wind from behind
[Deepwater NP,
QLD, July 2009]
Near-frontal view of a female Australasian Figbird issuing its
call
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Townsville, QLD, November 2021]
Lateral view of a female Australasian Figbird issuing its
call
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Townsville, QLD, November 2021]
Lateral view of a female Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, November 2019]
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PAIR |
Male (right) and female (left) Australasian Figbirds high up on a dead branch
[Deepwater NP,
QLD, July 2009]
Pair of Australasian Figbirds, male on the right
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Ashmore, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2021]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of an immature male Australasian Figbird -
note the incipient reddening of the wattled skin around
the eye
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2020]
Frontal view of a juvenile Australasian Figbird (photo courtesy
of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, February 2017]
Two juvenile Australasian Figbirds, probably still very young
[Deepwater NP,
QLD, July 2009]
Frontal/ventral view of a fledgling Australasian Figbird,
just hours out of its nest; this chick still had problems
balancing properly on its perch
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
More lateral view of the same fledgling Australasian Figbird as shown above
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Fledgling Figbird begging for food
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, February 2008]
Here is one of the Figbird parents with a berry...
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, February 2008]
... and in she goes! Figbird feeding the chick
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, February 2008]
Race "flaviventris"
The two tropical races "flaviventris" and "ashbyi" are also called the "Yellow Figbird".
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Loyalty Beach, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]
Close-up lateral view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]
Ventral view of two males and a female Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Loyalty Beach, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]
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FEMALE |
Lateral view of a female Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Close-up frontal view of a sub-adult male Australasian Figbird;
note that the wattles have already turned red, but the bird
still has most of its juvenile
plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]
Close-up lateral view of a sub-adult male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]
Frontal view of a juvenile Australasian Figbird preening (photo
courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Cairns, QLD, March 2015]
Transition between races "vieilloti" and "flaviventris"
The birds shown in the following where observed near Townsville, QLD, in the transition region between the two races, where males have partly green and partly yellow breasts.
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Lateral view of a male Australasian Figbird; photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
[Near Townsville, QLD, September 2011]
More dorsal view of a male Australasian Figbird, with a female above him;
photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
[Near Townsville, QLD, September 2011]
Frontal view of a female Australasian Figbird; photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
[Near Townsville, QLD, September 2011]
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FEMALE |
This frontal view shows a female Australasian Figbird hunched while relaxing;
photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy
[Near Townsville, QLD, September 2011]
In this photo one can clearly see the half-green, half-yellow
front of the male Australasian Figbird
[Near Townsville, QLD, September 2011]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-frontal view of a juvenile Australasian Figbird (photo courtesy
of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, January 2011]
Race "ashbyi"
The two tropical races "ashbyi" and "flaviventris" are also called the "Yellow Figbird".
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Near-lateral view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, July 2018]
Lateral view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, May 2018]
Dorsal view of a male Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, May 2018]
Ventral view of a male Australasian Figbird
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]
Near-frontal view of a pair of Australasian Figbirds; male
on the left, female on the right (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, September 2017]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, March 2018]
Frontal view of a female Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, July 2018]
Lateral view of a female Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, March 2018]
Lateral view of a female Australasian Figbird wiping its bill
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, March 2018]
Group of Australasian Figbirds feeding high up in a tree
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Dorsal view of an immature Australasian Figbird - the shape
of the bill and the warty skin around the eye show that this
is a figbird; the head has not moulted into adult
plumage and
the warty skin has not turned red yet, but the olive-green
back already indicates that this is a young male
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, March 2018]
Dorsal view of an immature Australasian Figbird
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, March 2018]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: July - Mar | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: ca. 18(?) days | Fledging age: ca. 17(?) days |
The breeding season of Australasian Figbirds depends on geographic latitude. Most breed in the time frame Oct-Jan, but the breeding season can extend much longer, as listed in the table above.
| Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Twigs, vine tendrils | Height above ground: >10(?) m |
Australasian Figbird nests are more flimsy than those of the orioles found in Australia. While usually high up in tree crowns on land, they can be placed much lower when overhanging water, e.g. in mangrove.
Male Australasian Figbird feeding its recently hatched brood
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mossman, QLD, November 2019]
Female Australasian Figbird on its nest
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]
Female Australasian Figbird sitting on its nest (photo courtesy of
P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, October 2017]
Clearer view of the female Australasian Figbird sitting near the
nest shown above (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, October 2017]
Overview of the location of an Australasian Figbird nest
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, November 2020]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 34 x 24 mm | Colour: Bluish, with light- to mid-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
Australasian Figbird nest with a full complement of 3 eggs inside
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, November 2020]
Australasian Figbird nest with 2 eggs inside
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, November 2020]
Closer view of two Australasian Figbird eggs
(photo courtesy of K. Ohlsen)
[Acacia Hills, NT, November 2020]
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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, Diet |
As their name already suggests, Australasian Figbirds feed on native figs, but also other fruit. They will also take nectar and insects.
Male Australasian Figbird "earning its name" by feeding on native
figs
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Yamba, NSW, January 2021]
Female Australasian Figbird "earning its name" by feeding on native
figs
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Yamba, NSW, January 2021]
Male Australasian Figbird feasting on fruit
[Deepwater NP,
QLD, July 2009]
Male Australasian Figbird feasting on fruit
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Pacific Pines, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2009]
Male Australasian Figbird peeling(?) a fruit
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]
Male Australasian Figbird peeling(?) a fruit
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]
Male Australasian Figbird with a fruit
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2018]
Male Australasian Figbird checking out a mulberry tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]
Female Australasian Figbird taking a mulberry
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]
Gulp...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]
... gone!
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2016]
Female Australasian Figbird taking fruit (photo courtesy
of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, March 2017]
Australasian 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
[Near Townsville, QLD, September 2011]
This photo of an immature Australasian Figbird may suggest
that they do not only take nectar and fruit, but also eat
petals of flowers (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, February 2017]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement 
are welcome.
| figbird_20190101.m4a |
vieilloti (NW NSW) |
Contact calls | © MD | |
| figbird_20161116_5.m4a |
vieilloti (NW NSW) |
Contact call | © MD | |
| figbird_20161116.m4a |
vieilloti (NW NSW) |
Competing for food | © MD | |
| figbird_20161116_4.m4a |
vieilloti (NW NSW) |
Competing for food | © MD | |
| figbird_me_20200428.m4a |
vieilloti (SE QLD) |
Various (male) | © ME | |
| figbird_20140525.mp3 |
vieilloti (NW NSW) |
? | © MD | |
| figbird_20140818_2.m4a |
ashbyi (Pine Creek, NT) |
Contact call(?) | © MD | |
| figbird_20140818_4.m4a |
ashbyi (Pine Creek, NT) |
Contact calls? (Q&A) | © MD | |
| figbird_20140818_3.m4a |
ashbyi (Pine Creek, NT) |
Extended contact call(?) | © MD | |
| figbird_20140817.m4a |
ashbyi (Darwin, NT) |
Extended contact call(?) | © MD | |
| figbird_pb_20200613.m4a |
ashbyi (Darwin, NT) |
Various (male) | © PB | |
| figbird_pb_20180804_2.m4a |
ashbyi (Darwin, NT) |
Various (male) | © PB | |
| figbird_pb_20180804.m4a |
ashbyi (Darwin, NT) |
Various (male); long sequence | © PB | |
| figbird_20140817_3.m4a |
ashbyi (Top End, NT) |
Q&A? (with Yellow Oriole) | © MD | |
| figbird_pb_20200415.m4a |
ashbyi (Darwin, NT) |
Going to roost | © PB | |
| figbird_pb_20200415_2.m4a |
ashbyi (Darwin, NT) |
Going to roost | © PB | |
| figbird_20140817_2.m4a |
ashbyi (Darwin, NT) |
? | © MD | |
| figbird_20140818_5.m4a |
ashbyi (Pine Creek, NT) |
? | © MD | |
| figbird_20140818_7.m4a |
ashbyi (Pine Creek, NT) |
? | © MD | |
| figbird_20140818.m4a |
ashbyi (Pine Creek, NT) |
? | © MD |
More Australasian Figbird sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.