Australasian Figbird

The Australasian Figbird is a stocky, medium-sized songbird related to the orioles, most easily recognized by a patch of bare, brightly colored skin (typically red or pink) surrounding the eye, which stands out against the surrounding plumage. Males have an olive-green back and wings with a grey head (a dark, near-black cap in some southern populations), while females and immatures are much duller, heavily streaked in brown and buff, providing a strong contrast between the sexes.

One of the most conspicuous fruit-eating birds of eastern and northern Australia's rainforest edges and urban fig trees, it is often encountered in noisy, active flocks descending on a fruiting tree, calling constantly and squabbling over the best fruit.

Key field marks

• Bare red or pink skin patch around the eye
• Male: grey or blackish head, olive-green back and wings, pale to grey underparts
• Female: heavily streaked brown and buff overall, much duller than the male
• Stocky build with a fairly heavy, slightly downcurved bill

Similar species

• Olive-backed Oriole lacks the bare facial skin patch and has a plain red eye instead, with streaked underparts in both sexes.
• No other Australian songbird combines a bare colored eye-patch with an otherwise plain olive-green or streaked body.

Habitat

Found in rainforest edges, open woodland, mangroves, parks, and gardens, especially where fig trees are present.

Range

Widespread across northern and eastern Australia, from the Kimberley region of Western Australia across the Top End and Cape York, south along the coast through Queensland to central New South Wales.

Migration

Mostly sedentary, though flocks may move locally in search of fruiting trees.

Behavior

Highly social, typically foraging and moving in noisy flocks, especially at fruiting fig trees where dozens of birds may gather; often shares food trees with other frugivorous species.

Voice

A loud, varied series of chattering, whistled, and squeaky notes, frequently given by multiple birds at once in a flock.

Feeding

Feeds heavily on fruit, particularly figs, supplemented with insects gleaned from foliage.

Nesting

Builds a shallow, cup-shaped nest of twigs and vine tendrils, slung in a high tree fork; lays 2-4 pale eggs with darker markings.