Fun Green Figbird Facts For Kids
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The green figbird, one of the most beautiful birds of the world, is a resident of Indonesia and Timor, while its close relatives reside in Australia. The birds go by the common name of Timor figbirds as well and the distribution includes the islands of Timor and Rote.
The males and the females have separate identifications.
The males have a yellow-olive chest and red patch around the eyes, while the females have a brown and yellowish touch all around the plumage and chest. The green figbird feathers cover the entire body, while the legs have fresh colors.
According to research, the breeding period lasts between September to February and the nests are made of twigs and are attached to the trees by a horizontal fork.
The green figbird nesting is seen to be present among the mangroves and the scrub where the average elevation is generally up to 6299 in (160 m). The diet includes figs, fruits, and berries.
If you love birds, you might want to know about ovenbird and umbrellabird.
Green Figbird Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a green figbird?
The green figbird (Sphecotheres viridis) is one of the most colorful birds in the world. The figbirds are non-migratory and songbird by nature and is a member of the Oriolidae family.
What class of animal does a green figbird belong to?
The figbird, belonging to the genus Sphecotheres, belongs to the Aves class of animals. These species originate from Indonesia although its subspecies, the Australasian figbird, is present vastly across northern and eastern Australia.
How many green figbirds are there in the world?
The figbird (Sphecotheres viridis) is listed under the Least Concern category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Although the species and its subspecies are widespread across the Indonesian borders and across northern and eastern Australia, the exact number of the individuals is not known as of now and they are not very rare in their native land.
Where does a green figbird live?
Being a member of the monotypic species, the green figbird's distribution is mainly restricted in and around the Indonesian deciduous forest range. Apart from the mangrove forest habitat, the yellow-olive bird is spotted in gardens of the eastern Lesser Sundas on Timor. The nearby islands of Rote and Semrau are also home to the Timor figbird.
What is a green figbird's habitat?
The green figbird habitat is spotted mostly around the monsoon deciduous forest of primary and secondary nature. The green figbird migrates very rarely, only in search of fodder, and lives in a small group of flocks within the range of the gallery forest and the forest edges.
The forests in the islands are mostly woodland areas comprising of wooded cultivations.
Who do green figbirds live with?
The figbirds are a group of social birds. These species are mostly seen in small flocks living in the branch of the forest edges and in the gardens of the islands of Rote and Timor.
The flocks mostly live near the ground and on rare occasions may elevate up to 6299 in (160 m) height. The flocks live in harmony with almost muted calls in the cup-shaped nests made of twigs.
How long does a green figbird live?
The figbird is known to have an average lifespan of around 15 years. However, it varies depending on the environmental conditions of their surroundings.
How do they reproduce?
According to research, the species are known to build nests which is primarily a cup-shaped nest. The nest is made of tendrils and twigs, connected to a horizontal fork of the outer branch of the trees.
The breeding period occurs between September to February. The gestation period may last up to 16-17 days until it hatches at the end of which the two to three green figbird eggs are laid.
During the breeding period, both the parents share equal duties. The male figbird is in charge of the nest, while the females remain in charge of the food.
What is their conservation status?
According to the IUCN, the figbirds are listed under the section of Least Concern. Even though the species are not Endangered, there has been a decreasing trend in their population. The trend has been noticed mostly due to excessive agriculture & aquaculture and due to the increase in logging and wood harvesting.
Green Figbird Fun Facts
What do green figbirds look like?
The figbirds are dimorphic birds and hence, the male and the female can be easily identified by their physical appearance. The green figbird male has a distinctive appearance.
They have an olive-green throat and chest with a red patch of skin near the eyes. The head is black while the face has a patch of bare skin. The green figbird female is mostly brown and whitish in color.
The throat, the plumage and the chest have brown feathers, while the head is black but has a distinctive gray patch on the face. The bill is mostly gray in color with a light shade of red towards the base.
How cute are they?
Needless to say, the figbirds are a delight to the eyes of the spectator. The bright and moderate coloration makes the green figbird appearance extremely appealing and attractive.
How do they communicate?
Being gregarious in nature, the western flock of Indonesian birds has a soft muted call. Their call sounds like a descending 'chiew'. These species are known to imitate the sounds and calls of other birds like parrots and orioles.
How big is a green figbird?
An average green figbird has a weight of around 0.16-0.17 lb (75-80 g) with an average length of 10 in (26 cm). The species is quite small and is almost two-thirds of the weight of an Australasian figbird which is around 0.26 lb (120 g) by weight. However, they are a lot bigger than bee hummingbirds.
How fast can a green figbird fly?
The birds are pretty quick and fast, which helps them to search for food, as well as, to protect their nest from predators. However, they are not as fast as peregrine falcons.
How much does a green figbird weigh?
The green figbird has an average weight of around 0.16-0.17 lb (75-80 g) which is a lot lighter than that of an ostrich.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There is no specific name assigned to the male and the female members of the species. They are mostly referred to by their respective sexes.
What would you call a baby green figbird?
A baby green figbird can be called a chick.
What do they eat?
The figbirds are omnivores in nature. The green figbird diet includes figs, soft fruits, and few varieties of berries as food. Apart from this, they also feed on insects and leafy trees.
Are they poisonous?
There is no information about the figbirds being poisonous in nature. The birds are known to be a bit aggressive in case of protecting their nest and are capable of pushing away the predators.
Would they make a good pet?
They are not known to be good pets to humans but are seen to be living in public orchids and gardens in search of proper food and shelter.
Did you know...
Initially, all the figbirds had been considered to be part of a single species, but on the basis of recent research, the Australasian figbird, the Timor figbird, and the Wetar figbird are seen as separate species.
Figbirds such as Australasian figbirds are native to the Kai Islands, southern New Guinea, and northern and eastern Australia.
Although the figbirds feed on figs, insects, and berries, they in return, are a massive source of food and are included in the diet of predators.
How did the green figbird get its name?
Since the birds occur naturally in Indonesia and in Timor, they are known as the green figbirds or the common name being, Timor figbirds. Their scientific name is Sphecotheres viridis.
Are green figbirds Endangered?
The green figbirds, one of the exotic birds of the world, are not Endangered and are listed as Least Concern species by the IUCN.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our hummingbird facts and canyon wren facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bird coloring pages.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
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With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Christ University, Bangalore, Pradhanya's passion for the English language and literature led her to explore the field of content writing, where she has gained extensive experience in writing, reviewing, editing, and fact-checking. She has also earned certifications in Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, and Social Media Marketing, showcasing her proficiency in digital marketing.
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