Systematics and hybridization of Figbirds Sphecotheres

Abstract

The Australian figbirds Sphecotheres vieilloti and S. flaviventris are considered to be conspecific because they freely hybridize in central eastern Queensland. Their hybrids are remarkably like S. v. salvadorii of south-eastern New Guinea. S. stalkeri Ingram is shown to represent the hybrid population, so is reduced to synonymy. S. f. cucullatus of the Kai Islands is poorly distinguishable from flaviventris. S. viridis of Timor and S. hypoleucos of Wetar Island are considered to be conspecific with Australian forms because the morphological differences between viridis and flaviventris are less than those between vieilloti and flaviventris. Consequently, Sphecotheres becomes reduced to a single species, the oldest name for which is S. viridis.