This is one that causes endless confusion amongst my American clients,
as there is an error in the new Clements 7 (one of a distressingly
long series, but let's not go there......), you have to use Clements
with great caution as the English names are often an abomination ( see
recent discussions on birding-aus), and the taxonomy is frequently
shall we say muddied.
Clements 7 (2007) lists 3 species:
Wetar Figbird (Sphecotheres hypoleucos) from Wetar in the Lesser Sundas,
Green Figbird (S. viridis) from Timor, with two races , the nominate
from Timor and flaviventris from WA, NT and Qld. This later must be
in error as he also has this race under Aus Figbird.
Australasian Figbird with races ashbyi, flaviventris (again though
this time only in Qld!) and vieilloti.
The far better referenced albeit rather conservative Howard and Moore
Checklist (2003) has it much better:
Timor Figbird S viridis from Timor and Roti
Wetar Figbird S. hypoleucos from Wetar
Australasian Figbird with salvadorii from se PNG ( omitted in
Clements, it's a really distinctive taxon)
cucullatus from the Kai Is,
ashbyi from Northern WA, NT, Melville Is.
flavientris (yellow Fignird) from N Queensland and Torres Streait
vieilloti (Green Figbird) from coastal east -central Australia.
The latter H & M taxonomy is the one I'd go with, my upcoming
checklist of the Birds of Australia and its Territories (2008) adopts
a narrow species concept but has just the one species in Australia.
Hope this helps
Regards
Phil
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