Female © Colin Trainor
Male © Colin Trainor
Female © Colin Trainor
Male and female © Josep del Hoyo

Wetar Figbird Sphecotheres hypoleucus

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Identification

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A distinctive oriole confined to Wetar. A medium-sized, heavyset songbird with a stout bill. Male is striking, with a black head, obvious red skin around the eye, an olive upperside, and clean white underparts. Female is entirely gray-brown with extensive bold streaks on the underside. Juvenile resembles a poorly-streaked female. Groups occur in forest, edge, scrub, and cultivated areas. Male is unmistakable; heavily streaked underparts and bulky shape of female unlike any other species in range. Complex, chattering, buzzing starling-like song contains imitations of local birds. Call is a strident “WICK!”

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