Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis Scientific name definitions

27–32 cm; male 109–175 g and female 117–186 g (orientalis, pacificus, solomonensis), male 165–214 g and female 164–182 g (waigiouensis), female 190–205 g (crassirostris). A stocky roller, bull-headed and square-tailed. Nominate race dark greenish blue , darker and more blackish on head, with blue throat; most of flight-feathers and tail dark blue, primaries with striking, large pale blue patch both above and below; bill deep and very broad at base, hook-tipped and powerful, scarlet; orbital ring and legs dark red. Differs from <em>E. azureus</em> in much greener, less purple, plumage. Sexes alike. Immature has upperparts duller and darker, underparts slaty blue, wing patch less brilliant blue and less well defined, throat patch greenish and ill-defined, maxilla blackish, mandible red and orange. Races differ mainly in plumage tone and in size: calonyx has darker head but is overall slightly paler, wing longer, tail shorter than nominate; <em>laetior</em> and irisi with head slightly blacker, blue colour brighter and more purplish, irisi smaller; gigas like nominate but with much heavier bill; oberholseri like nominate but head brighter, ear-coverts tinged violet, underparts clearer blue, and wing shorter but tail longer; <em>waigiouensis</em> brighter, more purplish , wing patch better defined, bill larger; crassirostris and <em>solomonensis</em> like previous, but bill orange-red, tail longer (especially <em>solomonensis</em> ); pacificus with forehead, crown and ear-coverts olive-brown, paler and greyer above than nominate, much paler, more greyish green, below.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Mainly woodland, including canopy and margins of primary lowland rainforest, riparian wood, dense secondary growth, clearings, broadleaf and conifer forest, mountain taiga, peatswamp-forest, bamboo forest; also farmland with copses and relict large trees, open country with scattered trees, and large gardens; found in Cryptomeria trees around old temples in Japan, and in Melaleuca forest and Eucalyptus woodland in Australia; also savanna, roadsides, parks, playing fields and wasteland. Occurs in foothills up to 1500 m, but mainly below 800 m.

A breeding summer visitor to Russia , China and Japan in Apr–Sept, wintering S to Malaysia, N Sulawesi and Moluccas, and probably Greater Sundas; birds breeding in Australia in Sept–Mar migrate N to New Guinea, New Britain, Witu and Kai Is, Lesser Sundas and S Sulawesi; migrants probably widespread in N Melanesia, as suggested by records (subspecies unknown) outside regular breeding range, on islands of Manus and Rennell; breeding populations at lower latitudes apparently resident. Adults migrate soon after young fledge, and young follow later; migrants travel by day, but also sometimes by night (e.g. over Malaysian highlands), and often pass in impressive numbers; in many localities throughout its vast range, species is known mainly as a passage migrant, usually of considerable regularity and visibility. In Queensland a migrant was struck by an aeroplane at 2600 m, and in Irian Jaya carcasses have been found in a glacier at 4500 m.

Large, hard insects , taken in flight: mainly beetles, including chafers, carrion beetles and capricorns, also mantises, crickets, grasshoppers, shield-bugs, cicadas, sawflies, moths, ants and termites. Lizards also recorded. Up to 35 birds may congregate to exploit hatch of flying ants. Takes honeybees (Apis) at apiaries, and occasionally a locust or small lizard from the ground. Dismembers prey by shaking, but does not normally beat it against perch. Feeds mainly in late afternoon and towards dusk, hawking from a bare branch or telegraph wire, or repeatedly quartering ground near swarming insects, with strong, falcon-like flight and long, fast glides ending in dextrous twists and turns.

Typically rather silent. Commonest call is a repeated short, hoarse, rasping “rak” or “chak”. When excited, gives a longer series of similar notes, “krak-kak-kak” or “kek-ek-ek-ek-k-k”.

Lays in Jun in N of range, May–Jun in Japan, Mar–May in India and Myanmar, Jan–Apr in Sumatra, about Nov–Mar in Papua New Guinea, and Oct–Jan in Australia; nearly fledged juvenile begging for food on Dagasuli (N Moluccas) in late Sept. Monogamous; pair hotly defends territory; courting bird rises high in air, nose-dives at speed, rolling rapidly, then flies up again to repeat sequence several times. Nest an unlined hole  , often an old woodpecker or barbet hole, 8–20 m up in dead  or living tree; occasionally uses nestboxes in Japan. Clutch of 3–5 eggs  ; in Japan, incubation period reported as 22–23 days and fledging  period at least 23 days.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Frequent throughout much of its range, and often common. In Australia, 5–14 birds/km² in Eucalyptus woodland, and territories every 750 m along some creeks and streams. Formerly common in Japan, now uncommon to rare, and very local, probably as a result of habitat loss; in Philippines, too, was quite numerous in 1950s and locally to 1970s, but now uncommon, almost certainly as a result of massive deforestation that has taken place in those islands. Status of race oberholseri on Simeulue I requires investigation; was widespread in 1930s, but no recent records. In Sri Lanka, irisi was always rare and none seen for 60 years until 1950, when pair found nesting and was shot; rediscovered in Sinharaja Forest in 1979, and breeding recorded in 1980, with many subsequent sight records. Widespread and fairly common in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Is, occurring at relatively low population densities, but preferring open and degraded forest, and thus apparently secure.