Morotai Friarbird Philemon fuscicapillus Scientific name definitions

30 cm. Large, rather drab honeyeater with moderately long, heavy and gently decurved bill with slight protuberance (casque) at base of bill. Plumage is plain grey-brown above, darker brown on top of head and neck, upperwing faintly tinged olive; large area of pale pink bare skin on lores and broadly around eye (sparsely covered with bristles), dense and hair-like dark blackish-brown malar stripe that merges into similarly coloured ear-coverts, and dull greyish-white chin and throat faintly washed yellow on lower throat; underbody paler grey-brown than upperparts, with faint yellow wash on breast; underwing grey-brown; iris red; bill black; legs grey-black to black. Sexes alike in plumage, male probably larger than female. Juvenile and immature undescribed.

Morotai, in N Moluccas; claimed occurrence on Halmahera and Bacan probably erroneous (1 Besson, L. (2012).The collecting history and distribution of Dusky Friarbird Philemon fuscicapillus (Morotai, Indonesia) elucidated from museum data. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 132: 236–250. Close ).

On Halmahera, recent records in primary forest and logged forest, and not recorded in mangroves; in 1945–1950, observed in coconut plantations and secondary growth. Recent records on Hamahera below 120 m and possibly up to 510 m.

Probably resident, with some local movements.

Little information. Forages in canopy of tall trees; inconspicuous and infrequently observed. Usually seen singly, occasionally in twos (probably pairs); formerly observed in small parties.

Male with fairly enlarged gonads in Apr, and two juveniles in May. No other information.

VULNERABLE. Restrictedrange species: present in Northern Maluku EBA. No estimates of population, but apparently uncommon; very few confirmed recent records and current population thought to be small, although considered widespread and common in 1945. Considered Vulnerable owing to potential or real decline of population from earlier levels, and ongoing loss and degradation of habitat. All recent records are from Halmahera (but no specimen records for this island); 26 museum specimens are from Morotai, all collected before 1950; no definite records for Bacan, and occurrence there needs confirmation. Currently, much forest in N Moluccas still intact, with estimated 89% of total area of Morotai, Halmahera and Bacan still forested at start of 1990s; all forests, however, under increasing threat from continued clearing, particularly in lowlands, for settlements, agricultural crops and plantations, and timber-harvesting; irrigation schemes and mining operations also pose threats.