YELLOW FIGBIRD

6.  YELLOW FIGBIRD    Sphecotheres viridian

Australia (6)

Also known as Yellow figbird, Banana-bird and Mulberry bird. They are 27-30 cms. There are two races of Figbirds in Australia. The 'Yellow Figbird' is found in tropical north Australia (the Kimberleys, coastal NT, and Cape York), while the 'Green Figbird' is found down the east coast of Australia (down to Nowra). The females of both races look similar. The races will interbreed freely where they overlap. Found in pairs, groups of about 10 or large groups of over 50. They are often noticed by their calls, particularly when there is a large group. Often seen in gardens and parks where there are fruiting trees, on the edge of rainforrests or woodlands, watercourses and paperbarks. These photos were taken in Cape York and are of the 'Yellow Figbird'.

The female Figbird in the centre. 

WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE

Photographed at Royal National Park, Sydney

5.  WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE     Haliaeetus leucogaster

Australia (5)

Also known as the White-breasted Sea-eagle. It is 70-90cms with a wing span of about 2 metres. Generally the female is the larger bird. Found around lakes, ocean, river and large bodies of water. Distributed right around the coast of Australia for a distance inland; also found in India, SE Asia, PNG and Solomon Islands.

Photographed at King Billy's Landing on Cape York.

Photographed at Forbes, June 2014

Juvenile, photographed Lincoln National Park, South Australia March 2015

Darwin, January 2024