Green Catbird

The Green Catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris, presents a striking emerald green plumage, with white spots adorning the tips of its wings. Its robust stature is complemented by long, powerful legs and a stout bill, horn-colored in hue. The bird's head is a mottled greenish-brown with black, and flecked with pale buff, while the chest boasts greenish buff to dull emerald feathers, accented with short white streaks.

Identification Tips

To identify the Green Catbird, look for the brilliant green back, wings, and rump, with conspicuous white spots at the tips of the tertiaries and secondaries. Two white wing-bars are formed by the tips of coverts. The tail is a brownish emerald with white tips, and the iris is a bright red in direct sunlight, surrounded by a partial white eye-ring. Both sexes exhibit similar plumage, making differentiation challenging.

Habitat

This species thrives in subtropical and temperate rainforests, as well as paperbark swamps. It may occasionally venture into adjacent eucalypt forests.

Distribution

The Green Catbird is endemic to the east coast of Australia, ranging from southeastern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

Behaviour

Green Catbirds are known for their territorial nature, especially when defending food sources. They are often seen in pairs or small groups, and while they do not form flocks, communal feeding with other species is common outside of the breeding season.

Song & Calls

The call of the Green Catbird is distinctive, resembling a cat's meow, with variations from a short "heer-I-aar" to a longer, quavering "heeeir-Ieee-aaa-aarr."

Breeding

These monogamous birds form lifelong pair bonds, with males performing displays and offering colorful fruits and flowers to attract females. The breeding season spans from October to January, with nests built in dense tree crowns or thorny vegetation. Females lay 2-3 eggs, which are incubated for 23-24 days.

Similar Species

The Green Catbird is similar in appearance to the Spotted Catbird, which inhabits the wet tropical rainforests of Far North Queensland.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily frugivorous, the Green Catbird's diet consists of figs, buds, shoots, flowers, and seeds. They also consume insects and small vertebrates. Foraging occurs in the mid to upper strata of trees.

Conservation status

Listed as Least Concern globally, the Green Catbird is considered Vulnerable in New South Wales. Habitat loss due to rainforest and swamp clearing poses a threat to its future.