Morotai Friarbird

Philemon fuscicapillus

The Morotai friarbird or dusky friarbird is a species of friarbird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It is a dark brown bird with pale undersides. The area around the eye is bare and pink. It is around 30 cm long. The species is mimicked by the dusky-brown oriole, which is almost identical in appearance, a situation that has arisen in many species of orioles and friarbirds that exist in the same habitat. This is thought to reduce aggression by the friarbirds against the smaller orioles. It is endemic to the island of Morotai in North Maluku, Indonesia.

Scientific name
Philemon fuscicapillus
Family
Honeyeaters
IUCN status
NT