Polynesian triller
The Polynesian triller (Lalage maculosa) is a passerine bird belonging to the triller genus Lalage in the cuckoo-shrike family Campephagidae. It has numerous subspecies distributed across the islands of the south-west Pacific.
| Polynesian triller | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Campephagidae |
| Genus: | Lalage |
| Species: | L. maculosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Lalage maculosa (Peale, 1849) | |
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Geographic range of the Polynesian triller | |
It is 15 to 16 cm long. The plumage varies geographically; some populations are contrastingly black and white while others have more grey or brown coloration.
It is a noisy bird with a nasal, rasping call. The song is short and high-pitched.
The breeding range extends through Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu and the Santa Cruz Islands. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats including man-made habitats such as plantations and gardens. It feeds on insects such as caterpillars and also feeds on fruit.
The cup-shaped nest is placed in the fork of a tree branch. One or two eggs are laid; these are greenish with brown blotches.
Gallery
Subspecies L.m. pumila, Abaca, Viti Levu, Fiji Isles
Subspecies L.m. woodi, Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji Isles
Subspecies L.m. woodi, Matei, Taveuni, Fiji Isles.jpg.webp)
Unknown subspecies, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Notes
- BirdLife International (2017). "Lalage maculosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22706681A118730666. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22706681A118730666.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
References
- Bregulla, Heinrich L. (1992) Birds of Vanuatu, Anthony Nelson, Oswestry, England.
- Pratt, H. Douglas; Bruner, Philip L. & Berrett, Delwyn G. (1987), A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific, Princeton University Press, Chichester.