Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Southern Variable Pitohui
Pitohui uropygialis
Southern Variable Pitohui (Pitohui uropygialis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Southern Variable Pitohui (Pitohui uropygialis) is a member of the Oriolidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 72 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Oriolidae Figbirds, Old World Orioles, Piopios
- Genus Pitohui
- Species uropygialis
Where it lives
Salawati and Misool (Raja Ampat Is., northwest of New Guinea), Aru Is. (southwest of New Guinea), northwestern and southern New Guinea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 72 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Southern Variable Pitohui is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Southern Variable Pitohui is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Southern Variable Pitohui (Pitohui uropygialis) belongs to the Oriolidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Salawati and Misool (Raja Ampat Is., nw of New Guinea), Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea), nw and s New Guinea.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 72 g, with a wing length of about 12.3 cm and a tail of around 10.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 240,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Southern Variable Pitohui?
The Southern Variable Pitohui is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 72 g.
Where does the Southern Variable Pitohui live?
The Southern Variable Pitohui is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Salawati and Misool (Raja Ampat Is., nw of New Guinea), Aru Is. (sw of New Guinea), nw and s New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Southern Variable Pitohui belong to?
The Southern Variable Pitohui (Pitohui uropygialis) belongs to the Oriolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Southern Variable Pitohui eat?
The Southern Variable Pitohui is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Southern Variable Pitohui migrate?
The Southern Variable Pitohui is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Southern Variable Pitohui endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Southern Variable Pitohui make?
1 real field recording of the Southern Variable Pitohui — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Southern Variable Pitohui's range?
The Southern Variable Pitohui has a mapped global range of about 240,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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