Green iora
Aegithina viridissima
TAXONOMY
Jora viridissima Bonaparte, 1851, Sumatra. OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Iora emeraude; German: Smaragdaegithina; Spanish: Iora Verde.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
5.5 in (13 cm). Dark olive-green plumage with black bill, wings, and tail. Yellow eye ring. Wing bars are white in males and yellow in females.
DISTRIBUTION
Malay Peninsula, including southern Thailand, Sumatra, Borneo, and nearby small islands.
HABITAT
Lowland primary and tall secondary forest. BEHAVIOR
Confined to forest canopy, behavior, including vocalizations, otherwise similar to common iora's.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Similar to that of common iora, but apparently restricted to forest canopy.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Similar to common iora.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Near Threatened, due to drastic continuing reduction of forest habitat throughout range. Occurs in several important national parks.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None traditionally, but a target species for ecotourists. ♦
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Little recorded, presumed similar to other species of Chloropsis. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nest and eggs unrecorded as of 2000. Breeding season appears to be from June through August.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable, due to extensive habitat loss over limited range. Probably extinct on Cebu. Occurs in some Mindanao parks.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS None known. ♦
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