User:Will1jones/sandbox

The Pitohui is the only genus of poisonous bird in the world. The hooded and variable are the deadliest of the three. The Variable has a mixed level of toxicity.

The skin and feathers contains a powerful neurotoxic alkaloid of the batrachotoxin group (also secreted by the colombian poison dart frogs, genus Phyllobates).

The toxin serves as the birds chemical defense againsts ectoparasites or against visually guided predators such as snakes, raptors or humans.

The birds don't produce the toxin themselves. It most likely that the toxins come from Choresine genus of beetles, part of the bird's diet.

This is the only bird found to actually be poisonous to humans. They can be eaten. Native of New Guinea warn that the birds must be prepared carefully, including skinning them. Even gently simmering the skin in water, it will still produce a toxic substance.

Description: The variable Pitohui is about 23 centimeters long with strong legs and powerful beak. They exist in many different forms and 20 subspecies with different patterns. Its colors are an example of aposematism (warning colouration). Its a form of Mullerian mimicry in which dangerous species gain a mutual advantage by sharing colouration so that an encounter with either species trains a predator to avoid both.

Voice: The variable has a loud song. It makes muscial whistles mixed with scratchy notes in jumbled series of inflections.

Habitat: Lives in the forest edges, tall secondary growth and disturbed forest. Also located in te primary rainforests, swamp forest and gardens.

Food and feeding: Primarily insects and fruits. Ranges from understorey to canopy. It often hides in dense vegetation. The variable will join mixed species foraging flocks.

Breeding: During the months of March, April and October. Nestling in late June or early July.

Movement: Sendentary

Status and Conservation: Not globally threatened. Common to very common in some areas, being generally most common in lowland scrubs.

References: Birds of New Guinea: Second Edition- Page 457 Boles, W. and Kirwan, G.M. (2018). Northern Variable Pitohui. In: del hoyo, J., Elliot, A., Sarjatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E (eds.) Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (Dumbacher and Fletcher, 2001) (Dumbacher, et al., 1992) (Dumbacher, et al., 2004)