Southern variable pitohui

The southern variable pitohui is a species of pitohui in the family Oriolidae. It is found on New Guinea and neighbouring islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is also one of the few known poisonous birds, it carries the toxic compound homobatrachotoxins in its feathers and skin.

Taxonomy and systematics

This species was split from the northern variable pitohui in 2013.

Subspecies

Five subspecies are recognized: P. u. uropygialis - : Found on Salawati and Misool Islands and western Vogelkop P. u. brunneiceps - : Originally described as a separate species. Found from Gulf of Papua to Fly River P. u. nigripectus - van Oort, 1909: Found from Mimika River to Pulau River P. u. aruensis - : Originally described as a separate species. Found on Aru Islands P. u. meridionalis - : Originally described as a separate species. Found in south-eastern New Guinea