Samoan triller
Species of bird
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Samoan triller (Lalage sharpei), known in Samoan as miti tae, is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae.[2] It is endemic to Samoa.[3] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.
| Samoan triller | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Campephagidae |
| Genus: | Lalage |
| Species: | L. sharpei |
| Binomial name | |
| Lalage sharpei Rothschild, 1900 | |
 | |
Geographic range of the Samoan triller | |
Description
The Samoan triller is a bird with a length of about 13 cm, smaller than its relative, the Polynesian triller.[2][4] There is no sexual dimorphism in Samoan trillers, with both sexes possessing similar plumage, a yellow bill, and white iris.[4][5] The upperparts of the plumage range from a brown to a grey-brown.[4] The underparts, chest, and throat are white, with faint brown bars present on the bird's flanks.[4][6]
The Samoan triller has been observed foraging in the crowns of forest trees, where it feeds on insects collected from leaves and twigs. This insectivorous behavior helps control forest insect populations and reflects its ecological role as an active canopy feeder. Dhondt, A. (1976). Bird observations in Western Samoa.
