Not Threatened
Taxonomy: Ceblepyris morio S. Müller, 1843, near Gorontalo and Tondano, north Sulawesi. Forms a superspecies with C. mindanensis, C. ceramensis and C. incerta, and all sometimes considered conspecific. C. sula has sometimes been treated as a race of present species. Races salvadorii and talautensis sometimes included in C. tenuirostris, for no apparent valid reason. Nominate race varies clinally, with size of male’s black throat patch decreasing and paleness of female plumage increasing from N to S; birds from S Sulawesi often separated as race wiglesworthi, but populations with intermediate characters occur in parts of C & SE Sulawesi. Three subspecies currently recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * salvadorii (Sharpe, 1878) - Sangihe Is. * talautensis (A. B. Meyer & Wiglesworth, 1895) - Talaud Is (Karakelong, Salebabu, Kaburuang). * morio (S. Müller, 1843) - N, C, S & SE Sulawesi, including smaller islands of Lembeh, Tobea, Kabaena, Muna, Buton.
Wide variety of invertebrates, including grasshoppers, dragonflies, cockroaches, termite alates, mantids, adult and larval Beatles and bugs, spiders and worms. Vegetable matters, seeds and fruit such mistletoe, figs and berries also taken. Forages in foliace and branches and under bark.