Probable protective nesting association between Australasian Figbird, Noisy Friarbird and Papuan Frogmouth

A pair of Australasian Figbirds Sphecotheres vieilloti flaviventris and a pair of Noisy Friarbirds Philemon corniculatus nested within 1 metre of a pair of nesting Papuan Frogmouths Podargus papuensis. This is likely to be an example of a protective nesting association whereby the passerines benefitted from the protective umbrella of the Frogmouths, which would be likely to exclude potential predators from the mutual nesting area. If so, this is the first record of a caprimulgid acting as a protective species in a nesting association.