Nutrition
The hooded pitohui, like most birds, is omnivorous, meaning it consumes both plant tissues and other animals. Often these birds diet on berries and whatever food source is most available at the time. An important aspect to the diet is the incorporation of the Choresine beetle, which provides the pitohui with batrachotoxin.
Although food acquisition is important there are also important adaptations to the circulatory system that allow for birds to fly for long periods of time. Birds have a four-chambered heart which is incredibly similar to that of ours. The heart has two circuits that re-oxygenate the blood and distribute the blood systemically. The first portion of the circuit receives the deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. Once the blood has been re-oxygenated it travels back to the left side of the heart and is then distributed into the rest of the body. The blood replenishes the muscles, tissues and organs with oxygen and allows the body to function without the use of fermentation. Birds statistically have the largest hearts in proportion to body mass (Avian Circulatory system). This allows the bird to pump more blood per heartbeat
How does the Hooded Pitohui reproduce?