Wattlebird
| Wattlebirds | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Anthochaera chrysoptera | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Meliphagidae |
| Genus: | Anthochaera Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 |
| Species | |
|
see text | |
Wattlebirds (Anthochaera) are members of the honeyeater family, and native to Australia. Species of wattlebird include the little wattlebird, the red wattlebird, the western wattlebird, and the yellow wattlebird. Recent evidence suggests the regent honeyeater belongs in this genus.
Wattlebirds are characterized by their wattles. These are bare fleshy appendages, usually wrinkled and often brightly coloured, hanging from the cheeks, neck or throat, and presumably serving for display. The exceptions are the little wattlebird and the regent honeyeater, which lack wattles.
Some other birds also have wattles, although they are not known by the term "wattlebird". Examples include the turkey; some vultures; and several species of lapwing. The entire Callaeidae family of New Zealand, comprising the tieke (also known as the saddleback), the kokako, and the extinct huia, are also known as wattlebirds, but are unrelated to this genus.
The regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) was formerly placed in its own genus Xanthomyza but was moved to Anthochaera based on phylogenetic analysis using DNA sequence data.[1]
The genus Anthochaera was introduced in 1827 by the naturalists Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield.[2][3] The word Anthochaera is derived from the Greek anthos meaning flower or bloom and khairō meaning to enjoy.[4]
The genus Anthochaera contains the following species:[1]
- Red wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)
- Little wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)
- Yellow wattlebird (Anthochaera paradoxa)
- Western wattlebird (Anthochaera lunulata)
- Regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia)
Anthochaera lunulata, western wattlebird
Anthochaera paradoxa, yellow wattlebird
Anthochaera chrysoptera, little wattlebird
Anthochaera carunculata, red wattlebird
See also
References
- 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Honeyeaters". World Bird List Version 5.4. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ↑ Vigors & Horsfield 1827, pp. 320-321.
- ↑ Salomonsen 1967, pp. 444-445.
- ↑ Jobling 2010, p. 49.
Sources
- Jobling, J.A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- Salomonsen, F. (1967). "Family Maliphagidae, Honeyeaters". In Paynter, R.A. Jnr. Check-list of birds of the world (Volume 12). Cambridge, Mass.: Museum of Comparative Zoology. pp. 338–450.
- Vigors, N.A.; Horsfield, T. (1827). "A description of the Australian birds in the collection of the Linnean Society; with an attempt at arranging them according to their natural affinities (Part 1)". Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 15 (1): 170–331. The title page of the issue has the year 1826.
External links
- Wattlebird videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- TerraNature pages on New Zealand wattlebirds