Wattlebird
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
| Wattlebirds | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Anthochaera chrysoptera | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Anthochaera
|
| Species | |
|
see text |
|
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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)
-
Western Wattlebird 1.jpg
Anthochaera lunulata, western wattlebird
-
Anthochaera paradoxa, yellow wattlebird
-
Littlewattlebird.jpg
Anthochaera chrysoptera, little wattlebird
-
Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata.jpg
Anthochaera carunculata, red wattlebird
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Vigors & Horsfield 1827, pp. 320-321.
- ↑ Salomonsen 1967, pp. 444-445.
- ↑ Jobling 2010, p. 49.
Sources
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 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
