Little wattlebird | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Meliphagidae |
Genus: | Anthochaera |
Species: | A. chrysoptera
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Binomial name | |
Anthochaera chrysoptera (
Latham, 1801)
|
The little wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), also known as the brush wattlebird, is a passerine bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It is found in coastal and sub-coastal south-eastern Australia.
The little wattlebird was formally described by ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name Merops chrysoptera. [2] The species is now placed in the genus Anthochaera that was introduced by Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield in 1827. [3] [4] The generic name Anthochaera derives from the Ancient Greek anthos 'flower, bloom' and khairō 'enjoy'; the specific epithet chrysoptera derives from Ancient Greek khrysos 'gold' and pteron 'wing'. [5]
The International Ornithologists' Union recognise three subspecies: [4]
The western wattlebird (A. lunulata) was at one time considered as the subspecies A. c. lunulata. [6]
The little wattlebird is a medium to large honeyeater, but the smallest wattlebird. [7] The appearance is similar to the yellow wattlebird and the red wattlebird. [8] The little wattlebird lacks the wattles, which characterise other members of the genus. Juveniles are duller with less streaking and have a browner eye. [7]
Calls include a strident cookay-cok, a raucous fetch the gun, a mellow guttural yekkop, yekkop and many squeaky, musical lilting notes. The alarm call is a kwock or shnairt!. [8]
The little wattlebird is found in banksia/ eucalypt woodlands, heathlands, tea-tree scrub, sandplain-heaths, lantana thickets, wild tobacco, parks and gardens. [8]
Breeding takes place from June to December. [8] The female wattlebird generally constructs the nest, [7] which is a loose, untidy cup of twigs, lined with shredded bark, and placed from 1 to 10 m high in the fork of a banksia, tea-tree or eucalypt sapling. [8] 1-2 eggs are laid and may be spotted red-brown, purplish-red or salmon-pink in colour. [8] The female incubates the eggs alone but both parents care for the young chicks. [7]
Little wattlebirds feed on nectar obtained with a long, brush-tipped tongue, adapted for probing deep into flowers. [7] They also feed on insects, berries, and some seeds. [7] Most feeding is done perched, but some insects are caught in mid-air. Birds may feed alone or in groups. [7]
Little wattlebird | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Meliphagidae |
Genus: | Anthochaera |
Species: | A. chrysoptera
|
Binomial name | |
Anthochaera chrysoptera (
Latham, 1801)
|
The little wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), also known as the brush wattlebird, is a passerine bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It is found in coastal and sub-coastal south-eastern Australia.
The little wattlebird was formally described by ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name Merops chrysoptera. [2] The species is now placed in the genus Anthochaera that was introduced by Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield in 1827. [3] [4] The generic name Anthochaera derives from the Ancient Greek anthos 'flower, bloom' and khairō 'enjoy'; the specific epithet chrysoptera derives from Ancient Greek khrysos 'gold' and pteron 'wing'. [5]
The International Ornithologists' Union recognise three subspecies: [4]
The western wattlebird (A. lunulata) was at one time considered as the subspecies A. c. lunulata. [6]
The little wattlebird is a medium to large honeyeater, but the smallest wattlebird. [7] The appearance is similar to the yellow wattlebird and the red wattlebird. [8] The little wattlebird lacks the wattles, which characterise other members of the genus. Juveniles are duller with less streaking and have a browner eye. [7]
Calls include a strident cookay-cok, a raucous fetch the gun, a mellow guttural yekkop, yekkop and many squeaky, musical lilting notes. The alarm call is a kwock or shnairt!. [8]
The little wattlebird is found in banksia/ eucalypt woodlands, heathlands, tea-tree scrub, sandplain-heaths, lantana thickets, wild tobacco, parks and gardens. [8]
Breeding takes place from June to December. [8] The female wattlebird generally constructs the nest, [7] which is a loose, untidy cup of twigs, lined with shredded bark, and placed from 1 to 10 m high in the fork of a banksia, tea-tree or eucalypt sapling. [8] 1-2 eggs are laid and may be spotted red-brown, purplish-red or salmon-pink in colour. [8] The female incubates the eggs alone but both parents care for the young chicks. [7]
Little wattlebirds feed on nectar obtained with a long, brush-tipped tongue, adapted for probing deep into flowers. [7] They also feed on insects, berries, and some seeds. [7] Most feeding is done perched, but some insects are caught in mid-air. Birds may feed alone or in groups. [7]