Black-headed honeyeater: Difference between revisions
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The black-headed honeyeater was described in 1839 as ''Eidopsarus affinis''. [[John Gould]] described it as ''Melithreptus melanocephalus'' in 1844, likely unaware of its earlier name.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Campbell|first=AG|year=1938|title=John Gould Amongst Tasmanian Birds|journal=Emu|volume=38|issue=3|pages=138–41|doi=10.1071/MU938138}}</ref> |
The black-headed honeyeater was described in 1839 as ''Eidopsarus affinis''. [[John Gould]] described it as ''Melithreptus melanocephalus'' in 1844, likely unaware of its earlier name.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Campbell|first=AG|year=1938|title=John Gould Amongst Tasmanian Birds|journal=Emu|volume=38|issue=3|pages=138–41|doi=10.1071/MU938138}}</ref> |
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Molecular studies show the black-headed honeyeater is most closely related to the [[white-naped honeyeater]], and that their next closest relative is [[Gilbert's honeyeater]]. All are members of the genus ''[[Melithreptus]]'' with several species, of similar size and (apart from the [[brown-headed honeyeater]]) black-headed appearance, in the [[honeyeater]] family Meliphagidae. The next closest relative outside the genus is the much larger but similarly marked [[blue-faced honeyeater]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://loco.biosci.arizona.edu/driskell/Driskell_Christidis_2004.pdf|author1=Driskell, A.C. |
Molecular studies show the black-headed honeyeater is most closely related to the [[white-naped honeyeater]], and that their next closest relative is [[Gilbert's honeyeater]]. All are members of the genus ''[[Melithreptus]]'' with several species, of similar size and (apart from the [[brown-headed honeyeater]]) black-headed appearance, in the [[honeyeater]] family Meliphagidae. The next closest relative outside the genus is the much larger but similarly marked [[blue-faced honeyeater]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://loco.biosci.arizona.edu/driskell/Driskell_Christidis_2004.pdf|author1=Driskell, A.C.|author2=Christidis, L|year=2004|title=Phylogeny and evolution of the Australo-Papuan honeyeaters (Passeriformes, Meliphagidae)|pmid=15120392|volume=31|issue=3|pages=943–60|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.017|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501064103/http://loco.biosci.arizona.edu/driskell/Driskell_Christidis_2004.pdf|archivedate=1 May 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> More recently, [[DNA]] analysis has shown honeyeaters to be related to the [[Pardalotidae]] (pardalotes), [[Acanthizidae]] (Australian warblers, scrubwrens, thornbills, etc.), and the [[Maluridae]] (Australian fairywrens) in a large [[Meliphagoidea]] superfamily.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Barker, F.K. |author2=Cibois, A. |author3=Schikler, P. |author4=Feinstein, J. |author5=Cracraft, J |title=Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation|doi=10.1073/pnas.0401892101|year=2004|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=101|issue=30|pages=11040–5|pmid=15263073|pmc=503738}}</ref> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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Revision as of 07:08, 21 July 2017
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| Species: | M. affinis
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| Melithreptus affinis (Lesson, 1839)
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The black-headed honeyeater (Melithreptus affinis) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is one of two members of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. Despite its name, the black-headed honeyeater eats predominantly insects.
Taxonomy
The black-headed honeyeater was described in 1839 as Eidopsarus affinis. John Gould described it as Melithreptus melanocephalus in 1844, likely unaware of its earlier name.[2]
Molecular studies show the black-headed honeyeater is most closely related to the white-naped honeyeater, and that their next closest relative is Gilbert's honeyeater. All are members of the genus Melithreptus with several species, of similar size and (apart from the brown-headed honeyeater) black-headed appearance, in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. The next closest relative outside the genus is the much larger but similarly marked blue-faced honeyeater.[3] More recently, DNA analysis has shown honeyeaters to be related to the Pardalotidae (pardalotes), Acanthizidae (Australian warblers, scrubwrens, thornbills, etc.), and the Maluridae (Australian fairywrens) in a large Meliphagoidea superfamily.[4]
Description
A mid-sized honeyeater, it is olive green above and white below, with a wholly black head that lacks the white nape of its relatives. It has a blue-white patch of bare skin around the eye. Its beak is small.
Distribution and habitat
The black-headed honeyeater is endemic to Tasmania, where it is found in wet and dry sclerophyll forests, as well as scrub and heathland, and subalpine habitats to an altitude of 1200 m (4000 ft).
Feeding
Insects form the bulk of the diet, and the black-headed honeyeater specialises in foraging among the foliage of trees, as opposed to probing the trunk for prey which is practised by its relative the strong-billed honeyeater, and the two species rarely overlap.[5] Birds often hang upside down from branches while foraging.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN
- ^ Campbell, AG (1938). "John Gould Amongst Tasmanian Birds". Emu. 38 (3): 138–41. doi:10.1071/MU938138.
- ^ Driskell, A.C.; Christidis, L (2004). "Phylogeny and evolution of the Australo-Papuan honeyeaters (Passeriformes, Meliphagidae)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution. 31 (3): 943–60. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.017. PMID 15120392. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2012.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Barker, F.K.; Cibois, A.; Schikler, P.; Feinstein, J.; Cracraft, J (2004). "Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 101 (30): 11040–5. doi:10.1073/pnas.0401892101. PMC 503738. PMID 15263073.
- ^ Slater, Peter J. (1994). "Niche Overlap Between Three Sympatric Short-billed Honeyeaters in Tasmania". Emu. 94 (3): 186–192. doi:10.1071/MU9940186.