Kimberley honeyeater

The Kimberley honeyeater (Territornis fordiana) is a bird in the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. It was formerly lumped with the white-lined honeyeater but, based on a genetic analysis, it is now considered a separate species. Articles published in 2014 and 2015 provided evidence that the Kimberley and white-lined honeyeaters differ not only genetically, but also in song[2] and foraging ecology.[3] The specific epithet honours the Australian chemist and ornithologist Dr Julian Ralph Ford (1932-1987).[4]

Kimberley Honeyeater
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Meliphagidae
Genus: Territornis
Species:
T. fordiana
Binomial name
Territornis fordiana
(Schodde, 1989)
Synonyms
  • Meliphaga albilineata fordiana Schodde, 1989

Description

The Kimberley honeyeater is similar in appearance to the white-lined honeyeater, having dark grey upperparts, light grey underparts, grey eyes, with dark grey below the eyes and a black beak. It is distinguished from the white-lined honeyeater by the lack of citrine edging on the upper surface of the remiges and rectrices, pale creamy-buff under-wing coverts, and a milky-white belly.[5]

Distribution

The Kimberley honeyeater is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia, living in rainforests, eucalypt woodlands and paperbark forests.

It is present in the Charnley River–Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Kimberley region.[6]

Breeding

The Kimberley honeyeater breeds from August to January. Two pinkish eggs, spotted red or brown, are laid in a deep nest made of spiderweb and plant fibres.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2017). "Microptilotis fordianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  2. Miller, Eliot T.; Wagner, Sarah K. (2014). "The vocalisations and species status of the White-lined and Kimberley Honeyeaters". Emu. 114: 116–120. doi:10.1071/MU13073.
  3. Miller, Eliot T.; Wagner, Sarah K. (2015). "The ecology of the Australian sandstone 'Meliphaga honeyeater' species". Australian Field Ornithology. 32: 38–52.
  4. Jobling, James A. (2010). "Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names". Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  5. Schodde, R.; Mason, I.J. (1999). The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing. p. 263. ISBN 0-643-06456-7.
  6. "Charnley River – Artesian Range: ACE". Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Retrieved 2 January 2021.


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