Little friarbird

The little friarbird (Philemon citreogularis), also known as the little leatherhead or yellow-throated friarbird, is the smallest of the friarbirds within the Philemon genus.[2] It is found throughout northern and eastern Australia as well as southern Papua New Guinea.[2] It lives a very prominent life, whereby it can easily be seen chasing other honeyeaters, and also it is very vocal.[3] However, the little friarbird is usually spotted high up in trees, rarely being seen on the ground.[3]

Little friarbird
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Meliphagidae
Genus: Philemon
Species:
P. citreogularis
Binomial name
Philemon citreogularis
(Gould, 1837)

Description

The little friarbird ranges from 25–30 centimetres (9.8–11.8 in) in length.[4] The average size tends to be 27 centimetres (11 in) with an average weight of 67 grams (2.4 oz).[5] Although males and females tend to be very similar in appearance, males are larger.[3]

The little friarbird can be easily distinguished from other friarbirds by the absence of a casque (a prominent ridge or bump present on the beak).[6] Another key recognisable feature is the bare blue skin present under the eye which widens over the cheek. (The bare blue skin can vary from grey to black in tone.)[5][7][8] Dark feathers are present both above and below the blue skin.[8] The top of the head and body are a dark grey-brown with a dull white fringe present on the nape which flows around to a wide patch on the side of the neck.[6] Fine silky white feathers are present under the chin with silvery white streaks flowing down the breast merging to pale grey for the underbody of the little friarbird.[4][6]

The little friarbird also has a black curved bill, dark brown eyes with bluish black legs.[6] Its flight characteristics involve wing-beats which are shallow and quivering in nature.[2] The tail is clearly square-cut when spread with slight pale tips present on the tail feathers.[2]

Juveniles

Juvenile little friarbirds tend to have a paler appearance with a lighter facial skin.[8] The chin, throat and, in some cases, upper breast tend to appear as a washed yellow with yellow spots on the side of the breast.[2][8] The term ‘citreogularis’ is frequently used to describe young birds which have a yellow fore-neck.[6] The tail feathers also tend to appear with a shallower cut, unlike those of adult little friarbirds.[6]

Voice

The little friarbird has a very distinct voice consisting of a repeated liquid mellow "gee-wit" or "chewip".[2] When breeding, the song is extended and includes chattering scoldings.[2] A common sequence may be paraphrased as "rackety-crookshank".[9]

Diet

The little friarbird has been observed feeding alone, in pairs and small flocks.[5] However, they are rarely seen feeding on the ground as they prefer to remain in the trees and feed with other honeyeaters in mixed groups.[5] They feed on nectar, blossoms, fruit, invertebrates, and sometimes flowers and seeds.[3][5][7]

Distribution and habitat

The little friarbird is present most predominantly in northern Australia with seasonal movements to south-east Australia.[5] They have been witnessed from the district of Broome in Western Australia through the Kimberleys into the northern portion of the Northern Territory.[2] They have been sighted throughout most of Queensland going as far inland as Mount Isa and Opalton.[2] In summer, they also spread throughout the south-east of Australia inhabiting the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory.[2]

The little friarbird has been sighted along the Murray River and throughout the Riverina within New South Wales.[2] In Victoria, the little friarbird is seen in the north-central region of the state, and near prominent bodies of water, such as Hattah Lakes.[2] Sightings occur as far as Morgan on the Murray River in South Australia.[2] They are also present in southern Papua New Guinea and on several islands adjacent to Australia.[2][7]

The little friarbird is found most predominantly around water bodies.[2] They can be seen in swamp woodlands, mangroves, shrub communities, open forests and woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus tree species.[5] They also inhabit orchards, vineyards and gardens during a good flowering season.[2] They may also inhabit arid zones, but only where water bodies extend well into the area.[5]

Breeding

Little friarbirds form monogamous pairs to breed.[3] Breeding records vary with the earliest being witnessed in July through to the latest in February.[6][7] Pairs share the role of building the nest which is a deep open cup that is flimsy and able to be seen through (eggs are visible).[4][5][6] The nest comprises a large variety of materials including bark fiber, fine grass, spiders’ web, rootlets, and hair.[2][6] The nest is usually built over a water body low in tree branches, 2–10 meters high, and suspended from twigs or within dropped foliage.[2] A clutch usually consist of 2–3 eggs (sometimes 4), which tend to be an oval to tapered oval shape, averaging 20 by 27 millimetres (0.79 in × 1.06 in) in size.[9][2][4][7] The eggs appear chestnut in colour and can be a whitish pink to salmon red, or spotted purplish-red to purple.[2] Up to 2 broods can be raised within a single breeding season with the female being the sole incubator of the eggs.[4] A single nesting period tends to take 14 days within which 13 days of incubation occurs.[5] During the breeding season, the little friarbird is often parasitized by the common koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), a common cuckoo species.[3][5]

  • Little friarbird, Darwin, Northern Territory
    Little friarbird, Darwin, Northern Territory

References
  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Philemon citreogularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22731197A93956636. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22731197A93956636.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Pizzey, Graham (1991). A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Sydney: Harper Collins. pp. 320–321. ISBN 0-00-219205-5.
  3. "Little Friarbird". Birdlife Australia. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  4. Jones, Raymond M. "Little Friarbird - Australian Bush Birds". www.australianbushbirds.info. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
  5. "Little Friarbird | BIRDS in BACKYARDS". www.birdsinbackyards.net. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
  6. Macdonald, J (1973). Birds of Australia. Sydney: A. H. & A. W. Reed Pty Ltd. p. 426. ISBN 0-589-07117-3.
  7. Pizzey, Graham (2007). The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Sydney: Harper Collins. p. 380. ISBN 9780207199356.
  8. Simpson, K. & Day, N. (1996). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Melbourne: Penguin books Australia. pp. 190–191. ISBN 0-670-86305-X.
  9. Morcombe, Michael (2012) Field Guide to Australian Birds. Pascal Press, Glebe, NSW. Revised edition. ISBN 978174021417-9
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