The white-naped honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus) is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to eastern Australia. Birds from southwestern Australia have been shown to be a distinct species, Gilbert's honeyeater, and the eastern birds are more closely related to the black-headed honeyeater of Tasmania. One of several similar species of black-headed honeyeaters in the genus Melithreptus, it dwells in dry sclerophylleucalypt woodland. Its diet consists of nectar from various flowers, and it also feeds on insects.
The white-naped honeyeater was originally described as Certhia lunata by French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1802.[2] The specific epithet is derived from the Latinluna, meaning 'moon'; this refers to the crescent-shaped, white marking on its nape. It is a member 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 fairy-wrens) in the large superfamily Meliphagoidea.[4]
Gilbert's honeyeater, found in southwest Western Australia, was initially described as a separate species by John Gould in 1844,[5] before being reclassified as a subspecies of the white-naped for many years. However, a molecular study published in 2010 showed that it had diverged before the split of populations in eastern Australia into the white-naped and black-headed honeyeaters.[6]
A mid-sized honeyeater at 13–15 cm (5–6 in) in length, it is olive-green above and white below, with a black head, nape and throat, a red patch over the eye, and a white crescent-shaped patch on the nape. It is thinner than other similar species. Juveniles have brownish crowns and an orange base of the bill. Its call is a mjerp mjerp.[8]
Ecologyedit
It is found in eucalypt forest and woodlands. Its diet is principally nectar from a variety of flowers, supplemented by insects and various other invertebrates.
White-naped honeyeaters may nest from July to December, breeding once or twice during this time. The nest is a thick-walled bowl of grasses and bits of bark in the fork of a tall tree, usually a eucalypt. Two or three eggs are laid, 18 mm × 14 mm (0.71 in × 0.55 in) in size, and shiny, buff-pink, sparsely spotted with red-brown.[9]
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Melithreptus lunatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T103685459A93954156. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103685459A93954156.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Vieillot, L.P. (1802). Oiseaux dorés au a reflets metalliques. (published in 32 parts). Paris Vol. 2 [95].
^Driskell, A.C.; Christidis, L (2004). "Phylogeny and evolution of the Australo-Papuan honeyeaters (Passeriformes, Meliphagidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 31 (3): 943–960. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.017. PMID 15120392.
^Barker, F.K.; Cibois, A.; Schikler, P.; Feinstein, J.; Cracraft, J (2004). "Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 101 (30): 11040–11045. Bibcode:2004PNAS..10111040B. doi:10.1073/pnas.0401892101. PMC503738. PMID 15263073.
^Gould, J. (1848). The Birds of Australia. 104 pls. London: J. Gould Vol. 4 [pl. 73].
^Toon A, Hughes JM, Joseph L (2010). "Multilocus analysis of honeyeaters (Aves: Meliphagidae) highlights spatio-temporal heterogeneity in the influence of biogeographic barriers in the Australian monsoonal zone". Molecular Ecology. 19 (14): 2980–94. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2010.04730.x. PMID 20609078. S2CID 25346288.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2021). "Honeyeaters". World Bird List Version 11.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
^Simpson K, Day N, Trusler P (1993). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Ringwood, Victoria: Viking O'Neil. p. 392. ISBN0-670-90478-3.
^Beruldsen, G (2003). Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs. Kenmore Hills, Qld: self. pp. 314–316. ISBN0-646-42798-9.
External linksedit
Media related to Melithreptus lunatus at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
white, naped, honeyeater, white, naped, honeyeater, melithreptus, lunatus, passerine, bird, honeyeater, family, meliphagidae, native, eastern, australia, birds, from, southwestern, australia, have, been, shown, distinct, species, gilbert, honeyeater, eastern, . The white naped honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to eastern Australia Birds from southwestern Australia have been shown to be a distinct species Gilbert s honeyeater and the eastern birds are more closely related to the black headed honeyeater of Tasmania One of several similar species of black headed honeyeaters in the genus Melithreptus it dwells in dry sclerophyll eucalypt woodland Its diet consists of nectar from various flowers and it also feeds on insects White naped honeyeater Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Meliphagidae Genus Melithreptus Species M lunatus Binomial name Melithreptus lunatus Vieillot 1802 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Ecology 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy editThe white naped honeyeater was originally described as Certhia lunata by French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1802 2 The specific epithet is derived from the Latin luna meaning moon this refers to the crescent shaped white marking on its nape It is a member 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 fairy wrens in the large superfamily Meliphagoidea 4 Gilbert s honeyeater found in southwest Western Australia was initially described as a separate species by John Gould in 1844 5 before being reclassified as a subspecies of the white naped for many years However a molecular study published in 2010 showed that it had diverged before the split of populations in eastern Australia into the white naped and black headed honeyeaters 6 White naped honeyeater has been designated as the official common name for the species by the International Ornithologists Union IOC 7 Description edit source source source source Drinking by the water s edge SE Queensland A mid sized honeyeater at 13 15 cm 5 6 in in length it is olive green above and white below with a black head nape and throat a red patch over the eye and a white crescent shaped patch on the nape It is thinner than other similar species Juveniles have brownish crowns and an orange base of the bill Its call is a mjerp mjerp 8 Ecology editIt is found in eucalypt forest and woodlands Its diet is principally nectar from a variety of flowers supplemented by insects and various other invertebrates White naped honeyeaters may nest from July to December breeding once or twice during this time The nest is a thick walled bowl of grasses and bits of bark in the fork of a tall tree usually a eucalypt Two or three eggs are laid 18 mm 14 mm 0 71 in 0 55 in in size and shiny buff pink sparsely spotted with red brown 9 References edit BirdLife International 2016 Melithreptus lunatus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T103685459A93954156 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T103685459A93954156 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Vieillot L P 1802 Oiseaux dores au a reflets metalliques published in 32 parts Paris Vol 2 95 Driskell A C Christidis L 2004 Phylogeny and evolution of the Australo Papuan honeyeaters Passeriformes Meliphagidae Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31 3 943 960 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2003 10 017 PMID 15120392 Barker F K Cibois A Schikler P Feinstein J Cracraft J 2004 Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101 30 11040 11045 Bibcode 2004PNAS 10111040B doi 10 1073 pnas 0401892101 PMC 503738 PMID 15263073 Gould J 1848 The Birds of Australia 104 pls London J Gould Vol 4 pl 73 Toon A Hughes JM Joseph L 2010 Multilocus analysis of honeyeaters Aves Meliphagidae highlights spatio temporal heterogeneity in the influence of biogeographic barriers in the Australian monsoonal zone Molecular Ecology 19 14 2980 94 doi 10 1111 j 1365 294X 2010 04730 x PMID 20609078 S2CID 25346288 Gill Frank Donsker David eds 2021 Honeyeaters World Bird List Version 11 1 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 3 April 2021 Simpson K Day N Trusler P 1993 Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Ringwood Victoria Viking O Neil p 392 ISBN 0 670 90478 3 Beruldsen G 2003 Australian Birds Their Nests and Eggs Kenmore Hills Qld self pp 314 316 ISBN 0 646 42798 9 External links edit nbsp Media related to Melithreptus lunatus at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White naped honeyeater amp oldid 1189602882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
