Banded honeyeater

Banded honeyeater
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Meliphagidae
Genus: Cissomela
Bonaparte, 1854
Species:
C. pectoralis
Binomial name
Cissomela pectoralis
(Gould, 1841)
Synonyms
  • Certhionyx pectoralis

The banded honeyeater (Cissomela pectoralis) is a species of honeyeater in the family Meliphagidae with a characteristic narrow black band across its white underparts.[2] It is endemic to tropical northern Australia.

Taxonomy and systematics

The scientific name for the banded honeyeater is Cissomela pectoralis (Gould, 1841).[3] The holotype was Holotype ANSP 18224 male, Australia: north coast, held in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia.[4]

The banded honeyeater was previously placed in the genus Certhionyx, but was moved to the monotypic genus Cissomela after a molecular phylogenetic analysis, published in 2011, showed that the original genus was polyphyletic.[5][6]

The genus name Cissomela (Bonaparte, 1854)[7] means "honey magpie" from the Greek kissa for 'magpie', thus referring to the black and white colouring, and mela meaning 'honey' for its feeding habits. The specific epithet pectoralis comes from the Latin pectoris for 'breast', referring to the distinctive banded breast of this bird.[8]

Description

The banded honeyeater is a small, pied honeyeater with a distinctive black breast band across white underparts.[2][9] It has a black back, tail and head, a long curved bill and long legs.[10]

It has a wingspan of 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in), the bill measures 14–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in), the body length is 11.5–13.5 cm (4.5–5.3 in) and it weighs 8–13 g (0.3–0.5 oz).[2][10]

Behaviour and ecology

The IUCN Red List rating, the Northern Territory Conservation Status and Queensland Conservation Status for this species is Least Concern (LC).[1][10]

The banded honeyeater inhabits tropical grassy woodland, open forests, mangroves and Melaleuca swamps. It feeds on the nectar of eucalypts and some other open flowers, such as Grevilleas, paperbarks and Bauhinias, plus insects. It usually moves in pairs or small groups, but large groups can gather when blossom is plentiful. It is a blossom nomad or can have seasonal movements in various parts of its range, which is restricted to tropical northern Australia.[2][9][10]

  • Illustration of five Meliphagidae species from the Companion to Gould's Handbook; banded honeyeater top left
    Illustration of five Meliphagidae species from the Companion to Gould's Handbook; banded honeyeater top left
  • Banded honeyeater, Parry's Lagoon near Wyndham, WA, 2019
    Banded honeyeater, Parry's Lagoon near Wyndham, WA, 2019

References

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2016). "Cissomela pectoralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22703913A93943194. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22703913A93943194.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Menkhorst, Peter; Rogers, Danny; Clarke, Rohan; Davies, Jeff; Marsack, Peter; Franklin, Kim (2017). The Australian Bird Guide. Clayton, Vic: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 392–393. ISBN 978-0643097544.
  3. ^ Gould, John (1848). The Birds of Australia : in seven volumes. London: Published by the author. pp. 168–178.
  4. ^ "Species Certhionyx (Certhionyx) pectoralis (Gould, 1841)". Australian Faunal Directory. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  5. ^ Nyári, Á.S.; Joseph, L. (2011). "Systematic dismantlement of Lichenostomus improves the basis for understanding relationships within the honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) and historical development of Australo–Papuan bird communities". Emu. 111 (3): 202–211. doi:10.1071/mu10047. S2CID 85333285.
  6. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Honeyeaters". World Bird List Version 6.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  7. ^ Bonaparte, C.L. (1854). "Conspectus systematis ornithologiae". Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Série D. 38: 260, 264.
  8. ^ Fraser, Ian; Gray, Jeannie (2019). Australian Bird Names: Origins and Meanings. Clayton South, Vic: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 183, 188. ISBN 9781486311637.
  9. ^ a b Slater, Peter; Slater, Pat; Slater, Raoul (2009). The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds (2nd ed.). London, Sydney, Auckland: Reed New Holland. pp. 210–211. ISBN 9781877069635.
  10. ^ a b c d Australia, Atlas of Living. "Species: Certhionyx (Certhionyx) pectoralis (Banded Honeyeater)". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2020-04-15.