Grey-headed honeyeater
Grey-headed honeyeater | |
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At Trephina Gorge, Northern Territory | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Meliphagidae |
Genus: | Ptilotula |
Species: | P. keartlandi
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Binomial name | |
Ptilotula keartlandi (North, 1895)
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Location records from Ebird data | |
Synonyms | |
Lichenostomus keartlandi |
The grey-headed honeyeater (Ptilotula keartlandi) is a species of
.Nomenclature, taxonomy and evolutionary history
First described as Ptilotis keartlandi in 1895 by Australian
While the species in
Description and identifying features
Grey-headed honeyeaters are relatively small for honeyeaters[9] with a total body length of 13–16.5 cm (5.1–6.5 in) and a weight of 12–18 g (0.4–0.6 oz).[10] Individual wing length ranges from 67–81 mm (2.6–3.2 in), the tail is 55–69 mm (2.2–2.7 in) long,[11] and the bill is 14.5–18.5 mm (0.6–0.7 in) in length.[9]
Adults have a distinctive grey crown above a black facial mask with the nape and remaining upper body parts coloured dark fawn-grey.[9] The black facial mask extends from the base of the bill to the rear of the ear coverts, and comprises black lores, eye rings, feathers behind the eye, and grey-black ear coverts.[10] The base of the mask is bordered by a thin, bright yellow plume which extends below and behind the ear coverts and a pale yellow, moustachial stripe located between the lores and throat.[10]
The bill is black, short and slightly down-curved with a yellow base on the lower mandible,
The breast, belly, flanks, and throat are light olive-yellow streaked with brown, while the rump is light grey-brown.[10] The flight feathers are olive-brown,[10] edged with olive-yellow, which gives the wing a yellow panel when folded.[9] The tail feathers are dark olive-brown edged in olive-yellow.[10] There are ten primary flight feathers, ten secondaries and twelve tail feathers.[10]
There is no plumage difference between the sexes; however, there is some sexual dimorphism, as males are slightly heavier and larger than females.[11] There is no geographical variation in plumage across the species range.[10]
Juveniles have similar plumage to adults, but are generally paler with a lighter grey-brown face mask.[10] Juveniles also have grey-black bills with an orange-brown base, yellow gapes, and a lighter grey crown.[10] Juveniles partially moult into immature plumage soon after fledging and, while immature plumage is similar to adult plumage, juvenile tail and flight feathers are retained, and immatures can be identified by the presence of fault bars in the tail.[11] Moult into adult plumage occurs in the first year.[11]
The grey-headed honeyeater produces a continuous, peevish chip call when feeding,[10] and a wee-wee-wee song.[9] Other vocalisations include a loud, single kwoyt and chee-toyt, which is possibly only emitted during breeding.[10]
Distribution and habitat
The grey-headed honeyeater has an extensive range covering much of central arid and semi-arid
The grey-headed honeyeater mostly frequents Eucalyptus scrub and woodlands in stony hill country and timbered gullies within ranges; however, it can be observed on sand-plains, when vegetation is flowering.[9] The species has also been recorded in mulga and mallee woodlands, riverine areas dominated by River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), and occasionally in Mitchell grasslands.[10]
The grey-headed honeyeater is thought to be largely sedentary;[10] however, it undertakes nomadic movements in response to flowering events.[9] While these movements are predominately local, some larger movements have been recorded.[9] For example, one individual was recorded in East Point, Darwin, 270 kilometres north of its previously documented range, following major Eucalyptus flowering events.[13]
Ecology
Diet and behaviour
The grey-headed honeyeater gleans and probes for invertebrates on the foliage and branches of vegetation, but will also take insects on the wing.[9] Like many honeyeaters, the species will also consume nectar from flowering trees, particularly hakeas, eucalypts, grevilleas,[10] mallee,[14] and it has been known to take occasional fruit.[10]
The grey-headed honeyeater is usually seen individually or in pairs; however, small parties of 5 to 20 have been recorded congregating around a food source.[10] The species is active, vocal, inquisitive, and pugnacious.[10] Intraspecific and interspecific[13] aggression and agonistic behaviour, including territorial calls, bill-snapping, chasing, and fighting have been recorded during feeding and possibly breeding.[10]
Breeding
The breeding ecology of the grey-headed honeyeater is poorly understood.[10] Breeding is thought to mainly occur during winter and spring; however, it may occur at any time across the species range, possibly following rainfall.[10] Nests are constructed low in a live tree or shrub, within a dry creek bed or bank, but usually not near water.[10] The nest is a small, open, compact, cup-shaped structure made from dried plant stems, grass and bark bound by spider webs.[10] The nest is lined with plant down, feathers, and animal hair, and suspended from the tree or shrub.[10] Clutch size is thought to be two eggs variously described as oval, lengthened, rounded, glossy, lustreless, white, pink, sometimes unmarked or with light brown or purple spots.[10] The incubation period is unknown, and it is thought that only a single brood is raised annually.[10] Both sexes have been recorded performing distraction displays, when nests are approached.[10]
Conservation status, threats and conservation actions
Conservation status
Because the population is considered stable, and due to its extensive range, the grey-headed honeyeater is listed as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[15] The species is also considered Least Concern under Australian state and Commonwealth law.
Threats
While the
The grey-headed honeyeater is considered threatened by climate change.[16] Its diet and potential reliance on rainfall to breed likely leaves it vulnerable to changed climatic conditions, and the species may experience habitat contractions or loss of habitat suitability, due to climate change.[16]
Conservation actions
The IUCN does not identify any conservation actions for the species.[15] However, the Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Australian Birds lists general measures which may inadvertently benefit the species.[16] These include improved land management, purchasing land for protection, establishing new habitat and maintenance and improvement of existing habitat quality.[16] Additionally, the range of the grey-headed honeyeater overlaps several Australian Wildlife Conservancy refuges, notably Newhaven, Bowra and Pungalina, and several National Parks. Management actions in these areas may also inadvertently benefit the species.
Gallery
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Near Lake Corella, western Queensland
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At Newhaven, Northern Territory
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A juvenile showing the orange-brown base to bill
References
- . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ North, A J. (1895). "Preliminary Descriptions of a new Genus of five new Species of Central Australian Birds". Ibis. XXVI: 339–346.
- ^ Wolstenholme, H. (1926). The Official Checklist of the Birds of Australia, Second Edition. Melbourne: Government Printer. Melbourne.
- ^ Schodde, R. (1975). Interim List of Australian Songbird serines. Surrey Hills, Victoria: Research Publications Pty Ltd.
- ^ S2CID 85333285.
- ^ .
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). "Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names". Retrieved 2020-04-26.
- S2CID 82659390.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Menkhorst, P.; Rogers, D.; Clarke, R.; Davies, J.; Marsack, P. & Franklin, K. (2017). The Australian Bird Guide. Victoria: CSIRO Publications.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Higgins, P. J.; Peter, J. M. & Steele, W. K., eds. (2001). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 5. Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
- ^ a b c d Australian Bird Study Association Inc. (2018). Grey-headed Honeyeater. Online at www.absa.asn.au: Australian Bird Study Association Inc.
- ^ a b "Species factsheet: Ptilotula keartlandi". BirdLife International. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ a b Kyne, M. P. & Jackson, V. M. (2010). "An extralimital record of Grey-headed Honeyeater Lichenostomus keartlandi from Darwin Northern Territory". Northern Territory Naturalist. 22: 75–78.
- .
- ^ a b c "Grey-headed Honeyeater (Ptilotula keartlandi)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T22704082A30037478. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- ^ a b c d Garnet, S.; Franklin, D.; Ehmke, G.; VanDerWal, J.; Hodgson, L.; Pavey, C.; Reside, A.; Welbergen, J.; Butchart, S.; Perkins, G. & Williams, S. (2013). Climate change adaptation strategies for Australian birds (PDF) (Report). Gold Coast: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.