- Kimberley Honeyeater
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Kimberley Honeyeater Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Meliphagidae Genus: Meliphaga Species: M. fordiana Binomial name Meliphaga fordiana
(H.L. White, 1917)Synonyms - Meliphaga albilineata fordiana Schodde, 1989
The Kimberley Honeyeater (Meliphaga fordiana) is a bird in the Meliphagidae, or Honeyeater family. It was formerly lumped with the White-lined Honeyeater but, based on DNA research, it is now considered a separate species. It is endemic to northern Australia
Contents
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 retrices, pale creamy-buff under-wing coverts, and a milky-white belly.[1]
Distribution
The Kimberly Honeyeater lives only in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, in rainforests, eucalypt woodlands and paperbark forests.
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.
Notes
- ^ Schodde & Mason, p.263.
References
- Graeme Chapman photos
- Schodde, R.; & Mason, I.J. (1999). The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines. CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne. ISBN 0-643-06456-7
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