Yellow-spotted honeyeater

The yellow-spotted honeyeater (Meliphaga notata) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is also known as the lesser lewin.[2] The bird is endemic to northern Queensland. The bird's common name refers to the yellow patch that members of the species have behind their eyes.[3]

Yellow-spotted honeyeater

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Meliphagidae
Genus: Meliphaga
Species:
M. notata
Binomial name
Meliphaga notata
(Gould, 1867)

The yellow-spotted honeyeater is olive, brown, and gray in color. The bird's weight ranges from around 23 to 30 grams, and the wingspan ranges from about 8 to 9 centimeters. The species contains two subspecies, which are known as Meliphaga notata notata and Meliphaga notata mixta. Yellow-spotted honeyeaters are aggressive and have a loud and metallic call.

Taxonomy

The yellow-spotted honeyeater belongs to the order Passeriformes and the family Meliphagidae.[4][5] The species may consist of two subspecies: Meliphaga notata notata and Meliphaga notata mixta. The former was described by Gould in 1867 and the latter by Matthews in 1912.[5] The specific epithet notata derives from the Latin notatus, meaning 'spotted' or 'marked'.[6]

A bird similar to the yellow-spotted honeyeater was described in 1844.[7]

Description

The yellow-spotted honeyeater is olive-brown on the top and olive-gray below. However, there are brighter yellow areas on the bird's head. The bird has brown legs, feet and eyes; the beak is also brown. It is 16 to 20 centimetres (6.3 to 7.9 in) in size.[2]

The mass of male yellow-spotted honeyeaters ranges from 24 to 29.5 grams, and averages at 27 grams. Females range from 23.5 to 30 grams, and average at 25.9 grams.[8]

For the subspecies Meliphaga notata notata, the average wingspan is 8.6 to 9.1 centimetres (3.4 to 3.6 in) for males and 7.9 to 8.3 centimetres (3.1 to 3.3 in) for females. For the subspecies Meliphaga notata mixta, the average wingspan is 8.3 to 8.7 centimetres (3.3 to 3.4 in) for males and 7.7 to 8.1 centimetres (3.0 to 3.2 in) for females.[9]

Habitat

The bird largely lives in the tropical rainforests of North Queensland in extreme northeastern Australia, between Mackay and northern Cape York Peninsula.[10][4] In 1901, it was also said to inhabit New Guinea.[7]

Yellow-spotted honeyeaters typically live at elevations of 200 metres (660 ft) or greater.[10] They have been observed at elevations as high as 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) above sea level, although they are not often observed above 500 metres (1,600 ft).[7][11] While the birds typically live in forests, they have been known to visit suburbs with sufficient tree cover.[12] They have even been observed in some cities that use local plants for landscaping. The species lives in both open forests and forests with an understory of shrubs.[13]

The yellow-spotted honeyeater co-exists with the graceful honeyeater.[14]

Population status

The yellow-spotted honeyeater is in the least concern category of the IUCN Red List. The total population of the species is apparently stable. The size of its range is over 110,000 square kilometers.[15]

Behaviour

The call of the yellow-spotted honeyeater has been described as a metallic, high-pitched and "rattling song consisting of four to five 'ee-yeu' repetitions".[2][16][17] The bird's call has also been said to sound like a "machine gun rattle".[16][11] It eats insects, nectar, and fruit.[2] Its body is partially horizontal when perching.[11]

The yellow-spotted honeyeater is loud and aggressive. It tends to be solitary, or live in groups of two or, at most, several birds.[11] It does not migrate.[18]

Breeding

The nest of the yellow-spotted honeyeater is cup-shaped, usually secured at three points, and made of interwoven bark and light plant material.[2][7] It often nests in bushes.[7] However, it also nests in trees.[10][7] The nest is usually 4.4 centimetres (1.7 in) to 7.6 centimetres (3.0 in) deep and 8.9 centimetres (3.5 in) to 10.2 centimetres (4.0 in) across. The actual area of the nest where the eggs are kept ranges from 3.8 centimetres (1.5 in) to 5.1 centimetres (2.0 in) deep and 6.4 centimetres (2.5 in) to 7.6 centimetres (3.0 in) across.[7]

The eggs of the yellow-spotted honeyeater range between inclined and elliptical and have a glossy surface. While most of the egg is typically white, there are some purple or brown patches at the top of it. The eggs usually are laid two at a time, but are sometimes laid three at a time.[7]

The birds breed between August and January.[10] Young birds hatch after about two weeks of incubation, and leave the nest after another two weeks or so.[2]

One generation for the birds lasts about 5.5 years.[18]

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See also

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Meliphaga notata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, retrieved 30 November 2013
  3. Jeannie Gray; Ian Fraser (2013), Australian Bird Names: A Complete Guide, retrieved 30 November 2013
  4. Australian Wildlife / Birds - Passerines 2 / Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, retrieved 30 November 2013
  5. Yellow-spotted Honeyeater (Meliphaga notata), retrieved 30 November 2013
  6. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  7. Archibald James Campbell (1901), Nests and eggs of Australian birds: including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon, Volumes 1-2, retrieved 30 November 2013
  8. John B. Dunning Jr. (5 December 2007), CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses (Second ed.), retrieved 30 November 2013
  9. R Schodde; IJ Mason (1 October 1999), Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines: Passerines, retrieved 30 November 2013
  10. Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, retrieved 30 November 2013
  11. Michael K. Morcombe (2003), Field guide to Australian birds, retrieved 30 November 2013
  12. Michael McCoy (1 October 2010), Reef and Rainforest, retrieved 30 November 2013
  13. John Chambers, YELLOW HONEYEATER, retrieved 30 November 2013
  14. Richard Thomas; Sarah Thomas; David Andrew; Alan McBride (23 February 2011), The Complete Guide to Finding the Birds of Australia, retrieved 30 November 2013
  15. LC: Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Meliphaga notata, 2013, retrieved 30 November 2013
  16. Kim Sterelny (1 January 2012), The Evolved Apprentice: How Evolution Made Humans Unique, retrieved 30 November 2013
  17. http://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/viewphotos.php?c=283
  18. LC: Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Meliphaga notata, 2013, retrieved 30 November 2013
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