Little Friarbird
Philemon citreogularis· 吸蜜鸟科(3 photos)
Locations:
Little Friarbird
25-29 cm. Smallest friarbird, no bill knob: bare blue-grey skin under eye widens over cheeks. Female: smaller. Immature: throat washed yellow. Singles, pairs, flocks: feeds on nectar, fruit; hawks flying insects. Wingbeats shallow, quivering; tail square-cut, with pale tips.
- Similar Species
- see other friarbirds.
- Voice
- mellow 'gee-wit' or 'chewip', extended into song; falsetto phrases like 'I've-got-red-hair-air'; chattering scoldings.
- Habitat
- open forests/woodlands/ rivers; swamp woodlands, mangroves, orchards, vineyards, parks, gardens.
- Breeding
- July-Nov.
- Nest
- deep, flimsy cup of grass, bark-fibre, twigs, rootlets, spiders' web; 2-10 m high in drooping foliage.
- Eggs
- 2-3 (4); whitish pink to salmon-red, spotted purplish red, purple, chestnut.
- Range & Status
- n. and e. Aust. and islands; inland on watercourses. Blossom-nomad in n.; summer breeding migrant to se. Aust. (Sept.-April). Common. Also s. PNG.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Philemon citreogularis sordidus 2. Philemon citreogularis citreogularis
