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Morehead River Important Bird Area
The Morehead River Important Bird Area comprises a 1356 km2 tract of tropical savanna woodland in the south-eastern Cape York Peninsula of Far North Queensland, Australia. Description The land is mainly pastoral lease used for extensive cattle grazing. It consista of low hills drained by ephemeral creeks and covered with open savanna woodland containing ''Melaleucas''. It also has narrow strips of riparian rainforest adjoining grasslands. It has a monsoonal tropical savanna climate.BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Morehead River. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 17/08/2011. Birds The site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports a large proportion of the population of the endangered golden-shouldered parrot, and possibly of the buff-breasted button-quail. It also contains significant populations of black-throated and masked finches, bush stone-curlews, silver-crowned fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotus Chrysopterygius)-6
The golden-shouldered parrot (''Psephotellus chrysopterygius''), also known as the alwal, is a rare bird of southern Cape York Peninsula, in Queensland, Australia. A small parrot related to the more common red-rumped parrot (''Psephotus haematonotus''), the hooded parrot (''P. dissimilis'') of the Northern Territory and the extinct paradise parrot of Queensland and New South Wales. Description The golden-shouldered parrot is 23–28 cm long and weighs 54–56 g. The adult male is mainly blue and has a characteristic yellow over the shoulder area. It has a black cap and pale yellow frontal band. It has an extended dark salmon pink lower belly, thighs and undertail-coverts. It has a grey-brown lower back. Adult females are mainly dull greenish-yellow, and have a broad cream bar on the underside of the wings. The head in older females has a charcoal grey cap. The feathers of the vent area are a pale salmon pink. Juveniles are similar to the adult female though newly fledge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Endangered
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and invasive species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List lists the global conservation status of many species, and various other agencies assess the status of species within particular areas. Many nations have laws that protect conservation-reliant species which, for example, forbid hunting, restrict land development, or create protected areas. Some endangered species are the target of extensive conservation efforts such as captive breeding and habitat restoration. Human activity is a significant cause in causing some species to become endangered. Conservation status The conservation status of a species indicates the likelihood that it will become extinct. Multiple factors are considered when assess ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fairy Gerygone
The fairy gerygone (''Gerygone palpebrosa''), previously known as the fairy warbler, is a species of bird in the family Acanthizidae native to New Guinea and Queensland. Taxonomy Alfred Russel Wallace described the species as ''Gerygone palpebrosa'' in 1865, from a specimen from the Aru Islands. The species name is derived from the Latin ''palpebra'' "eyelid", for the bird's facial markings. A taxon known commonly as the fairy warbler, ''Gerygone flavida'' was described from the Herbert River in Queensland and initially treated as a separate species. However, birds further north along the Queensland coastline became gradually more like ''Gerygone palpebrosa'', indicating there was no delineation between the two forms. This and the similarity of their songs indicated they were a single species. Other common names recorded include black-throated, black-headed or masked gerygone, warbler or flyeater, hornet-nest bird, from a propensity to nest near wasp nests. These names were appl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Azure Kingfisher
The azure kingfisher (''Ceyx azureus'') is a small kingfisher in the river kingfisher subfamily, Alcedininae.Pizzey, Graham and Doyle, Roy. (1980) ''A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia.'' Collins Publishers, Sydney. Description The azure kingfisher measures in length, and the male weighs while the female is slightly heavier at . It is a very colourful bird, with deep blue to azure back, a large white to buff spot on the side of the neck and throat, rufous-buff with some blue-violet streaks on the breast and flanks. The feet are red with only two forward toes. The lores (the region between the eye and the bill) are white and inconspicuous except in front view, where they stand out as two large white eye-like spots which may have a role in warding off potential predators. Taxonomy The subspecies (see box at right) differ only in minor details: compared with the nominate subspecies ''Ceyx azureus azureus'', ''C. a. ruficollaris'' is smaller, brighter, and has more blue on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bar-breasted Honeyeater
The bar-breasted honeyeater (''Ramsayornis fasciatus'') is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is endemic to northern Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ..., with a breeding season from late spring to winter. It feeds primarily on nectar and invertebrates. References bar-breasted honeyeater Birds of the Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Endemic birds of Australia bar-breasted honeyeater Taxonomy articles created by Polbot bar-breasted honeyeater {{Meliphagidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-gaped Honeyeater
The white-gaped honeyeater (''Stomiopera unicolor'') is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. The white-gaped honeyeater was previously placed in the genus ''Lichenostomus'', but was moved to '' Stomiopera'' after a molecular phylogenetic analysis published in 2011 showed that the original genus was polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of conver .... References white-naped honeyeater Birds of the Northern Territory Birds of Cape York Peninsula Birds of Queensland Endemic birds of Australia white-naped honeyeater Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Meliphagidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Banded Honeyeater
The banded honeyeater (''Cissomela pectoralis'') is a species of honeyeater in the family Meliphagidae with a characteristic narrow black band across its white underparts. It is endemic to tropical northern Australia. Taxonomy and systematics The scientific name for the banded honeyeater is ''Cissomela pectoralis (''Gould, 1841). The holotype was Holotype ANSP 18224 male, Australia: north coast, held in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia. 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. The genus name ''Cissomela'' (Bonaparte, 1854) 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 ''pect ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yellow Honeyeater
The yellow honeyeater (''Stomiopera flava'') is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is endemic to Australia. Overview Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest. The yellow honeyeater hovers in front of the spectacular flowers of the bottlebrush orchid (''Coelandria smillieae''), which appear in northern Queensland between August and November, while feeding upon the nectar and pollinating the flowers.Jones, David L. (2006). A complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia, including the island territories. New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W. 2086 Australia. p.385. . The yellow honeyeater was previously placed in the genus '' Lichenostomus'', but was moved to ''Stomiopera'' after a molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yellow-tinted Honeyeater
The yellow-tinted honeyeater (''Ptilotula flavescens'') is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is found in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. The yellow-tinted honeyeater was previously included in the genus ''Lichenostomus'', but was moved to ''Ptilotula'' after a molecular phylogenetic analysis, published in 2011, showed that the original genus was polyphyly, polyphyletic. Gallery File:Yellow-tinted Honeyeater 7377.jpg, Ptilotula flavescens Gregory River, Queensland References Ptilotula, yellow-tinted honeyeater Birds of the Northern Territory Birds of Cape York Peninsula Birds of Papua New Guinea Birds described in 1840, yellow-tinted honeyeater Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Meliphagidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Silver-crowned Friarbird
The silver-crowned friarbird (''Philemon argenticeps'') is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is endemic to northern Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...s and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. References silver-crowned friarbird Birds of the Northern Territory Birds of Cape York Peninsula Endemic birds of Australia silver-crowned friarbird Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Meliphagidae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bush Stone-curlew
The bush stone-curlew or bush thick-knee, also known as the Iben bird (''Burhinus grallarius'', obsolete name ''Burhinus magnirostris'') is a large, ground-dwelling bird endemic to Australia. Its favoured habitat is open plains and woodlands, where it stalks slowly at night in search of invertebrates such as insects. Its grey-brown coloration is distinguished by dark streaks, its eyes are large and legs are long. It is capable of flight, but relies on the camouflage of its plumage to evade detection during the day; the bush curlew adopts a rigid posture when it becomes aware of an observer. Both sexes care for two eggs laid on the bare ground, usually sited near bush in a shaded position or next to a fallen branch. Taxonomy The bush stone-curlew was first described by English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name ''Charadius grallarius''. Latham published three names simultaneously; however, the seniority of ''C. grallarius'' follows the publication of the nam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masked Finch
The masked finch (''Poephila personata'') is a small passerine bird in the estrildid finch family, Estrildidae. It is a common resident of dry savannah across northern Australia, from the Kimberley, across the Top End, the Gulf country and the southern part of Cape York Peninsula, as far east as Chillagoe, but always near water. Description The masked finch is 12.5–13.5 cm long. The male is larger, but the sexes are otherwise similar. It is cinnamon-brown above and paler below with a white rump, black mark on the flanks and black face mask. It has a heavy yellow bill and a pointed black tail. The eastern subspecies ''P. p. leucotis'' has whitish cheeks. Behaviour Pairs or small flocks of masked finches forage through the day, mostly on the ground for grass seeds. In the evenings and early mornings, large numbers—sometimes thousands— can gather around waterholes to drink, cleanse, and preen, flicking their tails sideways and chattering incessantly. Pairs build a d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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