New Guinea Friarbird
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The helmeted friarbird (''Philemon buceroides'') is part of the ''
Meliphagidae The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family (biology), family, Meliphagidae, of small to medium-sized birds. The family includes the Epthianura, Australian chats, myzomelas, friarbirds, wattlebirds, Manorina, miners and melidectes. They are m ...
'' family. The helmeted friarbird, along with all their subspecies, is commonly referred to as “leatherhead” by the birding community.


Taxonomy

The helmeted friarbird was
formally described A species description is a formal scientific description of a newly encountered species, typically articulated through a scientific publication. Its purpose is to provide a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differ ...
in 1838 by the English zoologist
William Swainson William Swainson Fellow of the Linnean Society, FLS, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (8 October 1789 – 6 December 1855), was an English ornithologist, Malacology, malacologist, Conchology, conchologist, entomologist and artist. Life Swains ...
under the
binomial name In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, altho ...
''Philedon buceroides''. The specific epithet combines the genus ''
Buceros ''Buceros'', from Ancient Greek βοῦς (''boûs''), meaning "ox", and κέρας (''kéras''), meaning "horn", is a genus of large Asian hornbills (family Bucerotidae). Description Hornbills in the genus ''Buceros'' include some of the larges ...
'' that was introduced in 1758 by
Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...
for the hornbills with the
Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...
-οιδης/''-oidēs'' meaning "resembling". Swainson believed that his specimen had come from Australia ( New Holland) but this was an error and in 1916 the Austrian ornithologist
Carl Eduard Hellmayr Carl Eduard Hellmayr (29 January 1878 – 24 February 1944) was an Austrian ornithologist. Biography Hellmayr was born in Vienna and studied at the University of Vienna, although he did not complete his degree. After his studies he worked in Vie ...
designated the island of
Timor Timor (, , ) is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, in the north of the Timor Sea. The island is Indonesia–Timor-Leste border, divided between the sovereign states of Timor-Leste in the eastern part and Indonesia in the ...
as the type locality. The helmeted friarbird is now one of 17 friarbirds placed in the genus '' Philemon'' that was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist
Louis Pierre Vieillot Louis Pierre Vieillot (10 May 1748, Yvetot – 24 August 1830, Sotteville-lès-Rouen) was a French ornithologist. Vieillot is the author of the first scientific descriptions and Linnaean names of a number of birds, including species he collected ...
. Ten
subspecies In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...
are recognised: * ''P. b. jobiensis'' ( Meyer, AB, 1874) –
Yapen Yapen (also Japen, Jobi) is an island of Papua (province), Papua, Indonesia. The Yapen Strait separates Yapen and the Biak Islands to the north. It is in Cenderawasih Bay off the north-western coast of the island of New Guinea. To the west is ...
( Geelvink Bay islands, northwest
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
) and north
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
* ''P. b. novaeguineae'' ( Müller, S, 1842) –
Raja Ampat Islands Raja Ampat (), or the Four Kings, is an archipelago located off of the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula (on the island of New Guinea), Southwest Papua , Southwest Papua province, Indonesia. It comprises over 1,500 small islands, cays, and sh ...
(northwest of
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
), Bird south Head (northwest
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
) and south, southeast
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
(New Guinea friarbird) * ''P. b. aruensis'' (Meyer, AB, 1884) –
Aru Islands Aru or ARU may refer to: Education * Alpha Rho Upsilon, a defunct fraternity in the United States * Anglia Ruskin University, a university in England * Ardhi University, a Tanzanian public university Places * Aru Islands Regency, a group of i ...
(southwest of
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
) * ''P. b. subtuberosus'' Hartert, EJO, 1896 – D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago and
Trobriand Islands The Trobriand Islands are a archipelago of coral atolls off the east coast of New Guinea. They are part of the nation of Papua New Guinea and are in Milne Bay Province. Most of the population of 60,000 (2016) indigenous inhabitants live on the m ...
(east of southeast
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
) * ''P. b. tagulanus''
Rothschild Rothschild () is a name derived from the German ''zum rothen Schild'' (with the old spelling "th"), meaning "to the red shield", in reference to the houses where these family members lived or had lived. At the time, houses were designated by signs ...
& Hartert, EJO, 1918 –
Tagula Island Vanatinai Island (also called Tagula and Sudest, for the names of the extreme capes of the island) is a volcanic island in the southeast of the Louisiade Archipelago within Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. The reef-fringed island is approxi ...
(central
Louisiade Archipelago The Louisiade Archipelago is a string of ten larger volcanic islands frequently fringed by coral reefs, and 90 smaller coral islands in Papua New Guinea. It is located 200 km southeast of New Guinea, stretching over more than and spread o ...
, east of southeast
New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
) * ''P. b. neglectus'' ( Büttikofer, 1891) –
Lombok Lombok, is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is rou ...
to
Sumba Sumba (; ), natively also spelt as Humba, Hubba, Suba, or Zuba (in Sumba languages) is an Indonesian island (part of the Lesser Sunda Archipelago group) located in the Eastern Indonesia and administratively part of the East Nusa Tenggara pro ...
and
Flores Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, a group of islands in the eastern half of Indonesia. Administratively, it forms the largest island in the East Nusa Tenggara Province. The area is 14,250 km2. Including Komodo and Rinca islands ...
(west, central
Lesser Sunda Islands The Lesser Sunda Islands (, , ), now known as Nusa Tenggara Islands (, or "Southeast Islands"), are an archipelago in the Indonesian archipelago. Most of the Lesser Sunda Islands are located within the Wallacea region, except for the Bali pro ...
) * ''P. b. buceroides'' ( Swainson, 1838) –
Sawu Savu (, also known as Sabu, Havu, and Hawu) is the largest of a group of three islands, situated midway between Sumba and Rote, west of Timor, in Indonesia's eastern province, East Nusa Tenggara. Ferries connect the islands to Waingapu on Sumba, ...
to
Timor Timor (, , ) is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, in the north of the Timor Sea. The island is Indonesia–Timor-Leste border, divided between the sovereign states of Timor-Leste in the eastern part and Indonesia in the ...
and
Wetar Wetar is a tropical island which belongs to the Indonesian province of Maluku and is the largest island of the Maluku Barat Daya Islands (literally ''Southwest Islands'') Regency of the Maluku Islands. It lies east of the Lesser Sunda Islands, ...
(east
Lesser Sunda Islands The Lesser Sunda Islands (, , ), now known as Nusa Tenggara Islands (, or "Southeast Islands"), are an archipelago in the Indonesian archipelago. Most of the Lesser Sunda Islands are located within the Wallacea region, except for the Bali pro ...
) * ''P. b. yorki'' Mathews, 1912 – northeast Australia (hornbill friarbird) * ''P. b. gordoni'' Mathews, 1912 – coastal
Top End The Top End of Australia's Northern Territory is a geographical region encompassing the northernmost section of the Northern Territory, which aside from the Cape York Peninsula is the northernmost part of the Australian continent. It covers a ...
, north
Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
and Melville I. (
Tiwi Islands The Tiwi Islands ( meaning "two islands") are part of the Northern Territory, Australia, to the north of Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin adjoining the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island, Northern Territory, Melville Island, Bathurst I ...
, north of
Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
; far central north Australia) * ''P. b. ammitophilus''
Schodde Richard Schodde, OAM (born 23 September 1936) is an Australian botanist and ornithologist. Schodde studied at the University of Adelaide, where he received a BSc (Hons) in 1960 and a PhD in 1970. During the 1960s he was a botanist with the CSI ...
& Mason, IJ & McKean, 1979 – interior
Top End The Top End of Australia's Northern Territory is a geographical region encompassing the northernmost section of the Northern Territory, which aside from the Cape York Peninsula is the northernmost part of the Australian continent. It covers a ...
, north
Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
(central north Australia) The subspecies ''P. b. novaeguineae'' and ''P. b. yorki'' have sometimes been considered as separate species, as the New Guinea friarbird and the hornbill friarbird respectively.


Description

The helmeted friarbird has a dark gray face with red eyes. This bird is a gray-brown bird with a fading white as it comes toward the chest. As the spotted chest approaches the feet, it starts to tint darker until it gets to the feet. The bird ranges from 32 to 36 centimeters weighing in at 127-179g for males and 92-112g for females. The average male measures about 38 cm, and is the largest subspecies of the 4 helmeted friarbirds found in Australia.


Distribution and habitat

The helmeted friarbird is most prominently abundant in the Northern Territory coasts of Australia and Indonesia. The specific habitat of the friarbird varies based on the subspecies; however, they are mainly found in subtropical or tropical dry forests, lowland forests, and mangrove forests. While building nests, the friarbirds typically use bark, leaves and stems to create a sturdy structure. They will also use sticks for extra support and grass for comfort. They tend to build their nests close to a body of water and high in trees to avoid harm.


Behaviour

The helmeted friarbird is very vocal with loud "squawks" that can be heard from afar. They are known for sounding like ''keeyo-keoway'' or ''kowee ko keeyo'' which can be repeated up to a dozen times. In addition, they also vocalize ''kurr-rk'' frequently which they slowly repeat from eight to ten times. The friarbird typically is more vocal in the morning and during storms and is quiet throughout the rest of the time. There are only slim differences between the male and female as well.


Breeding

Breeding for the helmeted friarbird most commonly happens throughout the months of September to February, occasionally throughout the months of February to May and October to December, but never in the months of May and July. While breeding the helmeted friarbird typically lays 2-4 eggs at a time; however, they can lay up to 5 at a time. The incubation period only takes 15-18 days. The lifespan of a helmeted friarbird is roughly 5-7 years. The helmeted friarbird's population has currently been evaluated as stable; however, it is suspected that within the next 10 years the population will decrease by 10%, therefore ultimately classifying the species as vulnerable. The friarbird is quickly becoming closer to extinction with a decrease of ten percent after every generation. With the average lifespan only being five to seven years, this species is in danger. Unfortunately, the current population is unknown but we do know that it is declining by that ten percent.


Food and feeding

The helmeted friarbird eats a variety of food. The main source of their nutrients includes nectar, fruits and seeds. Occasionally, they will eat invertebrates, and on a rare occasion they will eat lizards; however, the basics of their diet vary according to their location. They will often congregate in feeding parties of 10 to 30 around flowering trees and shrubs.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q795511
helmeted friarbird The helmeted friarbird (''Philemon buceroides'') is part of the ''Meliphagidae'' family. The helmeted friarbird, along with all their subspecies, is commonly referred to as “leatherhead” by the birding community. Taxonomy The helmeted friarb ...
Birds of the Lesser Sunda Islands Birds of the Aru Islands Birds of New Guinea Birds of the Northern Territory Birds of Queensland
helmeted friarbird The helmeted friarbird (''Philemon buceroides'') is part of the ''Meliphagidae'' family. The helmeted friarbird, along with all their subspecies, is commonly referred to as “leatherhead” by the birding community. Taxonomy The helmeted friarb ...
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa named by William Swainson