Friarbird
| Friarbirds | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Noisy friarbird, Philemon corniculatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Meliphagidae |
| Genus: |
Philemon Vieillot, 1816 |
| Species | |
|
about 15 (see text) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
about 15 (see text)
The friarbirds, also called leatherheads, are about 15 species of relatively large honeyeaters in the genus Philemon. Additionally, the single member of the genus Melitograis is called the white-streaked friarbird. Friarbirds are found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, eastern Indonesia and New Caledonia. They eat nectar, insects and other invertebrates, flowers, fruit and seeds.
The friarbirds generally have drab plumage. They derive their name from the circular pattern at the crown of their heads and their neutral coloring, which makes them resemble friars. In many instances their plumage is mimicked by smaller orioles, which use the aggressive nature of the friarbirds to avoid aggression themselves.
The genus Philemon contains the following extant species:
Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Philemon:
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