Yellow chat
| Yellow chat | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Meliphagidae |
| Genus: | Epthianura |
| Species: | E. crocea |
| Binomial name | |
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Epthianura crocea Castelnau & Ramsay, 1877 |
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The yellow chat (Epthianura crocea) is a small passerine bird endemic to Australia. They are known for their remarkable adaptions that aid their survival in their arid habitat.
The yellow chat is a Passeriform in the family Meliphagidae. They were formally considered a separate family (Epthianuridae) until the discovery of their brush tongue and results from a DNA analysis led to their classification as honeyeaters in the Meliphagidae family. They are one of four species in the Epthianura genus, with the other three being the crimson chat (Epthianura tricolor), the orange chat (Epthianura aurifrons) and the white-fronted chat (Epthianura albifrons).
Four subspecies of Epthianura crocea were initially identified, however only three are currently recognised. These subspecies are primarily distinguished by their morphological variances in the adult males breeding plumages.
Found in the Kimberley to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Lake Eyre Basin.
Restricted to a small area in the floodplains from the Adelaide River to the East Alligator River.
Also known as the Capricorn yellow chat; occurs in the coastal region of central Queensland. This subspecies is considered critically endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The yellow chat is a small passerine bird usually seen in groups of 2-10 individuals. They are approximately 11 cm tall and weighing 9g. They are sexually dimorphic with the adult male having a bright golden-yellow forehead and underparts with a prominent black crescent breast band. The crown and nape are a grey-olive colour, the back is yellowish-brown and the tail is black with yellow tips on the feathers. The female is of similar colouring to the male but with a paler yellow colour and with no breast band. The juveniles are distinguished by being more greyish-brown in colour than the yellow displayed by their parents. All yellow chats, including juveniles, have a distinctive yellow rump when in flight. They have relatively long legs and toes, allowing them to forage with ease for food over low vegetation and on the ground. Yellow chats can also be identified by their distinctive, high-pitched and tuneful ‘pee pee’ call.
The yellow chat occurs patchily throughout northern Australia, ranging from the arid zone north-east of South Australia and south-west of Queensland to north-west Northern Territory. There are some isolated populations in eastern Queensland and in north-west Western Australia. Their habitat consists of high temperatures for most of the year and contains marshy plains vegetated with saltbush, rank grasses or cumbungi reeds. These marshes have been formed by marine lagoons or inland artesian bore drains, creating a saline environment. This distribution includes the central arid region and hot, subhumid monsoonal region. Most of the annual rainfall falls during the summer monsoon, leaving the remaining six months of the year with little rainfall.
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Wikipedia