Epthianura
Encyclopedia
Epthianura is a genus
of bird
also known as the Australian chats. Along with the Gibberbird
in the genus Ashbyia they were once thought to constitute a separate family, the Epthianuridae, although most taxonomists today treat them as a subfamily, Epthianurinae, of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae.
, where they are widely distributed across the mainland and, in the case of the White-fronted Chat
, Tasmania
. With the exception of that species they are generally distributed in the central part of Australia; the White-fronted Chat being the most coastal species. The Australian chats have adapted to a wide range of habitat types in the interior of Australia, though they generally are found in more shrubby environments than wooded ones and are also seldom found in high altitudes. They are particularly adapted to arid environments, but also frequent riparian woodlands, temporary and permanent wetlands, herblands, and even human modified farmlands.
There are large gaps in the knowledge of the migratory
movements of the Australian chats. Some species are apparently nomadic, at least over parts of their range, and others migratory, but the difficulty in reaching and surveying much of their habitat (and the avoidance of the centre of Australia during the height of summer by many observers) means that complete picture of these movements has not yet been obtained. It is also apparent that many of these movements are not only seasonal but dependent on weather conditions, birds may be common in on locality in some years but not in others. This nomadism allows them to make use of unpredictable rainfall in the arid deserts.
s adapted to a highly terrestrial existence. The bill is short and slender, and overall they are slightly more rotund than the honeyeaters. In common with the rest of the honeyeaters they have a brush-tipped tongue. The plumage
of the genus is sexually dimorphic
, with the males having bright (or in the case of the White-fronted Chat, striking) colours. The breast and cap of the Crimson Chat
is bright crimson as the name suggests, and the back is dark grey with a white throat. In contrast the female lacks any crimson except on her rump. The male Orange
and Yellow Chat
s have bright yellow/gold plumage, whereas the females are much duller grey. The Most unusual species is the White-fronted Chat, which in the male has a striking black back and chest band and a white face and belly. The Yellow and Crimson Chats are unusual amongst the honeyeaters in having seasonal differences in plumage, particularly in the males, which are much duller in the non-breeding season.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
also known as the Australian chats. Along with the Gibberbird
Gibberbird
The Gibberbird is a species of bird endemic to Australia. It is the only species in the genus Ashbyia. It, along with the four chats in the genus Epthianura, have sometimes been placed in a separate family, Epthianuridae , but are now thought to be aberrant honeyeaters in the family...
in the genus Ashbyia they were once thought to constitute a separate family, the Epthianuridae, although most taxonomists today treat them as a subfamily, Epthianurinae, of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae.
Distribution, habitat and movements
The genus Epthianura is endemic to the continent of AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where they are widely distributed across the mainland and, in the case of the White-fronted Chat
White-fronted Chat
The White-fronted Chat is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia, being found across southern Australia from Shark Bay in Western Australia around to the Queensland/New South Wales border.- References :* at NSW Govt Office of Environment and Heritage...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. With the exception of that species they are generally distributed in the central part of Australia; the White-fronted Chat being the most coastal species. The Australian chats have adapted to a wide range of habitat types in the interior of Australia, though they generally are found in more shrubby environments than wooded ones and are also seldom found in high altitudes. They are particularly adapted to arid environments, but also frequent riparian woodlands, temporary and permanent wetlands, herblands, and even human modified farmlands.
There are large gaps in the knowledge of the migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
movements of the Australian chats. Some species are apparently nomadic, at least over parts of their range, and others migratory, but the difficulty in reaching and surveying much of their habitat (and the avoidance of the centre of Australia during the height of summer by many observers) means that complete picture of these movements has not yet been obtained. It is also apparent that many of these movements are not only seasonal but dependent on weather conditions, birds may be common in on locality in some years but not in others. This nomadism allows them to make use of unpredictable rainfall in the arid deserts.
Description
The Australian chats are small honeyeaterHoneyeater
The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also found in New Zealand, the Pacific islands as far east as Samoa and Tonga, and the islands to the north and west of New Guinea known as Wallacea...
s adapted to a highly terrestrial existence. The bill is short and slender, and overall they are slightly more rotund than the honeyeaters. In common with the rest of the honeyeaters they have a brush-tipped tongue. The plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
of the genus is sexually dimorphic
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
, with the males having bright (or in the case of the White-fronted Chat, striking) colours. The breast and cap of the Crimson Chat
Crimson Chat
The Crimson Chat is a species of small birds found in Australia. They are known by many other common names including: Tricolored Chat, Crimson tang, and Red canary in English; Scharlachtrugschmätzer by Germans; Curruca Carmesí in Spanish; and Epthianure tricolore in French...
is bright crimson as the name suggests, and the back is dark grey with a white throat. In contrast the female lacks any crimson except on her rump. The male Orange
Orange Chat
The Orange Chat is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
and Yellow Chat
Yellow Chat
The Yellow Chat is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
s have bright yellow/gold plumage, whereas the females are much duller grey. The Most unusual species is the White-fronted Chat, which in the male has a striking black back and chest band and a white face and belly. The Yellow and Crimson Chats are unusual amongst the honeyeaters in having seasonal differences in plumage, particularly in the males, which are much duller in the non-breeding season.
Behaviour
The Australian chats are predominately terrestrial birds. While they will make use of low shrubs, they are seldom seen in the upper levels of trees. They are conspicuous birds, particular the brightly coloured males, and generally unconcerned by human activity, although they are more circumspect in the breeding season around the nest. They generally occu in pairs or small groups, but will form larger flocks during the non-breeding season.Species
- White-fronted ChatWhite-fronted ChatThe White-fronted Chat is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia, being found across southern Australia from Shark Bay in Western Australia around to the Queensland/New South Wales border.- References :* at NSW Govt Office of Environment and Heritage...
(Epthianura albifrons) - Orange ChatOrange ChatThe Orange Chat is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
(Epthianura aurifrons) - Yellow ChatYellow ChatThe Yellow Chat is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
(Epthianura crocea) - Crimson ChatCrimson ChatThe Crimson Chat is a species of small birds found in Australia. They are known by many other common names including: Tricolored Chat, Crimson tang, and Red canary in English; Scharlachtrugschmätzer by Germans; Curruca Carmesí in Spanish; and Epthianure tricolore in French...
(Epthianura tricolor)