Guadalcanal honeyeater

Summary

The Guadalcanal honeyeater (Guadalcanaria inexpectata) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is monotypic within the genus Guadalcanaria.[2] It is endemic to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands,[1] where it is found high in montane forest.[1] It was first described in 1929 by Ernst Hartert from specimens collected by Rollo Beck and his wife in 1927.[3]

Guadalcanal honeyeater
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Meliphagidae
Genus: Guadalcanaria
Hartert, 1929
Species:
G. inexpectata
Binomial name
Guadalcanaria inexpectata
Hartert, 1929

Description edit

The male and female of the species look the same but females tend to be smaller.[3]

The upper parts of the adult are slate grey with a brownish tinge on the rump and upper tail coverts. The throat and neck are greyish white. The breast and abdomen are dark grey, and the vent and undertail coverts are brownish grey with indistinct striation.[3]

The ear coverts are a glossy slate grey. On the side of the neck is a tuft of pointed golden-yellow feathers about 2 cm long.[3]

The bill is black and the iris brown.[3]

Immature birds appear similar to the adults but are smaller and less distinctly striated underneath. The tufts on the side of the neck are a paler yellow.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c BirdLife International (2016). "Guadalcanaria inexpectata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22704027A93949008. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22704027A93949008.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "ITIS Report: Guadalcanaria". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e Hartert, Ernst (1929-07-29). "Birds collected during the Whitney south sea expedition. VIII. Notes on birds from the Solomon Islands". American Museum Novitates (364): 1–19. hdl:2246/3749. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  4. ^ Mayr, Ernst (1932-02-17). "Birds collected during the Whitney south sea expedition. XVIII. Notes on birds from the Solomon Islands". American Museum Novitates (516): 1–30.