Philemon citreogularis
Little Friarbird
Other common names: Yellow-throated Friarbird, (Little) Leatherhead
Taxonomy: Tropidorhynchus citreogularis Gould, 1837, interior of New South Wales, Australia.
The Little Friarbird is the smallest of the friarbirds, with a medium, curved bill with no casque (a bump, characteristic of other friarbirds) and a squared off tail when spread. It is brown-grey above, paler grey on neck and collar, with a distinctive bare blue-grey face patch, and pale greyish white below with fine white streaking on the breast. Females are slightly smaller, but otherwise similar.
Not Threatened
The Little Friarbird is the smallest of the friarbirds, with a medium, curved bill with no casque (a bump, characteristic of other friarbirds) and a squared off tail when spread. It is brown-grey above, paler grey on neck and collar, with a distinctive bare blue-grey face patch, and pale greyish white below with fine white streaking on the breast. Females are slightly smaller, but otherwise similar. Young birds are browner above, with more yellowish colourings on chin and throat.
The Little Friarbird overlaps with, but is smaller than, the Silvercrowned Friarbird, P. argenticeps, and is much smaller and slimmer than either the Helmeted, P. buceroides, or Noisy, P. corniculatus, Friarbirds. Its blue-grey face patch and the lack of a casque (bump) on its bill also help to distinguish it from these species.
Forms a superspecies with P. inornatus, P. brassi and P. kisserensis; often treated as conspecific with last of those. Nominate race intergrades with sordidus in Queensland (from near Cape York S to around Georgetown); also exhibits slight clinal variation in size, with decrease in length of wing and increase in length of bill from S to N. Additional proposed races in Australia are occidentalis (described from Derby, in N Western Australia), breda (from Melville I), johnstoni (from Johnston R, in N Queensland) and carpentariae (from Normanton, in NW Queensland), but all of these represent only minor and clinal variation in size and tone of plumage. Three subspecies recognized.
(source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * papuensis Mayr & Rand, 1935 - CS New Guinea (Merauke E to Oriomo * sordidus (Gould, 1848) - N Western Australia (mainly N of 19° S, including many offshore islands) E through Top End of Northern Territory (including Melville I, Groote Eylandt and Sir Edward Pellew Is) toNW Queensland (S to Selwyn Range). * citreogularis (Gould, 1837) - Queensland (from Cape York Peninsula and E of Diamantina Drainage Basin) to New South Wales (largely absent E of Great Divide in SE), N Victoria and extreme CE South Australia (along Murray R).
The Little Friarbird is found near water, mainly in open forests and woodlands dominated by eucalypts. Also found in wetlands, monsoon forests, mangroves and coastal heathlands. Only extend into arid zone along waterways. Mostly tropical, but also common in semi-arid zone. It will also be seen in gardens and orchards. Seasonal movements: Considered resident in northern Australia; further south, partially migratory in autumn and spring.
Feeds alone, in pairs or small flocks, almost entirely in trees, and are rarely seen on ground. Their diet is mainly nectar and invertebrates, sometimes also eating flowers, fruit and seeds. Sometimes feed in mixed groups with other honeyeaters.
Forms monogamous pairs. Both parents build the nest, a large deep open cup, often see-through, lined with fine grasses and other soft materials, which is always near or overhanging water. The female alone incubates the eggs, but both parents feed the young. Two broods may be raised in a season. Often parasitised by the Common Koel, Eudynamys scolopacea. Noisy, harsh calls. Also some musical 'che-weep, chewip, chewip, chew-will, che-will' notes give in breeding season.