The little friarbird (Philemon citreogularis), also known as the little leatherhead or yellow-throated friarbird, is the smallest of the friarbirds within the Philemon genus.[2] It is found throughout northern and eastern Australia as well as southern Papua New Guinea.[2] It lives a very prominent life, whereby it can easily be seen chasing other honeyeaters, and also it is very vocal.[3] However, the little friarbird is usually spotted high up in trees, rarely being seen on the ground.[3]
Description
The little friarbird ranges from 25–30 centimetres (9.8–11.8in) in length.[4] The average size tends to be 27 centimetres (11in) with an average weight of 67 grams (2.4oz).[5] Although males and females tend to be very similar in appearance, males are larger.[3]
The little friarbird can be easily distinguished from other friarbirds by the absence of a casque (a prominent ridge or bump present on the beak).[6] Another key recognisable feature is the bare blue skin present under the eye which widens over the cheek. (The bare blue skin can vary from grey to black in tone.)[5][7][8] Dark feathers are present both above and below the blue skin.[8] The top of the head and body are a dark grey-brown with a dull white fringe present on the nape which flows around to a wide patch on the side of the neck.[6] Fine silky white feathers are present under the chin with silvery white streaks flowing down the breast merging to pale grey for the underbody of the little friarbird.[4][6]
The little friarbird also has a black curved bill, dark brown eyes with bluish black legs.[6] Its flight characteristics involve wing-beats which are shallow and quivering in nature.[2] The tail is clearly square-cut when spread with slight pale tips present on the tail feathers.[2]
Juveniles
Juvenile little friarbirds tend to have a paler appearance with a lighter facial skin.[8] The chin, throat and, in some cases, upper breast tend to appear as a washed yellow with yellow spots on the side of the breast.[2][8] The term 'citreogularis' is frequently used to describe young birds which have a yellow fore-neck.[6] The tail feathers also tend to appear with a shallower cut, unlike those of adult little friarbirds.[6]
Voice
The little friarbird has a very distinct voice consisting of a repeated liquid mellow "gee-wit" or "chewip".[2] When breeding, the song is extended and includes chattering scoldings.[2] A common sequence may be paraphrased as "rackety-crookshank".[9]
Diet
The little friarbird has been observed feeding alone, in pairs and small flocks.[5] However, they are rarely seen feeding on the ground as they prefer to remain in the trees and feed with other honeyeaters in mixed groups.[5] They feed on nectar, blossoms, fruit, invertebrates, and sometimes flowers and seeds.[3][5][7]
Distribution and habitat
The little friarbird is present most predominantly in northern Australia with seasonal movements to south-east Australia.[5] They have been witnessed from the district of Broome in Western Australia through the Kimberleys into the northern portion of the Northern Territory.[2] They have been sighted throughout most of Queensland going as far inland as Mount Isa and Opalton.[2] In summer, they also spread throughout the south-east of Australia inhabiting the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory.[2]
The little friarbird has been sighted along the Murray River and throughout the Riverina within New South Wales.[2] In Victoria, the little friarbird is seen in the north-central region of the state, and near prominent bodies of water, such as Hattah Lakes.[2] Sightings occur as far as Morgan on the Murray River in South Australia.[2] They are also present in southern Papua New Guinea and on several islands adjacent to Australia.[2][7]
The little friarbird is found most predominantly around water bodies.[2] They can be seen in swamp woodlands, mangroves, shrub communities, open forests and woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus tree species.[5] They also inhabit orchards, vineyards and gardens during a good flowering season.[2] They may also inhabit arid zones, but only where water bodies extend well into the area.[5]
Breeding
Little friarbirds form monogamous pairs to breed.[3] Breeding records vary with the earliest being witnessed in July through to the latest in February.[6][7] Pairs share the role of building the nest which is a deep open cup that is flimsy and able to be seen through (eggs are visible).[4][5][6] The nest comprises a large variety of materials including bark fiber, fine grass, spiders' web, rootlets, and hair.[2][6] The nest is usually built over a water body low in tree branches, 2–10 meters high, and suspended from twigs or within dropped foliage.[2] A clutch usually consist of 2–3 eggs (sometimes 4), which tend to be an oval to tapered oval shape, averaging 20 by 27 millimetres (0.79in ×1.06in) in size.[9][2][4][7] The eggs appear chestnut in colour and can be a whitish pink to salmon red, or spotted purplish-red to purple.[2] Up to 2 broods can be raised within a single breeding season with the female being the sole incubator of the eggs.[4] A single nesting period tends to take 14 days within which 13 days of incubation occurs.[5] During the breeding season, the little friarbird is often parasitized by the common koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), a common cuckoo species.[3][5]
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