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Friarbird

{{Short description|Genus of birds}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Automatic Taxobox

| name = Friarbirds

| image = Philemon_corniculatus_-_Glen_Davis.jpg

| image_caption = Noisy friarbird, Philemon corniculatus

| taxon = Philemon

| authority = Vieillot, 1816

| type_species = Merops moluccensis

| type_species_authority = Gmelin, JF, 1788

}}

The friarbirds, also called leatherheads, are a group of 18 relatively large honeyeaters in the genus Philemon. Additionally, the single member of the genus Melitograis is called the white-streaked friarbird. Friarbirds are found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, and New Caledonia. They eat nectar, insects and other invertebrates, flowers, fruit, and seeds.{{Cite book | first = Peter | last = Higgins | first2 = Les | last2 = Christidis| first3 = Hugh | last3 = Ford| editor-first = Josep | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor2-first = Andrew | editor2-last = Elliott | editor3-first = David | editor3-last = Christie | contribution = Family Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters) | title = Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13, Penduline-tits to Shrikes | year = 2008 | pages = 679–685| place = Barcelona | publisher = Lynx Edicions | isbn = 978-84-96553-45-3 }}

The friarbirds generally have drab plumage. They derive their name from the circular pattern at the crown of their heads and their neutral coloring, which makes them resemble friars. In many instances, their plumage is mimicked by smaller orioles, which use the aggressive nature of the friarbirds to avoid aggression themselves.{{cite journal|author=Diamond J |year=1982|url=http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v099n02/p0187-p0196.pdf |title=Mimicry of friarbirds by orioles|journal=The Auk|volume=99|issue=2|pages= 187–196}}

Taxonomy

The genus Philemon was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot.{{cite book | last=Vieillot | first=Louis Pierre | author-link=Louis Pierre Vieillot | year=1816 | title=Analyse d'une Nouvelle Ornithologie Élémentaire

| publisher=Deterville/self | location=Paris | page = 47 | language=French| url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9745205x/f53.item }} Vieillot did not specify a type species but this was designated as the Buru friarbird by George Gray in 1840.{{ cite book | last=Gray | first=George Robert | author-link=George Robert Gray | year=1840 | title=A List of the Genera of Birds : with an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus | location=London | publisher=R. and J.E. Taylor | page=15 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13668909 }}{{ cite book | editor-last=Paynter | editor-first=Raymond A. Jr | year=1986 | title=Check-list of Birds of the World | volume=12 | publisher=Museum of Comparative Zoology | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=403 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14482520 }} The genus name is from Ancient Greek philēmōn meaning "affectionate" or "kissing".{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=302 | url=https://archive.org/stream/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling#page/n302/mode/1up }}

The genus contains the following 16 species:{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela C. Rasmussen | date=February 2025 | title=Honeyeaters | work=IOC World Bird List Version 15.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/honeyeaters/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=10 March 2025 }}

Formerly, some authorities also considered the black-eared oriole (as Philedon bouroensis) a species within the genus Philemon.

References

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Category:Taxa named by Louis Pierre Vieillot