Kingdom Animalia Scientific name Anthochaera Higher classification Honeyeater Order Passerine | Family Meliphagidae Phylum Chordata Rank Genus Class Aves | |
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Lower classifications Red wattlebird, Little wattlebird, Yellow wattlebird, Western wattlebird | ||
Little wattlebird calling singing anthochaera chrysoptera
Wattlebirds (Anthochaera) is a genus of birds in the honeyeater family. The species are native to Australia and include the little wattlebird, the red wattlebird, the western wattlebird, and the yellow wattlebird. Recent evidence suggests the regent honeyeater belongs in this genus.
Of the five species in the genus only the yellow wattlebird and the red wattlebird have wattles. These are bare fleshy appendages, usually wrinkled and often brightly coloured, hanging from the cheeks, neck or throat, and presumably serving for display.
Some other birds also have wattles, although they are not known by the term "wattlebird". Examples include the turkey; some vultures; and several species of lapwing. The entire Callaeidae family of New Zealand, comprising the tieke (also known as the saddleback), the kokako, and the extinct huia, are also known as wattlebirds, but are unrelated to this genus.
The regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) was formerly placed in its own genus Xanthomyza but was moved to Anthochaera based on phylogenetic analysis using DNA sequence data.
The genus Anthochaera was introduced in 1827 by the naturalists Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield. The word Anthochaera is derived from the Greek anthos meaning flower or bloom and khairÅ meaning to enjoy.
The genus Anthochaera contains the following species:
A molecular phylogenetic analysis has shown that the genus Anthochaera is the sister group to the monotypic genus Acanthagenys containing the Spiny-cheeked honeyeater.