Австралияның ақ қауырсынды балқұмыршасы

Species of bird

The white plumed honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata, formerly Lichenostomus penicillatus) is a small passerine bird endemic to Australia. White plumed honeyeaters are common around water and are often seen in backyards and suburbs with vegetation cover.

First described by English naturalist John Gould in 1837, the specimen he examined came from "the interior of New South Wales". The species epithet penicillata derives from the Latin word penicillis meaning 'brush tip', referring to the white plume across the side of the neck. He placed the species in Meliphaga, where it would remain for almost 150 years. In 1975, Australian naturalist Richard Schodde split Meliphaga and placed the species in Lichenostomus. With the introduction of molecular studies, it was apparent that the white plumed honeyeater belonged in a clade within Lichenostomus. This had first been suggested by Mathews in 1915, who placed it with the Yellow tinted honeyeater in a genus he named Ptilotula; but this was rejected by the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. The Ptilotula clade was finally promoted to genus after new molecular evidence was published in 2011. The species is probably of Miocene origin, with a fossil fragment found in Riversleigh, Queensland, appearing very similar to the white plumed honeyeater leg bone.

The plumage does not differ between the sexes. It was formerly linked closely to the distribution of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and a few other riverine species; but it has since expanded into coastal areas to become resident in Sydney and Newcastle, where they were previously uncommon or only seasonal visitors. it is mainly found in open sclerophyll woodland, often near water sources, such as wetlands, swamps, creeks, and dams.

The white plumed honeyeater's diet consists mainly of nectar, insects and their products (e. g., honeydew and lerp), manna, fruit, and very occasionally seeds. They may also peck at berries to feed on juice. Where sufficient standing water occurs, P. penicillata can be observed drinking at least twice per day. A study in the Pilbara region of Western Australia found that white plumed honeyeaters must eat around 100 berries to obtain 1mL of water. Needing 5 10mL per day, white plumed honeyeaters were able to feed on 500–1000 berries in a five hour period in order to obtain both caloric requirements and sufficient water intake.

White plumed honeyeaters mainly feed by gleaning leaf surfaces. Arthropod prey is usually taken by gleaning, but some prey is taken on the wing. In urban areas, they are typically canopy foragers but foraging heights can vary, depending on the influence of other resident species. For example, in the presence of aggressive competitors, such as fuscous honeyeaters, white plumed honeyeaters avoid conflict by modifying their foraging behaviour. Insects are sometimes taken on the wing, but probably only provide a protein and mineral source, as a surplus of energy is available in nectar, lerp, and manna. The lower proportion of insects in the diet is a consequence of the fact that more energy is spent hawking prey than can be redeemed from the prey. but no data from wild populations exists. Foraging groups may use a chip chip contact call, or a song which is repeated by nearby individuals. however, males maintain enlarged testes throughout the year. Breeding occurs throughout their range with records in all months, and clutches typically produced 2–3 times per year. The female appears to be responsible for construction, but both sexes maintain and make repairs. Nests are usually located among the foliage in crowns of trees or shrubs, and only rarely seen in mistletoe. Sometimes nests are constructed in forks or on branches, and rarely in dead foliage. There is some evidence of site fidelity, and nest trees may be shared with active nests maintained by several other species, including wagtails, magpie lark, woodswallows, and other honeyeater species. Males undertake a song flight display, with a slight climbing and undulating flight above treetops while singing. Eggs laid late in season tend to be lighter, and those from inland populations tend to be white with fewer markings. Incubation is most likely solely by the female for a period of 13–15 days. This is correlated with increasing temperatures in the regions surveyed, with body size increasing by 0.064% per year.