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Melanocharitidae

(Family)

Overview

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The Melanocharitidae, the berrypeckers and longbills, is a small family restricted to the forests of New Guinea. The family was once placed inside the Flowerpecker family Dicaeidae, and the longbills were once considered to be honeyeaters (which they closely resemble). It comprises ten species in two genera, the Melanocharis berrypeckers and the Toxorhamphus. There is some confusion with the common names, as there are two other berrypecker species in the tiny family Paramythiidae, once considered to be close to the flowerpeckers as well; and several Old World warbler genera in Africa also known as longbills. The Spotted Berrypecker was once attributed its own genus Rhamphocharis.1]

These are medium-sized birds[2] (Melanocharis usually bigger than Toxorhamphus[3]) which feed on fruit and on insects and other invertebrates.[2][3] They have drab-colored plumage in greys, browns or black and white.[2] The berrypeckers resemble stout short-billed honeyeaters, and the longbills are like drab sunbirds[2] or short-tailed honeyeaters.[3] The calls of the berrypeckers have been described as high pitched and faint, and the song rapid.

The berrypeckers are generally montane species, with only one, the Black Berrypecker, being found in lowland forest.[4] In contrast the longbills live in lowland forests and low montane forests as well as on small islands around New Guinea.[2] Amongst the berrypeckers there is a succession of species at different altitudes, with the Black Berrypecker being found in the lowlands, the Lemon-breasted Berrypecker being found at lower altitudes (mid-montane) and the Fan-tailed Berrypecker being found near the treeline.[2]

Melanocharitidae species are usually seen alone or in pairs.[2] The breeding of some species is undescribed; those that are known breed in the dry season.[3] They build a cup nest,[2][3] usually on a forked branch near the edge of a tree, out of fern scales and plant fibres bound neatly with insect or spider silk and ornamented with lichens.[3] They lay one or two eggs.[2]

The berrypeckers and longbills are not considered to be threatened by human activities. No species is listed as threatened by the IUCN, although one species, the Obscure Berrypecker, is listed as data deficient.[5] That species is known officially from two collected specimens, but unconfirmed reports suggest that it is not uncommon in remote parts of New Guinea.[6]

Species

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Taxonomy

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The Family Melanocharitidae is a member of the Superfamily Passeroidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Melanocharitidae:

The Family Melanocharitidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Melanocharis

Melanocharis is a genus of in the Melanocharitidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Oedistoma

The Pygmy Longbill or Pygmy Honeyeater (Oedistoma or Toxorhamphus pygmaeum) is a species of in the Melanocharitidae family. It is placed in the genus Toxorhamphus or in Oedistoma, which sometimes also includes the Plumed Longbill (Toxorhamphus iliolophus). It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on New Guinea and adjacent islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. [more]

Rhamphocharis

Toxorhamphus

Toxorhamphus is a genus of in the Melanocharitidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

At least 4 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Toxorhamphus.

More info about the Genus Toxorhamphus may be found here.

References

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  1. ^ Salomonsen, F (1960) "Notes on flowerpeckers (Aves, Dicaeidae). 1, The genera Melanocharis, Rhamphocharis, and Prionochilus" (PDF) American Museum novitates 1990 P. 28
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Winkler, David W. "Melanocharitidae". Bird Families of the World. Cornell University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/winkler/botw/melanocharitidae.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-19. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f Kikkawa, Jiro (2003). "Flowerpeckers". in Christopher Perrins (Ed.). Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books. pp. 584–585. ISBN 1-55297-777-3. 
  4. ^ Beehler, B., Pratt, T. & Zimmerman, D. (1986) Birds of New Guinea Princeton University Press:Princeton, ISBN 0-691-02394-8
  5. ^ BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Melanocharis arfakiana. Downloaded on 3/7/200
  6. ^ Gregory, P. & Webster, R. (2004) Papua New Guinea 2004 Field Guide Triplist. Downloaded on 11/9/2006

Sources

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Last Revised: September 22, 2009
2009/09/22 13:27:03