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{{Taxobox
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{{automatic Taxobox
  +
|color={{Taxobox_colour|[[Animalia]]}}
  +
|edit_link=
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|taxon = Chloropsis
 
| name = Leafbirds
 
| name = Leafbirds
 
| image = Golden Fronted Leafbird Mukulhinge.jpg
 
| image = Golden Fronted Leafbird Mukulhinge.jpg
 
| image_width = 240px
 
| image_width = 240px
 
| image_caption = [[Golden-fronted Leafbird]]
 
| image_caption = [[Golden-fronted Leafbird]]
 
| parent_authority = [[Frank Alexander Wetmore|Wetmore]], 1960
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
 
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
 
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
 
| ordo = [[Passeriformes]]
 
| subordo = [[Passeri]]
 
| familia = '''Chloropseidae'''
 
| familia_authority = [[Frank Alexander Wetmore|Wetmore]], 1960
 
 
| genus = '''''Chloropsis'''''
 
| genus = '''''Chloropsis'''''
| genus_authority = [[Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet|Jardine]] & [[Prideaux John Selby|Selby]], 1827
+
| authority = [[Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet|Jardine]] & [[Prideaux John Selby|Selby]], 1827
 
| subdivision_ranks = Species
 
| subdivision_ranks = Species
  +
| display_children= 1
| subdivision =
 
See text.
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
The '''leafbirds''' ('''Chloropseidae''') are a family of small [[passerine]] [[bird]] species found in [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. They are one of only three bird families that are entirely endemic to the [[Indomalaya]]n [[ecozone]]. They were formerly grouped with the [[iora]]s and [[fairy-bluebird]]s in the family Irenidae. As presently defined, the leafbird family is [[monotypic]], with all species placed in the [[genus]] '''''Chloropsis'''''.
 
The '''leafbirds''' ('''Chloropseidae''') are a family of small [[passerine]] [[bird]] species found in [[India]], [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. They are one of only three bird families that are entirely endemic to the [[Indomalaya]]n [[ecozone]]. They were formerly grouped with the [[iora]]s and [[fairy-bluebird]]s in the family Irenidae. As presently defined, the leafbird family is [[monotypic]], with all species placed in the [[genus]] '''''Chloropsis'''''.
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[[File:Chloropsis cochinchinensis -Singapore-8a.jpg|thumb|240px|The female [[Blue-winged Leafbird]] lacks the face mask of the male]]
 
[[File:Chloropsis cochinchinensis -Singapore-8a.jpg|thumb|240px|The female [[Blue-winged Leafbird]] lacks the face mask of the male]]
 
* '''Family: Chloropseidae'''
 
* '''Family: Chloropseidae'''
** [[Philippine Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis flavipennis''
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** [[Blue-masked Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis venusta''
** [[Yellow-throated Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis palawanensis''
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** [[Orange-bellied Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis hardwickii''
** [[Greater Green Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis sonnerati''
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** [[Jerdon's Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis jerdoni''
** [[Lesser Green Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis cyanopogon''
 
 
** [[Blue-winged Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis cochinchinensis''
 
** [[Blue-winged Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis cochinchinensis''
*** [[Jerdon's Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis (cochinchinensis) jerdoni''
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** [[Bornean Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis kinabaluensis''
*** [[Bornean Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis (cochinchinensis) kinabaluensis''
 
 
** [[Golden-fronted Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis aurifrons''
 
** [[Golden-fronted Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis aurifrons''
*** [[Sumatran Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis (aurifrons) media''
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** [[Greater Green-Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis sonnerati''
** [[Orange-bellied Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis hardwickii''
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** [[Sumatran Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis media''
** [[Blue-masked Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis venusta''
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** [[Philippine Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis flavipennis''
  +
** "[[Yellow-bordered Leafbird]]", ''Chloropsis septentrionalis''
 
** [[Lesser Green-Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis cyanopogon''
 
** [[Yellow-throated Leafbird]], ''Chloropsis palawanensis''
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
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[[Category:Chloropseidae]]
 
[[Category:Chloropseidae]]
 
[[Category:Chloropsis]]
 
[[Category:Chloropsis]]
  +
[[Category:Passeroidea|*{{PN}}]]
 
[[Category:Genera of Passeriformes]]
  +
[[Category:Families of Passeriformes]]

Latest revision as of 20:46, 4 December 2014

Leafbirds
Golden Fronted Leafbird Mukulhinge
Golden-fronted Leafbird
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Inopinaves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Clade: Basal Passeroidea
Family: Chloropseidae
Wetmore, 1960
Genus: Chloropsis
Jardine & Selby, 1827

The leafbirds (Chloropseidae) are a family of small passerine bird species found in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. They are one of only three bird families that are entirely endemic to the Indomalayan ecozone. They were formerly grouped with the ioras and fairy-bluebirds in the family Irenidae. As presently defined, the leafbird family is monotypic, with all species placed in the genus Chloropsis.

Description

The leafbirds range in size from 14 to 21 cm (5.5–8.3 in), and in weight from 15 to 48 g (0.53–1.69 oz).[1] They resemble bulbuls, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colour, leafbirds are brightly plumaged, with the predominant green over the body giving rise to their common name. The family is mostly sexually dimorphic in their plumage, this can vary from the highly dimorphic Orange-bellied Leafbird to the Philippine Leafbird, which exhibits no sexual dimorphism. Most of the differences between the sexes are in the extent of the other colours in the plumage, particularly in the colours around the head and the blue or black face mask, with females have less colour and a less extensive (or absent) mask.[1] Some species have blue on the wings and tail. The plumage of juvenile birds is a duller version of the female's. To human ears, their songs are melodious, and several species are good mimics. The calls include whistles and chatters.[2]

Like bulbuls, leafbirds drop many body feathers when they are handled. This may confuse predators, especially snakes.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Leafbirds are always found in trees and shrubs. Most are restricted to evergreen forests except the Golden-fronted Leafbird and Jerdon's Leafbird which live in deciduous monsoon forests, and the Orange-bellied Leafbird, which occurs in deciduous forests. Within this requirement, they occupy all broadleaf forest types in the South and Southeast Asia. The highest altitude they occur at is 2500 m (8200 feet).[2] Some species, such as the Blue-masked Leafbird, have montane distributions, rarely descending below 1000 m.[1]

The Orange-bellied Leafbird and the Golden-fronted Leafbird are amongst the more widespread species, with large ranges across mainland Asia. Some species have more retricted distributions, such as the Yellow-throated Leafbird, which is endemic to the Philippine island of Palawan, and the Bornean Leafbird, restricted to northern Borneo. In general there are seldom more than three species occurring in the same area, although five species co-occur in the submontane forests of Sumatra. Co-occurring species are usually well-spaced on the spectrum of size, to reduce competition.[1]

Behaviour

Lemon-throated-leaf-birdtrek

The Yellow-throated Leafbird is endemic to Palawan in the Philippines

Leafbirds usually feed in the canopy, eating insects and some fruit and nectar. Prey is searched for by nimbly moving along the branch ends and gleaned. They are also capable of hover-gleaning to obtain prey, and will pursue flushed prey into the air or even as far as the forest floor. The extent to which the leafbirds consume nectar is a matter of some debate, records are more common in Southern Asia compared to South East Asia.[1] Some species join mixed feeding flocks now and then; others defend the blooming and fruiting trees and bushes where they forage.[2]

Unlike most tropical Asian passerines, the nests of leafbirds are not located low down in the forest, but are instead found on the ends of branches near the tree crown. As such the nests of many species have rarely, if ever, been seen. The nests are open cups; of the few known, they are built of fine stems, leaf parts and rootlets.[1] Some hang from thin horizontal shoots of trees; in others the rim is attached to a pair of vertical twigs. Females lay 2 or 3 pinkish eggs.[2] The only information for incubation times come from captive birds, and incubation lasts around 14 days. Incubation is apparently performed only by the female, although in at least two species the male feeds the incubating females.[1]

Relationship with humans

Leafbirds are attractive birds and combined with an attractive song and capacity to mimic sounds they have become very popular cagebirds. The majority of the trade in this family is confined to Asia. Some populations have been locally depleted by the massive numbers captured for the trade. Overall the eleven species are mostly still common in suitable habitat, although the amount of suitable habitat has declined greatly with deforestation. One species, the Philippine Leafbird, is listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss, and the Blue-masked Leafbird, apparently never common anyway, is listed as near threatened.[1]

Species

File:Chloropsis cochinchinensis -Singapore-8a.jpg

The female Blue-winged Leafbird lacks the face mask of the male

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wells, David (2005), "Family Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)", in del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David, Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 10, Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 252–266, ISBN 84-87334-72-5 
  2. ^ a b c d e Mead, Christopher J.; Wells, D. R. (2003). "Leafbirds". In Perrins, Christopher. The Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books. pp. 506–507. ISBN 1-55297-777-3.  Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)

External links

Sterna diversity This article is part of Project Bird Families, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each bird family, including made-up families.
Eurasian Spoonbill This article is part of Project Bird Genera, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each genus, including made-up genera.
Hemipus picatus This article is part of Project Bird Taxonomy, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every order, family and other taxonomic rank related to birds.