Forty-spotted Pardalote

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iForty-spotted Pardalote
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pardalotidae
Genus: Pardalotus
Species: P. quadragintus
Binomial name
Pardalotus quadragintus
Gould, 1838

The Forty-spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus) is by far the rarest pardalote, now being confined to the south-east corner of Tasmania. About 9 to 10cm long, it lacks the dark, white-spotted crown of the Spotted Pardalote, being largely light olive green above and grey underneath, but with similar striking black wings with white spots—rather more than 40.

It forages more slowly than the Spotted Pardalote, almost exclusively in the foliage of the manna gum, and usually nests in tree-hollows rather than tunnels. It is classified as endangered. Its stronghold is Maria Island.

[edit] References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Pardalotus quadragintus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered