Leafbird

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Leafbirds
C. cochinchinensis
C. cochinchinensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Family: Chloropseidae
Genus: Chloropsis
Jardine & Selby, 1827
Species

See text.

The leafbirds are a family (Chloropseidae) of small passerine bird species found in India 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.

They resemble bulbuls, but whereas that group tends to be drab in color, leafbirds are sexually dimorphic, with the males being brightly plumaged, usually in greens and yellows, most with blue and black on the throat. Some species have blue on the wings and tail. To human ears, their songs are melodious, and several species are good mimics. The calls include whistles and chatters.[1]

Like bulbuls, leafbirds drop many body feathers when they are handled. This may confuse predators, especially snakes.[1]

Leafbirds are always found in trees and shrubs. All are restricted to evergreen forests except the Golden-fronted Leafbird, which lives in deciduous monsoon forests. The highest altitude they occur at is 2500 m (8200 feet).[1]

Leafbirds usually feed in the canopy, eating fruit (by sticking the bill in and sucking) and nectar with some insects.[1] They have a spiked tongue adapted to nectar feeding.[citation needed] Possibly they help pollinate certain trees. Some species join mixed feeding flocks now and then; others defend the blooming and fruiting trees and bushes where they forage.[1]

The nests are open cups; of the few known, most include spiderwebs. 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 with red and purple lines and speckles.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Mead, Christopher J.; Wells, D. R. (2003). "Leafbirds", in Perrins, Christopher: The Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Firefly Books, 506–507. ISBN 1-55297-777-3. 
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