| Gibberbird | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Meliphagidae |
| Genus: | Ashbyia North, 1911 |
| Species: | A. lovensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ashbyia lovensis (Ashby, 1911) |
|
The Gibberbird (Ashbyia lovensis) is a species of bird endemic to Australia. It is the only species in the genus Ashbyia. It, along with the four chats in the genus Epthianura, have sometimes been placed in a separate family, Epthianuridae (the Australian chats), but are now thought to be aberrant honeyeaters in the family Meliphagidae.
The Gibberbird is 11–14 cm long and weighs 14–20 g. The plumage of the male is washed out brown on the crown, back of the neck, back and wings and yellow on the face, throat and belly. The female is similar but with more brown around the throat, face and neck and overall a bit duller. The iris of the eye is bright yellow and the heavy bill and legs are black.
The names of the species is derived from the gibber plains that comprise its habitat. It is a terrestrial species which feeds on seeds and lives singly or in pairs.
