Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis Scientific name definitions

27 cm (25–29); male 58–71 g and female 59–84 g (nominate), male 50–77 g and female 48–76·5 g (sordidus), one male 53 g and one female 55 g (papuensis). Large honeyeater with moderately long and slightly decurved bill (lacking casque), and long tail with tip appearing slightly notched when folded and square-cut when spread. Nominate race is brown-grey above, with downy paler grey half-collar (hindneck to side of neck); diagnostic blue-grey triangular bare patch across malar area and ear-coverts and as a separate narrow strip above eye, bordered above by dark brown and finely pale-scaled lores, thin line of feathering above eye and triangular patch behind eye, and bordered behind by black at rear of ear-coverts; thin white edges of remiges (faintly paler panel in folded wing) and narrow off-white tip of tail; silvery white chin and throat, duller greyish lower throat; breast light brown-grey, sparsely and finely streaked white, merging to paler grey or grey-white on flanks and much of belly, and to whitish in centre of lower belly, vent and undertail-coverts; undertail light grey, narrow off-white tip and edges of rectrices; underwing light grey-brown, narrow white scaling on outer wing-coverts and darker grey-brown trailing edge and tip; iris brown to dark brown, black orbital ring; bill black, or black with blue-grey base and gape; legs slate-grey to black. Sexes alike in plumage, male slightly larger than female. Juvenile is similar to adult but slightly browner above (including marginal and median secondary coverts), with fine paler brown scaling throughout, fine yellow-green edges on greater coverts and remiges (greenish panel on folded wing), narrow whitish fringes at tips of primaries, fine yellow-green edges and slightly wider pale tip on rectrices (suffused brownish in centre), bright yellow chin and throat merging to warm-brown breast tinged yellow, gape yellowish and swollen, and some have downy band across lower throat continuous with hindneck-collar; immature similar to adult but appearance varies greatly with wear and fading during first year, initially differs from adult in bold white scalloping on upperbody, bright yellow chin and upper throat merging to yellow wash on lower throat and upper breast, which also overlaid with scattered fine yellow streaks and (on lower breast), fine white streaks, prominent yellow patch on side of lower breast, also retains juvenile tail and remiges and some or all upperwing-coverts; with wear and fading in first year plumage much more adult-like, with upperbody plain brown-grey (white scalloping reduced or lost), chin and throat whitish, usually with few yellow-tipped feathers on throat, and yellow of lower throat and breast much reduced. Races differ only slightly in plumage (mainly colour and pattern of underbody) and size (especially bill): sordidus is similar in size to nominate but with significantly longer bill, has slightly browner and mottled upperparts, slightly darker, dirty grey underbody, diffuse dusky mottling on breast; papuensis is smaller than nominate, and generally darker, with bolder white feather tips on breast, bare facial skin possibly paler, light blue-grey, and iris described as grey (not brown) but confirmation needed.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

In New Guinea occupies savanna woodland and monsoon forest. In Australia common in wide range of open sclerophyll forests and woodlands dominated by eucalypts, typically with grassy ground layer or sparse understorey of shrubs and grasses, though sometimes with denser understorey of shrubs or a secondary layer of trees and saplings, e.g. forest and woodland dominated by river red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and often with understorey of Acacia or, in riparian associations, dense stands of lignum (Muehlenbeckia), or woodland dominated by black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens) and coolibah (E. coolabah) with understorey of saltbush (Atriplex); also often in mixed forest or woodland combinations of Eucalyptus, Acacia, e.g. brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), gidgee (Acacia cambagei) or mulga (Acacia aneura), cypress-pine (Callitris) or casuarina, with understorey of scattered trees and shrubs, or in mixed woodland dominated by broadleaf species such as Excoecaria and Bauhinia, with Eucalyptus, Terminalia and Atalaya present, and sparse layer of shrubs over grassy ground layer. Recorded also in range of other woodland or forest associations, including riverine or swamp paperbark (Melaleuca) forest, woodlands or thickets (particularly in N Australia), and Acacia woodlands or thickets, e.g. of gidgee, mulga, brigalow, pindan (Acacia tumida) or lancewood (Acacia shirleyi); less often, riverine forest dominated by casuarina or silky oak (Grevillea robusta), or woodland or low forest of Banksia. Common in some modified habitats, particularly with flowering trees, such as parks and gardens in towns and cities, orchards, or isolated trees or remnants in agricultural land. Sometimes in coastal heathland, shrubland or scrub, or in mangroves; very rarely in wet sclerophyll forest, mallee, or patches of monsoon rainforest. From coast and inland slopes and plains to at least 900 m in Australia; lowlands in New Guinea.

Not properly known. Appears largely resident throughout range, but partly migratory in SE Australia; undertakes at least local, or possibly regional, movements to exploit spatial and temporal variation in nectar and insect resources; occurrence or abundance often associated with flowering of foodplants. Widely classed as nomadic, but many such observations probably refer to local or regional movements. General tendency to shift towards N tropics for winter and to vacate N extremes of range in wet season; over much of N Australia appears predominantly resident, or occurs throughout year, but some indication of partial seasonal movement towards coast in dry season, and appears to vacate S Northern Territory range in winter; also highly mobile at local scales, and numbers at sites correlated with flowering, e.g. at Berry Springs (Northern Territory) density strongly and positively correlated with overall availability of nectar. At least partly migratory in S & SE of range; migratory populations move N in autumn and early winter, and return S from mid-winter to early to late spring (return to SW New South Wales as late as Oct in some years); extent of N migration not known, but some passage to SE Queensland, and some indication of augmentation of NE populations with migrants. Some occurrences relate to climatic factors, e.g. irregular occurrence or concentrations in SE & NE Australia attributed to drought or sustained winds. Scattered records outside normal range; vagrants on islands of Torres Strait possibly of nominate race.

Predominantly nectar and invertebrates (mainly insects, also spiders); also flowers, fruit and seeds. Forages at all levels, mostly in trees and shrubs and often in canopy. Exploits wide variety of substrates: frequently at flowers, but also inner and outer foliage and, sometimes, dead foliage, bark of trunks and large branches of trees (including dead branches), stems, and in shrubs; only occasionally on ground or in air. Nectar obtained by probing flowers; gathers invertebrates mainly by gleaning (including from nectar-bearing flowers), also by flutter-chasing (scrambling roughly through foliage and catching dislodged arthropods as they fall or land below), sallying (including sally-striking at foliage or in air and sally-hovering), and by probing. Near Darwin, in Northern Territory, foraged on flowers that provide best sources of nectar, mainly those with stameniferous cups, e.g. Eucalyptus (50·3%), brush inflorescences, e.g. Banksia and Melaleuca ( 9·8%) and gullet-shaped flowers, e.g. Grevillea (12·3%). Usually singly, in twos (probably pairs), or in small loose parties of 6–20 individuals at food sources, such as flying insects around tops of trees or at flowering eucalypts, paperbarks or grevilleas; large gatherings, of up to 500, occasionally reported. Often forages with other honeyeaters, especially P. corniculatus and Anthochaera carunculata in Australia, and P. buceroides and P. corniculatus in New Guinea; in NE Queensland, seen feeding in mixed-species flocks with up to five other meliphagid species.

Not well known. Variety of calls, and can be very noisy (though usually not so noisy as larger congeners). Song in breeding season in Australia consists of a mellow somewhat melodic “che-weep, chewip, chewip, chew-will, che-will, che-will”; elements of songs can be given separately, e.g. in New Guinea often a repeated, moderately high-pitched, liquid mellow double whistle, “tlew” or “chiew”, probably elements of song. Also utters continuous discordant chatter, especially when in flocks, and short note in alarm; repeatedcall given occasionally while advancing towards feeding conspecific.

Nestlings recorded in Apr and late Oct and fledglings early Apr in New Guinea; in Australia season Aug–Apr (clutches Sept–Apr in N, Aug–Feb in E & SE); possibly double-brooded. All following details from Australia. Nest a large, deep, open and loosely woven cup, sometimes frail (contents visible from below), usually made of strips of bark, grass or plant stems and vines, bound with spider web or wool, lined with finer grass, plant fibre, rootlets and feathers (other materials include rootlets, twigs and leaves, casuarina needles, hair), external diameter 11·4–14cm, depth 8·4–10·2 cm, internal diameter 7·6–10·2 cm, depth 5·7–8·9 cm; supported by rim in fork or twigs, often in outer branches or drooping foliage, sometimes in mistletoe (Loranthaceae), nearly always in live tree near or overhanging water and often well concealed among dense foliage, 1–19m (mean 6·3 m) above ground; often in same tree as, or near, active nest of Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) or Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) or, less often, a range of other species. Clutch usually 2–3 eggs, sometimes 4, mean 2·44 (mean clutch size possibly decreasing from S to N); incubation probably by female only, period 13–16 days; chicks fed by both sexes, nestling period 13–15 days; one brood fed for 10 or more days after fledging. Nests parasitized by Eastern Koel (Eudynamys orientalis). From 24 eggs in nine nests at which outcome known, overall success 0·67 fledged young per nest.

Not globally threatened. In New Guinea generally fairly common to common, and locally abundant; common in Australia. No estimates of total abundance, but recorded densities of 0·03–6·13 birds/ha in Australia.