Malle Talkbird

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Malle Talkbird
Malle Talkbird

Malle Talkbird

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Family : Honeyeater (Meliphagidae)
Genre : Manorina
Type : Malle Talkbird
Scientific name
Manorina melanotis
( Wilson, FE , 1911)

The Malleeschwatzvogel ( Manorina melanotis ) is a species of bird in the family of honeyeater . It is one of the rarest birds on earth.

Appearance

This species has brown-gray plumage. The beak is bright orange. The head and the back are clearly darker in color. The legs are orange. The body length of adult specimens is 23-26 centimeters.

distribution and habitat

Distribution map of the mallee babbler

Mallee babblers are only found on Murray Mallee in New South Wales , South Australia, and Victoria . They inhabit the dense eucalyptus forests with large trees.

Way of life

The mallee chatterbox feeds on insects , their larvae and nectar . The maximum age is seven years.

Reproduction

A breeding colony consists of only two nests. Only 2-4 white to isabel-colored eggs with brown spots are laid. The bowl-shaped nest is created in bushes or trees. The incubation period is up to 127 days, after which the young remain in the nest for up to 16 days. The breeding behavior is special among birds because only one or two pairs breed in a colony of approx. 20 animals. The other specimens help to feed the young.

Hazards and protective measures

The main threat is the natural crossing with the yellow-headed babbler, which produces fertile offspring. The reasons for this are the clearing of forests, drainage, straightening of rivers since the beginning of the 20th century and droughts. In 1995 only 28 genetically pure mallee-babbling birds were known. More specimens were discovered between 1996 and 2002. In 2011 only 500 copies of this species were known. A total of 3758 genetically pure individuals and 2255 hybrids were known. Other dangers include bush fires . In 1996 a captive night breeding project started for this species. In 2003, animals were released into the wild in the state of Victoria. Other protective measures include monitoring the population in the wild and containing bushfires.

Systematics

For a long time it was unclear whether the mallee babbler is a species of its own. Studies of the mitochorid DNA have confirmed this.

literature

  • Dominic Couzens: Rare Birds. Survivors, evolution losers and the missing. 50 portraits. Page: 64–67 Haupt, Bern et al. 2011, ISBN 978-3-258-07629-4 .
  • THE BLV Encyclopedia Birds of the World Page: 466 BLV Buchverlag GmbH & Co. KG Munich 2004 ISBN 3-405-16682-9 .
  • Francis Erasmus Wilson: Description of a New Honey-eater . In: The Emu - A Quaterly Magazin to popularize the Study and Protection of Native Birds . tape 11 , no. 2 , October 2, 1911, p. 124 ( biodiversitylibrary.org ).

Web links

Commons : Malleschwatzvogel  - Collection of images, videos and audio files