Anthornis

Anthornis
New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Meliphagidae
Genus: Anthornis
G.R. Gray, 1840
Species

Anthornis is a bird genus in the honeyeater family (Meliphagidae). Its members are called bellbirds. According to genetic data, it is a sister genus to Prosthemadera.

It contains the following species:

  • New Zealand bellbird, Anthornis melanura
  • Chatham bellbird, Anthornis melanocephala (extinct)


They are named bellbirds because their call sounds like a bell. Young male bellbirds copy the calls of neighbouring older males. Sometimes two males can sing in almost perfect unison because one has been copying the other.

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