Anthornis
Genus of birds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[2]
| Anthornis | |
|---|---|
| |
| New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Meliphagidae |
| Genus: | Anthornis G.R. Gray, 1840 |
| Type species | |
| The New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura)[1] | |
| Species | |
It contains the following species:
- New Zealand bellbird, Anthornis melanura
- Chatham Islands bellbird, Anthornis melanocephala (extinct)[3]
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.
