Anthornis Explained

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.^[1] It contains the following species:

• New Zealand bellbird, Anthornis melanura
• Chatham Islands bellbird, Anthornis melanocephala (extinct)^[2]

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.

Notes and References

1. Higgins. P. Christidis. L. Ford. H. del Hoyo. J. Elliott. A. Sargatal. J. Christie. D. A.. Juana. E.. New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. 2020. Barcelona. Lynx Edicions. 10.2173/bow.nezbel1.01. 216316169.
2. Bartle. J. A.. Sagar. P. M.. 1987. Intraspecific variation in the New Zealand bellbird Anthornis melanura. Notornis. 34. 253–306. 2019-12-03. 2021-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190445/https://www.notornis.osnz.org.nz/system/files/Notornis_34_4.pdf#page=5. dead.