Ajay Kumar at 13:08, 31 August 2023

2023-08-31T13:08:44Z

New page

{{Short description|Genus of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Leafbirds
| image = Golden Fronted Leafbird Mukulhinge.jpg
| image_caption = [[Golden-fronted leafbird]] (''Chloropsis aurifrons'')
| parent_authority = [[Frank Alexander Wetmore|Wetmore]], 1960
| taxon = Chloropsis
| authority = [[Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet|Jardine]] & [[Prideaux John Selby|Selby]], 1827
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
[[File:Leafbird-Female.jpg|thumb|Leafbird]]

The '''leafbirds''' ('''Chloropseidae''') are a family of small [[passerine]] [[bird]] species found in the [[Indian Subcontinent]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. They were formerly grouped with the [[iora]]s and [[fairy-bluebird]]s in the family [[Irenidae]]. As presently defined, the leafbird family is monogeneric, with all species placed in the [[genus]] '''''Chloropsis'''''. A large [[molecular phylogenetic]] study published in 2019 found that the family Chloropseidae is [[sister taxon|sister]] to the family Irenidae containing the fairy-bluebirds.<ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Oliveros | first1=C.H. | display-authors=etal | year=2019 | title=Earth history and the passerine superradiation | journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States | volume=116 | issue=16 | pages=7916–7925 | doi=10.1073/pnas.1813206116 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Description==
The leafbirds range in size from {{convert|14|to(-)|21|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and in weight from {{convert|15|to(-)|48|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "HBW">{{Citation | first = David | last = Wells | editor-first = Josep | editor-last = del Hoyo | editor2-first = Andrew | editor2-last = Elliott | editor3-first = David | editor3-last = Christie | contribution = Family Chloropseidae (Leafbirds) | title = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]]. Volume 10, Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes | year = 2005 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0001unse/page/252 252–266] | place = Barcelona | publisher = Lynx Edicions | isbn = 84-87334-72-5 }}</ref> They resemble [[bulbul]]s, but whereas that group tends to be drab in colour, leafbirds are brightly [[Feather|plumaged]], with the predominant green over the body giving rise to their common name. The family is mostly [[sexually dimorphic]] in their plumage, this can vary from the highly dimorphic [[orange-bellied leafbird]] to the [[Philippine leafbird]], which exhibits no sexual dimorphism. Most of the differences between the sexes are in the extent of the other colours in the plumage, particularly in the colours around the head and the blue or black face mask, with females having less colour and a less extensive (or absent) mask.<ref name = "HBW"/> Some species have blue on the wings and tail. The plumage of juvenile birds is a duller version of the female's. To human ears, their [[Bird vocalization|songs]] are melodious, and several species are good mimics. The calls include whistles and chatters.<ref name=M&W>{{cite book | last = Mead | first = Christopher J. | author2 = Wells, D. R. | year = 2003 | chapter = Leafbirds | editor = Perrins, Christopher | editor-link = Chris Perrins | title = The Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds | publisher = Firefly Books | pages = [https://archive.org/details/fireflyencyclope0000unse/page/506 506–507] | isbn = 1-55297-777-3 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/fireflyencyclope0000unse/page/506 }}</ref>

Like bulbuls, leafbirds drop many body feathers when they are handled. This may confuse predators, especially [[snake]]s.<ref name=M&W/>

==Distribution and habitat==
Leafbirds are always found in trees and shrubs. Most are restricted to evergreen forests except the [[golden-fronted leafbird]] and [[Jerdon's leafbird]] which live in deciduous monsoon forests, and the [[orange-bellied leafbird]], which occurs in deciduous forests. Within this requirement, they occupy all broadleaf forest types in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The highest altitude they occur at is 2500 m (8200 feet).<ref name=M&W/> Some species, such as the [[blue-masked leafbird]], have montane distributions, rarely descending below 1000 m.<ref name="HBW"/>

The orange-bellied leafbird and the golden-fronted leafbird are amongst the more widespread species, with large ranges across mainland Asia. Some species have more restricted distributions, such as the [[yellow-throated leafbird]], which is [[endemism|endemic]] to the Philippine island of [[Palawan]], and the [[Bornean leafbird]], restricted to northern Borneo. In general there are seldom more than three species occurring in the same area, although five species co-occur in the submontane forests of [[Sumatra]]. Co-occurring species are usually well-spaced on the spectrum of size, to reduce competition.<ref name="HBW"/>

==Behaviour==
[[File:Lemon-throated-leaf-birdtrek.jpg|thumb|The [[yellow-throated leafbird]] is endemic to [[Palawan]] in the Philippines]]
Leafbirds usually feed in the [[canopy (forest)|canopy]], eating [[insect]]s and some [[fruit]] and nectar. Prey is searched for by nimbly moving along the branch ends and [[Gleaning (birds)|gleaned]]. They are also capable of hover-gleaning to obtain prey, and will pursue flushed prey into the air or even as far as the forest floor. The extent to which the leafbirds consume nectar is a matter of some debate; records are more common in Southern Asia compared to South East Asia.<ref name="HBW"/> Some species join [[mixed-species feeding flock|mixed feeding flocks]] now and then; others defend the blooming and fruiting trees and bushes where they forage.<ref name=M&W/>

Unlike most tropical Asian passerines, the nests of leafbirds are not located low down in the forest, but are instead found on the ends of branches near the tree crown. As such the nests of many species have rarely, if ever, been seen. The nests are open cups; of the few known, they are built of fine stems, leaf parts and rootlets.<ref name="HBW"/> Some hang from thin horizontal shoots of trees; in others the rim is attached to a pair of vertical twigs. Females lay 2 or 3 pinkish [[Egg (biology)|eggs]].<ref name=M&W/> The only information for [[avian incubation|incubation]] times comes from captive birds, and incubation lasts around 14 days. Incubation is apparently performed only by the female, although in at least two species the male feeds the incubating females.<ref name="HBW"/>

==Relationship with humans==
Leafbirds are attractive birds and, combined with an attractive song and capacity to mimic sounds, they have become very popular cagebirds. The majority of the trade in this family is confined to Asia. Some populations have been locally depleted by the massive numbers captured for the trade. Overall the eleven species are mostly still common in suitable habitat, although the amount of suitable habitat has declined greatly with deforestation. Over half of leafbird species are either threatened or near threatened. The [[greater green leafbird]], the [[blue-winged leafbird]] and the [[Sumatran leafbird]] are [[endangered species|endangered]] because of trapping for the cage bird trade. One species, the [[Philippine leafbird]], is listed as [[vulnerable species|vulnerable]] due to [[habitat loss]]. The [[lesser green leafbird]] and the [[blue-masked leafbird]] are listed as [[near threatened]].<ref name="HBW"/>

==Species==
[[File:Chloropsis cochinchinensis -Singapore-8a.jpg|thumb|240px|The female [[blue-winged leafbird]] lacks the face mask of the male]]
* '''Family: Chloropseidae'''
{| class="wikitable "
|-
! Male !! Female !! Common Name !! Scientific name !! Distribution
|-
| ||[[File:11 PHILIPPINE LEAFBIRD.jpg|120px]] || [[Philippine leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis flavipennis''|| Philippines (Mindanao, Leyte, and Cebu)
|-
| ||[[File:Lemon-throated-leaf-birdtrek.jpg|120px]] || [[Yellow-throated leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis palawanensis''||Philippines (Palawan)
|-
|[[File:Greater Green Leafbird camouflage.jpg|120px]] ||[[File:Chloropsis sonnerati-20030531.jpg|120px]] || [[Greater green leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis sonnerati''|| Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.
|-
|[[File:Lesser Green Leafbird.png|120px]] ||[[File:Lesser Green Leafbird (Female).jpg|120px]] || [[Lesser green leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis cyanopogon''|| Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.
|-
|[[File:Blue-winged Leafbird - Thailand H8O5844 (16432256783).jpg|120px]] || [[File:Chloropsis cochinchinensis - Khao Yai.jpg|120px]] || [[Blue-winged leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis moluccensis''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Species Updates – IOC World Bird List|url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/updates/species-updates/|access-date=2021-05-27|language=en-US}}</ref>||Borneo and southern Sumatra.
|-
| || [[File:Hijau Daun.jpg|120px]]||[[Javan leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis cochinchinensis<ref name=":0" />''||Java.
|-
|[[File:Jerdon's Leafbird, Bengaluru, Vimal Rajyaguru, 01.jpg|120px]] ||[[File:Chloropsis jerdoni -Bodhinagala Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka -female-8 (1) (cropped).jpg|120px]] || [[Jerdon's leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis jerdoni''|| India and Sri Lanka.
|-
| || || [[Bornean leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis kinabaluensis''|| Borneo
|-
|[[File:Golden Fronted Leafbird Mukulhinge.jpg|120px]] || [[File:Golden Fronted Leafbird.jpg|120px]] || [[Golden-fronted leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis aurifrons''|| Indian subcontinent and south-western China, to south-east Asia and Sumatra
|-
| || || [[Sumatran leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis media''||Indonesia
|-
|[[File:Orange bellied leafbird.jpg|120px]] || [[File:Orange-bellied Leafbird Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary West Sikkim Sikkim India 13.12.2015.jpg|120px]] || [[Orange-bellied leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis hardwickii''||central and eastern Himalayas, Yunnan and Southeast Asia.
|-
| || || [[Blue-masked leafbird]] ||''Chloropsis venusta''||Indonesian island of Sumatra.
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/leafbirds-chloropseidae Leafbird videos] on the Internet Bird Collection

{{Taxonbar|from=Q843381}}

[[Category:Leafbirds| 01]]
[[Category:Passeri]]
[[Category:Endemic birds of East Asia]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Sir William Jardine]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Prideaux John Selby]]

Leafbird - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 13:08, 31 August 2023