The banded honeyeater (Cissomela pectoralis) is a species of honeyeater in the family Meliphagidae with a characteristic narrow black band across its white underparts.[2] It is endemic to tropical northern Australia.
The genus name Cissomela (Bonaparte, 1854)[7] means "honey magpie" from the Greekkissa for 'magpie', thus referring to the black and white colouring, and mela meaning 'honey' for its feeding habits. The specific epithet pectoralis comes from the Latinpectoris for 'breast', referring to the distinctive banded breast of this bird.[8]
The banded honeyeater is a small, pied honeyeater with a distinctive black breast band across white underparts.[2][9] It has a black back, tail and head, a long curved bill and long legs.[10]
It has a wingspan of 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in), the bill measures 14–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in), the body length is 11.5–13.5 cm (4.5–5.3 in) and it weighs 8–13 g (0.3–0.5 oz).[2][10]
The banded honeyeater inhabits tropical grassy woodland, open forests, mangroves and Melaleuca swamps. It feeds on the nectar of eucalypts and some other open flowers, such as Grevilleas, paperbarks and Bauhinias, plus insects. It usually moves in pairs or small groups, but large groups can gather when blossom is plentiful. It is a blossom nomad or can have seasonal movements in various parts of its range, which is restricted to tropical northern Australia.[2][9][10]
^Nyári, Á.S.; Joseph, L. (2011). "Systematic dismantlement of Lichenostomus improves the basis for understanding relationships within the honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) and historical development of Australo–Papuan bird communities". Emu. 111 (3): 202–211. doi:10.1071/mu10047. S2CID85333285.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Honeyeaters". World Bird List Version 6.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
^Bonaparte, C.L. (1854). "Conspectus systematis ornithologiae". Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Série D. 38: 260, 264.
^Fraser, Ian; Gray, Jeannie (2019). Australian Bird Names: Origins and Meanings. Clayton South, Vic: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 183, 188. ISBN9781486311637.
