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Friarbird

Genus of birds

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The friarbirds generally have drab plumage. They derive their name from the circular pattern at the crown of their heads and their neutral coloring, which makes them resemble friars. In many instances, their plumage is mimicked by smaller orioles, which use the aggressive nature of the friarbirds to avoid aggression themselves.

Taxonomy

The genus Philemon was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot. Vieillot did not specify a type species but this was designated as the Buru friarbird by George Gray in 1840. The genus name is from Ancient Greek philēmōn meaning "affectionate" or "kissing".

The genus contains the following 16 species:

Formerly, some authorities also considered the black-eared oriole (as Philedon bouroensis) a species within the genus Philemon.

More in Animals

Monotypic taxonTaxonomic group with only one subordinate taxonSpecies descriptionFormal description of a discovered speciesParaphylyType of taxonomic groupIUCN Red ListInventory of the global conservation status of biological speciesSubtropicsGeographic and climate zoneCommon nameName generally used for a taxon, group of taxa or organism(s)