Occurrence, Nesting and Affinities of the White-throated Grass-wren Amytornis woodwardi and White-lined Honeyeater Meliphaga albilineata

Abstract

The nest and eggs of Amytornis woodwardi (Maluridae) and the nest and juveniles of Meliphaga albilineata (Meliphagidae) are described. Details of the distribution, habitats, cals and other aspects of the behaviour of both species are given.

The relationships of Amytornis woodwardi and Meliphaga albilineata are reviewed, and a brief sum- mary included of the morphology of the tongues of meliphagids in general and of Meliphaga albilineata in particular. The affinities of Amytornis woodwardi are clearly with A. dorotheae, which may be no more than subspecifically distinct; those of Meliphaga albiliineata appear to lie with the Australo-Papuan rainforest group of Meliphaga represented by M. lewinii and M. analoga.