Wattlebird

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Wattlebird \Wat"tle*bird`\, n.
     1. (Zool.) Any one of several species of honey eaters
        belonging to {Anthochaera} and allied genera of the family
        {Meliphagidae}. These birds usually have a large and
        conspicuous wattle of naked skin hanging down below each
        ear. They are natives of Australia and adjacent islands.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The best-known species ({Anthochaera carunculata}) has
           the upper parts grayish brown, with a white stripe on
           each feather, and the wing and tail quills dark brown
           or blackish, tipped with withe. Its wattles, in life,
           are light blood-red. Called also {wattled crow},
           {wattled bee-eater}, {wattled honey eater}. Another
           species ({Anthochaera inauris}) is streaked with black,
           gray, and white, and its long wattles are white, tipped
           with orange. The bush wattlebirds, belonging to the
           genus {Anellobia}, are closely related, but lack
           conspicuous wattles. The most common species
           ({Anthochaera mellivora}) is dark brown, finely
           streaked with white. Called also {goruck creeper}.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) The Australian brush turkey.
        [1913 Webster]