Golden-fronted Leafbird
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The golden-fronted leafbird (''Chloropsis aurifrons'') is a
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of leafbird. It is found from the Indian subcontinent and south-western China, to south-east Asia and Sumatra. It builds its
nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic materi ...
in a tree, laying 2-3
eggs Humans and human ancestors have scavenged and eaten animal eggs for millions of years. Humans in Southeast Asia had domesticated chickens and harvested their eggs for food by 1,500 BCE. The most widely consumed eggs are those of fowl, especial ...
. This species eats
insects Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of j ...
and berries.


Taxonomy and systematics

Formerly, the Sumatran leafbird was considered as a subspecies, but the two differ extensively in
morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines * Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts * Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies ...
and other characteristics.


Description

The adult is green-bodied with a black face and throat bordered with yellow. It has dark brown irises and blackish feet and bill. It has a yellowish orange forehead and blue moustachial line (but lacks the blue flight feathers and tail sides of
blue-winged leafbird The blue-winged leafbird (''Chloropsis moluccensis'') is a species of leafbird found in forest and second growth throughout Southeast Asia as far east as Borneo and as far south as southern Sumatra. It previously included Jerdon's leafbird (' ...
). Young birds have a plain green head and lack the black on their face and throat. The black of the face and throat appears slightly duller in females. The southern Indian race, '' C. a. frontalis'', has a narrower yellow border to black face. The throat is black and it has a blue sub-moustachial stripe and duller orange forehead. Towards the extreme south of India and Sri Lanka the race ''insularis'' occurs which is slightly smaller than ''frontalis''.Rasmussen, P. C. & J. Anderton 2005. Birds of South Asia:The Ripley Guide. Vol 2. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions


Vocalization

Its song consists of rising and falling liquid chirps in bulbul-like tones and its call may include harsh whispers. They are also known to mimic the calls of other bird species and have loud calls.


Distribution and habitat

The golden-fronted leafbird is a common resident breeder in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia. Its habitat is forest and scrub.


Behaviour and ecology

The golden-fronted leafbird builds its
nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic materi ...
in a tree, laying 2-3
eggs Humans and human ancestors have scavenged and eaten animal eggs for millions of years. Humans in Southeast Asia had domesticated chickens and harvested their eggs for food by 1,500 BCE. The most widely consumed eggs are those of fowl, especial ...
. This species eats
insects Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of j ...
and berries.


Gallery

File:Golden-fronted Leafbird - Bandavhgarh - India 8120 (16844995627).jpg, Golden-fronted leafbird in a flowering ''Butea monosperma'' tree Image:Golden-fronted Leafbird (Chloropsis aurifrons) feeding at Jayanti, Duars, West Bengal W Picture 312.jpg, Feeding at Jayanti in
Buxa Tiger Reserve , photo = Buxa Tiger Reserve forest 2014.jpg , iucn_category = II , map = India West Bengal , map_width = , label = Buxa NP , label_position = right , location = West Bengal, India , nearest_city = Alipurduar , coordinates = , area_km ...
in
Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Jalpaiguri district as well as of the Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal, covering the jurisdiction of the five districts of North Bengal. The city is loca ...
district of
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...
, India. Image:Golden-fronted Leafbird (Chloropsis aurifrons) at Jayanti, Duars, West Benga W2 Picture 305.jpg, At Jayanti in Buxa Tiger Reserve in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India. Image:Chloropsis aurifrons-20031005.jpg, At
Jurong BirdPark Jurong Bird Park is an aviary and tourist attraction in Jurong, Singapore. The largest such bird park in Asia, it covers an area of on the western slope of Jurong Hill, the highest point in the Jurong region. It is one of the parks managed by ...
, Singapore File:Golden Fronted Leafbird during daytime.jpg, Male in
Nagarhole National Park Nagarahole National Park is a national park located in Kodagu district and Mysore district in Karnataka, India. This park was declared the 37th Tiger Reserve of India in 1999. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats N ...
, India


References

*''Birds of India'' by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, * Wells, D. R. (2005). Chloropsis aurifrons (Golden-fronted Leafbird). pp. 265–266 in: del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, & D. A. Christie. eds. (2005). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World.'' Vol. 10. Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. golden-fronted leafbird Birds of South Asia Birds of Southeast Asia golden-fronted leafbird {{passerine-stub