ANALYSIS OF BIOMETRIC VARIATION IN BROWNHONEYEATER LICHMERA INDISTINCTA IN SOUTH EASTQUEENSLAND

摘要

Standard morphometric measurements from 145 Brown Honeyeaters, mist-netted forbanding over a three year period in South East Queensland, were pooled and analysed.Data is presented on the morphometric variation in the birds caught and, as the speciesis sexually dimorphic across its range, the results are compared with similar studies. This study found males were generally larger than females, which aligns well with otherstudies conducted in South East Queensland and supports the finding that sexingcriteria based on wing length are useful. Other measurements exhibited a higher degreeof overlap between the sexes and were less reliable than wing length in determining thesex of a bird. Body condition index changed little seasonally over the 3 year period of the study. Thevalue of baseline data over much longer time periods is highlighted as a means ofmonitoring trends.