No they are not honeyeaters - they do have a brush-tipped tongue similar to
honeyeaters (and quite a few other birds as well) but are not classified in
the Honeyeater family. Classification of birds (and indeed other life forms)
into "families" is part of a science called taxonomy, and different
scientists (called taxonomists) have different views on how to classify
species and families - similar appearance and/or behaviour does not
necessarily indicate the species are related in any way - just that they
have both evolved to perhaps feed on the same food source.
On 28/11/06, Peter Shute (NUW) <> wrote:
On Monday, November 27, 2006 3:01 PM Michael Ramsey wrote:
> Wattlebirds are honeyeaters, they are part of the honeyeater or
> Meliphagidae family. Other birds with names that are not honeyeater
> but are in the honeyeater family are chats, miners and spinebills to
> name a few.
What about silvereyes? My reading suggests not, but my observations led
me
to assume they were.
Peter Shute
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