Glossary

Canopy
The uppermost layer of vegetation formed by the crowns of the trees

Class
A taxonomic category ranking below a phylum or division and above an order

Conservation
Preservation or restoration from loss, damage, or neglect

Critically endangered
A species that is considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

Endangered
A species that is considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild

Endemic
Native to a particular region

Exudate
A substance that has oozed forth

Family
A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus. A family usually consists of several genera

Fledgling
A partly or wholly feathered bird. Flightless or partly flighted, but before full flight capability has been attained

Genus
A taxonomic category ranking below a family and above a species and generally consisting of a group of species exhibiting similar characteristics

Honeydew
A sweet sticky substance excreted by various insects, especially aphids, on the leaves of plants

Honeyeater
Any of various birds of the family Meliphagidae of Australia and adjacent regions, having a long extensible tongue adapted for sucking nectar from flowers

Indigenous
A plant species that is native to a particular area, not introduced.

Invertebrate
Animals without a backbone: for example insects, worms, spiders, crustaceans, molluscs

Kingdom
The five main divisions into which natural organisms and objects are classified (animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, algae/diatoms)

Lerp
A sugary, white covering produced by larvae of leaf sucking psyllid insect, commonly on leaves

Lichenostomus
A relatively large genus of honeyeaters most of which are restricted to Australia

Manna
The substance exuded by trees at the point of injury to trunks and branches

Middle storey
The mid layer of vegetation especially the plants that grow above the under storey and beneath the upper storey

Nectar
A sweet liquid secreted by flowers of various plants consumed by pollinators such as Honeyeaters and insects and gathered by bees for making honey

Nestling
Naked young bird in the nest needing maximum parental care

Order
A taxonomic category of organisms ranking above a family and below a class

Ornithologist
A scientist in the field of zoology who studies birds

Passerine
Birds of the order Passeriformes which includes perching birds and songbirds such as the Honeyeaters, Finches and Warblers

Phylum
A primary division of a kingdom, as of the animal kingdom, ranking next above a class in size

Provenance
Place or source of origin

RAOU Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union

Riparian
Pertaining to the banks of a watercourse, such as a creek, stream or river

Species
A fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus and consisting of related organisms capable of interbreeding

Subspecies
A taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species. The Helmeted Honeyeater is a sub-species of the Yellow-tufted Honeayeater. It’s botanical name is Lichenostomus melanops cassidix

Taxonomy
The classification of organisms in an ordered system that indicates natural relationships

Territory
An area occupied by a single animal, mating pair, or group and often vigorously defended against intruders, especially those of the same species

Under storey
An underlying layer of vegetation especially the plants that grow at ground level beneath a tree canopy

Upper storey
The uppermost layer of vegetation that forms a forest canopy