Alternative names: Bismarck Melidectes, Gilliard's Honeyeater; New Britain Honeyeater; Gilliard's Honeyeater; Gilliard's Melidectes
- Melidectes whitemanensis
Identification
22.5 cm
- Drab-coloured
- Yellowy-olive wing patch
- Narrow area of bare skin behind the eye
- Long curved bill (around 1.5 times the length of head)
Sexes alike, females are slightly smaller. Juveniles undescribed.
Distribution
Endemic to New Britain in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea.
A locally common restricted-range species. However, loss of forest habitat is a serious threat to this species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.[1]
Sometimes placed in its own genus Vosea and probably closest to Sooty Melidectes.
Habitat
Lowland moist forests between 1,200 and 1,800 m.
Behaviour
A highly active species, never stays longer than a few seconds in one spot.
Diet
Feeds on nectar and arthropods. Forages in middle and upper levels of forest.
Usually seen singly, sometimes in groups at flowering trees or with other species like New Britain Friarbird.
Breeding
No information on breeding.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2008. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553453
- BirdLife International
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Bismarck Honeyeater. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bismarck_Honeyeater
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
