Photo © by Neil Fifer
Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia, October 2003
This image was uploaded as Graceful Honeyeater but by range it falls into the new species, Cryptic Honeyeater
Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia, October 2003
This image was uploaded as Graceful Honeyeater but by range it falls into the new species, Cryptic Honeyeater
- Microptilotis imitatrix
Identification
15–17 cm
- Olive-grey upperside
- Entire underside almost equally dark
- Dull yellow gape
- Ear-spot usually with fussy peak at top
- Iris navy-blue when seen in perfect light
- Bill dark and slightly down-curved
Similar species
Graceful Honeyeater differs in pale rear underside, details of head ornaments, and eye color. Also compare with Yellow-spotted Honeyeater.
Distribution
Australia: North-eastern Queensland (Mossman to Burdekin River)
Taxonomy
This species was formerly included in Graceful Honeyeater.
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Woodlands, rain forest and forest edges.
Behaviour
Their diet consists of fruit, nectar and insects.
Vocalisation
Most common vocalizations are a plink call given at 2-3 second interval and a high pitch squeaking with about 4-8 notes given during 1-2 seconds.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Paper describing the differences eventually leading to separation of Cryptic Honeyeater from Graceful Honeyeater
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Cryptic Honeyeater. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cryptic_Honeyeater
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
