- Guadalcanaria inexpectata
Identification
18-20 cm (7-7¾ in).
- Slate-grey upperparts with brown tinge on uppertail-coverts and rump
- Dark grey lores
- Silvery grey ear-coverts
- Prominent bright yellow plumes extending from rear malar area and getting broader at side of throat
- Brownish-grey tail with broad yellowish-olive feather edges
- Yellowish-olive wing
- Off-white chin and throat merging to pale grey on breast
- Conspicious dark grey streaking on lower throat and breast, grey rest of underparts
- Black bill
- Bluish-grey legs
Sexes similar but males larger than females and with broader rectrices. Juveniles are similar to adults but they have paler yellow throat-tufts and less distinct streaking on breast and throat.
Distribution
Endemic to the island of Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) in the Pacific.
A fairly common restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Uncertain relationships. Has been placed in the genera Meliphaga and Lichenostomus in the past but may belong within Meliphaga or close to Glycifohia. Remains in its monotypic genus pending further studies.
Habitat
Found in montane forest, especially high moss forest.
Occurs at 950 to 1565 m, mainly above 1450 m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects and almost certainly also on nectar as often seen to feed at flowers of epiphytes and trees.
Forages in pairs or singly unobtrusively in the canopy. An usually wary and retiring species.
Breeding
No information available.
Movements
Probably a sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved March 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Guadalcanal Honeyeater. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Guadalcanal_Honeyeater
