- Dusky Honeyeater
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Dusky Honeyeater Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Meliphagidae Genus: Myzomela Species: M. obscura Binomial name Myzomela obscura
Gould, 1843The Dusky Honeyeater, Myzomela obscura is a small, brown bird that is a common resident of New Guinea, the Moluccas, the islands of Torres Strait, and northern Australia, where there are two separated populations, one in the Top End, another from Cape York Peninsula along the east coast as far south as the New South Wales border, though the species is rare south of Rockhampton.
Around 12 to 15 cm long, Dusky Honeyeaters are dull-coloured but active and fast moving, often hovering to take insects or nectar from flowers in the upper storey. They inhabit a wide range of habitat types, including monsoonal forests and scrubs, woodlands, swamps and almost any area near water.
Dusky Honeyeaters tend to be sedentary in sufficiently attractive areas, nomadic or migratory in less attractive districts, particularly in the southern part of their range.
Breeding takes place in the dry season (typically March to September). The small, neat cup nest is usually constructed with fine bark, spiderwebs, and leaves on a well-hidden branch high over water. The two white eggs have fine reddish spots.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Myzomela obscura. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Birds of Australia
- Birds of Southeast Asia
- Birds of Indonesia
- Birds of Papua New Guinea
- Myzomela
- Birds of Western Australia
- Animals described in 1843
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