Yellow-spotted Honeyeater
Meliphaga notata
A medium-sized olive-gray honeyeater with an oval pale yellow cheek patch and a brown eye. Can be confused with Lewin’s Honeyeater and Graceful Honeyeater, but note the shape of the cheek patch: oval on Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, crescent shaped on Lewin’s Honeyeater, and circular on Graceful Honeyeater. Adult Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters also have a brown eye while Lewin’s and Graceful Honeyeaters have a paler blue gray eye. Listen for the loud repeated whistle of the Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, compared to the rapid staccato machine-gun call of Lewin’s and the more simple, single note call of Graceful Honeyeater. One of three easily confusable species found in far northern Queensland. Common in many wetter habitats at low elevation in wetter parts of northern Queensland.
Identification
The yellow-spotted honeyeater is olive-brown on the top and olive-gray below. However, there are brighter yellow areas on the bird's head. The bird has brown legs, feet and eyes; the beak is also brown. It is 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.9 in) in size.<p>The mass of male yellow-spotted honeyeaters ranges from 24 to 29.5 grams, and averages at 27 g. Females range from 23.5 to 30 g, and average at 25.9 g.<p>For the subspecies Meliphaga notata notata, the average wingspan is 8.6 to 9.1 cm (3.4 to 3.6 in) for males and 7.9 to 8.3 cm (3.1 to 3.3 in) for females. For the subspecies Meliphaga notata mixta, the average wingspan is 8.3 to 8.7 cm (3.3 to 3.4 in) for males and 7.7 to 8.1 cm (3.0 to 3.2 in) for females.
Taxonomy
The yellow-spotted honeyeater belongs to the order Passeriformes and the family Meliphagidae. The species may consist of two subspecies: Meliphaga notata notata and Meliphaga notata mixta. The former was described by Gould in 1867 and the latter by Matthews in 1912. The specific epithet notata derives from the Latin notatus, meaning 'spotted' or 'marked'.<p>A bird similar to the yellow-spotted honeyeater was described in 1844.
- Scientific name
- Meliphaga notata
- Authority
- (Gould, 1867)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Genus
- Meliphaga
Range and habitat
The bird largely lives in the tropical rainforests of North Queensland in extreme northeastern Australia, between Mackay and northern Cape York Peninsula. In 1901, it was also said to inhabit New Guinea.<p>Yellow-spotted honeyeaters typically live at elevations of 200 metres (660 ft) or greater. They have been observed at elevations as high as 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level, although they are not often observed above 500 m (1,600 ft). While the birds typically live in forests, they have been known to visit suburbs with sufficient tree cover. They have even been observed in some cities that use local plants for landscaping. The species lives in both open forests and forests with an understory of shrubs.<p>The yellow-spotted honeyeater co-exists with the graceful honeyeater.<p>The yellow-spotted honeyeater is in the least concern category of the IUCN Red List. The total population of the species is apparently stable. The size of its range is over 110,000 square kilometers.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The call of the yellow-spotted honeyeater has been described as a metallic, high-pitched and "rattling song consisting of four to five 'ee-yeu' repetitions". The bird's call has also been said to sound like a "machine gun rattle". It eats insects, nectar, and fruit. Its body is partially horizontal when perching.<p>The yellow-spotted honeyeater is loud and aggressive. It tends to be solitary, or live in groups of two or, at most, several birds. It does not migrate.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray-faced Buzzard
Butastur indicus
Long-winged raptor, often seen in large kettles on migration. Breeds in montane forests, where its strident two-note whistle is often heard. Adult is brown with a spotted belly, a clean white throat bordered by two black streaks and distinct white eyebrow. Juvenile is more extensively white on the head and belly, with brown upperparts sometimes blotched with white. Can be confused with Oriental Honey-Buzzard but head proportionately larger, wings narrower, and barring on the wings weaker.
Black-headed Whistler
Pachycephala monacha
A medium-sized bird of lower montane disturbed areas. Black upperparts, head and chest with white belly. Gray replaces black in the female. Has been known to hybridize with White-bellied Whistler. Similar to several species, but Black-headed Whistler is stockier than Satin Flycatcher, has a shorter tail and lacks the white brow of Willie Wagtail and is not found in forest interior like Hooded Monarch. A typical whistler song, with a variety of whistles and warbles, often ending in a sharp “wik!”.
Himalayan Monal
Lophophorus impejanus
Decked out in all the colors of the rainbow, the male is the image of iridescence; green crested head, red neck, green shoulders, blue back, orange tail, and black underparts. When displaying or flushed, flashes a bright white patch on the back. Female is nowhere near as brightly-colored, with a pale blue eye patch, white throat, and streaky brown body. Found in Himalayan hill forest, typically in areas with extensive rhododendron and bamboo-dominated understory.
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