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
Snow Partridge
Lerwa lerwa
A stone-colored terrestrial bird of stony hillsides, mountain ridges, and meadows above treeline. Adults speckled gray and white above, with dense rusty streaking on white underparts, red bill, and deep red legs. Usually forages in small groups, often in very exposed areas such as cliff sides and rocky ridges. Song, often given by multiple birds in a group simultaneously, is high-pitched and has a slippery, squeaky quality like wet shoes on tile; male song louder and ascending, female’s softer and descending.
Brazilian Ruby
Heliodoxa rubricauda
Small distinctive hummingbird with a straight black bill. Males are mostly green with a rusty rump and tail, and noteworthy for an iridescent pink throat and white spot behind the eye. Females are green above and rusty below with a white teardrop behind the eye and a pale patch on the cheeks. Found in the understory of humid rainforest and visiting feeders at forest edges.
Creamy-rumped Miner
Geositta isabellina
Local in the high Andes of central Chile and adjacent Argentina. Favors open slopes with sandy and gravelly soil, scattered bunch grass and low shrubs, adjacent bogs, and rocky areas. Often in pairs, walking with waddling gait and pumping its tail like most miners. Plumage rather drab and plain sandy overall with diffuse dusky breast streaking and a relatively long and slightly decurved bill. In flight shows a contrasting creamy-white rump. Compare with the similar Rufous-banded and Common Miners.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.