Smoky Honeyeater
A species of Smoky honeyeaters and allies Scientific name : Melipotes fumigatus Genus : Smoky honeyeaters and allies
Smoky Honeyeater, A species of Smoky honeyeaters and allies
Botanical name: Melipotes fumigatus
Genus: Smoky honeyeaters and allies
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Lars Petersson
Description
The common smoky honeyeater (Melipotes fumigatus) is a species of bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It is one of four species in the genus Melipotes, all closely related and forming a superspecies. After another similar species, the wattled smoky honeyeater, was discovered in 2005 in the Foja Mountains, it has also been called the common smoky honeyeater. The species is endemic to the island of New Guinea, where it occurs in the Central Ranges across the length of the island, as well as two isolated populations in the northwest and north of the island. There are three subspecies: the nominate race occurs in the eastern Herzog Mountains and southeast New Guinea; M. f. kumawa is restricted to the southern Bomberai Peninsula; and M. f. goliathi ranges from the Weyland Mountains to the western Herzog Mountains.
Size
22 cm
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Smoky Honeyeater primarily consumes small fruits whole and pecks the pulp of larger fruits. It exhibits opportunistic insectivory by targeting insects in flowers, with gleaning and occasional sally-strikes as foraging methods. Smoky Honeyeater frequents various forest strata, often solitarily, and exhibits notable aggression at feeding sites.
Habitat
The habitat of smoky Honeyeater includes mid-montane and montane primary forests, which is characterized by areas of high-altitude stunted moss forests and forest edges. Smoky Honeyeater is also found in secondary growth, particularly dense regrowth in natural clearings, as well as in disturbed and modified habitats like gardens. They inhabit regions characterized by considerable vegetative biodiversity and complexity, spanning a range of forest types and conditions.
Dite type
Frugivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Fruit
Photo By Lars Petersson