Brown-backed Honeyeater
Ramsayornis modestus
Silhouette: Rachael Joakim · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMeliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
- GenusRamsayornis (Bar-breasted and Brown-backed Honeyeaters)
- SpeciesRamsayornis modestus (Brown-backed Honeyeater)
About the Brown-backed Honeyeater
The brown-backed honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is found in New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.
The Brown-backed honeyeater is small in size, measuring around 11–12cm in length with a weight of 11–14 g. The average wingspan is 6.2–7 cm (2.4 to 2.7 in), and the bill is 1.5–1.8 cm in length. Like the name suggests, it has a brown back with brown streaks across an otherwise white chest and belly, and a red bill. Similar in appearance to the Bar-breasted Honeyeater, but with a differing facial pattern.
Calls include a rapid mick, mick, and a chattering shee-shee. The Brown-backed honeyeater is found along the coast of Far North Queensland, particularly around the Cape York Peninsula. Its range extends across the islands of the Torres Strait and into New Guinea.
Unlike similar birds that migrate across the Torres Strait, the Brown-backed honeyeater is partly resident and nomadic, meaning it tends to stay in the same area year-round but will travel depending on environmental factors, such as food availability... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Brown-backed Honeyeater in Daintree National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Daintree National Park
Bar-breasted Honeyeater
Ramsayornis fasciatus
Helmeted Friarbird
Philemon buceroides
Yellow-spotted Honeyeater
Meliphaga notata
Hornbill Friarbird
Philemon yorki
Dusky Honeyeater
Myzomela obscura
Macleay's Honeyeater
Xanthotis macleayanus
Bridled Honeyeater
Bolemoreus frenatus
Brown Honeyeater
Lichmera indistincta
Yellow Honeyeater
Stomiopera flava
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Entomyzon cyanotis
Noisy Friarbird
Philemon corniculatus
Lewin's Honeyeater
Meliphaga lewinii
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Brown-backed Honeyeater in Daintree National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-backed Honeyeater sighting in Daintree National Park, based on 376 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Brown-backed Honeyeater in Daintree National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Brown-backed Honeyeater in Daintree National Park in our monthly data.