Brown-headed Honeyeater
Melithreptus brevirostris
Silhouette: Rachael Joakim · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMeliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
- GenusMelithreptus (Dark-headed Honeyeaters)
- SpeciesMelithreptus brevirostris (Brown-headed Honeyeater)
About the Brown-headed Honeyeater
The brown-headed honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris) is a species of passerine bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.
The brown-headed honeyeater was first described by Vigors & Horsfield in 1827. Its species name is derived from the Latin terms brevis 'short', and rostrum 'beak'. Five subspecies have been described. The race magnirostris from Kangaroo Island has a noticeably larger bill.
It is a member of the genus Melithreptus, with several species of similar size and all black-headed, apart from this species, in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. Molecular markers show the brown-headed honeyeater is most closely related to the black-chinned honeyeater, with the strong-billed honeyeater an earlier offshoot between 6.7 and 3.4 million years ago.
A small honeyeater ranging from 13 to 15 cm (5.2–6 in) in length, it is olive-brown above and buff below, with a brown head, nape and throat, a cream or orange patch of bare skin over the eye, and a dull white crescent-shaped patch on the nape. The legs and feet are orange. It makes a scratchy chwik... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Brown-headed Honeyeater in Kosciuszko National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kosciuszko National Park
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Melithreptus lunatus
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Anthochaera carunculata
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Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
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Ptilotula penicillata
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Flinders Chase | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Flinders Ranges National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Brown-headed Honeyeater in Kosciuszko National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-headed Honeyeater sighting in Kosciuszko National Park, based on 101 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Brown-headed Honeyeater in Kosciuszko National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Brown-headed Honeyeater in Kosciuszko National Park in our monthly data.