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 →