18

Dusky Honeyeater

(Myzomela obscura)
Size: 12-15 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

There are three races of Dusky Honeyeaters. Nominate race "obscura" is found only along a narrow coastal strip of the NT's top end, to about the NT/QLD border. Further east, along the coastline of Cape York peninsula (sometimes also all over the peninsula) and along the QLD coastline as far south as Brisbane, race "harterti" is found. Race "fumata" does not live on Australian territory, but to the north (Torres Strait, Papua New Guinea).

Dusky Honeyeaters are usually found in dense (mostly coastal) forest or mangroves, often near swamps.

Sightings

Dusky Honeyeaters (subspecies "harterti") were spotted by us in Byfield National Park, QLD, near the township of Stockyard Point, in July 2009. They were quite curious and/or protective of their territory.

Photos

Race "harterti"

Near-frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater

Lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater

View from behind of a Dusky Honeyeater, with a droplet of nectar still on the tip of its bill

Dusky Honeyeater showing its sticky tongue

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.