Kimberley Honeyeater

The Kimberley honeyeater, a member of the Meliphagidae family, is a bird that shares a close resemblance with its relative, the white-lined honeyeater. It sports dark grey upperparts and light grey underparts, with grey eyes that are accentuated by dark grey below. Its beak is a stark black, and it lacks the citrine edging on the upper surface of the remiges and rectrices that is seen in the white-lined honeyeater. Notably, it features pale creamy-buff under-wing coverts and a milky-white belly, which distinguish it from its close kin.

Identification Tips

When observing this species, look for the absence of citrine edging on the wings and tail, which is a key differentiator from the white-lined honeyeater. The pale creamy-buff under-wing coverts and milky-white belly are also distinctive features to aid in identification.

Habitat

The Kimberley honeyeater is found in the lush rainforests, eucalypt woodlands, and paperbark forests endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Distribution

This bird is a native resident of the Kimberley region, with sightings confirmed in the Charnley River–Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary.

Breeding

Breeding season for the Kimberley honeyeater spans from August to January. During this time, they construct deep nests from spiderweb and plant fibres, where they lay two pinkish eggs speckled with red or brown.

Conservation status

The Kimberley honeyeater is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.