Smoky Honeyeater
Other common names: Common/Smoky Honeyeater, Smoky Bareeyed/Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Eastern Smoky Honeyeater,
Common/Eastern Melipote(s)
Taxonomy: Melipotes fumigatus A. B. Meyer, 1886, Hufeisengebirge (south-east Owen Stanley Range), south-east New Guinea.
Not Threatened
Nominate race has forehead, crown and nape black-brown, merging over hindneck to dark grey-brown on side of head and neck and upperbody and paler grey-brown chin and throat, bright orange-yellow circumorbital patch with thickened lobe on lower rear edge, upperwing and uppertail sooty brown, faint and fine paler brown-grey tips on wing-coverts and olive-brown to grey edges of feathers of alula and remiges, underbody dark-brown to dark olive-brown, with very faint and fine rufous- brown shaft streak across upper breast, diffuse pale grey to light grey-brown feather edges forming pale mottling, and light grey-brown thighs, undertail dark grey-brown, underwing pink-buff to buff on coverts, with pale grey-brown bases of remiges and oliverown trailing edges and tip, iris dark brown to red-brown, bill black, rarely cream tip of upper mandible, legs slate-grey to dark blue-grey to brownish-grey. Sexes alike in plumage, male slightly larger than female. Juvenile is said to be like adult but browner above, duller and more uniformly grey below.
21.5-22 cm, male 46-60 g and female 42-54 g, (nominate), male 46-48 g and female 44-57 g (goliathi)
Genus closely related to Macgregoria. Forms a superspecies with M. ater, M. gymnops and M. carolae. Status and affinities of populations of this genus in Fakfak Mts (Onin Peninsula) not known: three sightings in 1981 of honeyeaters that looked more like present species (closest known populations in Kumawa Mts, to SE) than like M. gymnops (range to N), and one seen in 1992 had ventral plumage more like that of M. gymnops but facial patch somewhat like that of M. ater (thus unlike those seen in 1981); further research required. Also, earlier published statements that present species abundant in Foja Mts above 1200 m presumably refer to newly described M. carolae. Race goliathi intergrades with nominate in Herzog Mts. Three subspecies recognized.
(source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
kumawa Diamond, 1985 - Kumawa Mts, in NW New Guinea (S Bomberai Peninsula).
goliathi Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert, 1911 - Central Ranges from Weyland Mts and Nassau Mts E to Bismarck- Kubor Mts (including Mt Bosavi) and W Herzog Mts, also Cyclops Mts and C North Coastal Range (Bewani Mts).
fumigatus A. B. Meyer, 1886 - E Herzog Mts and mountains of SE New Guinea.
The species is endemic to the island of New Guinea, where it occurs in the Central Ranges across the length of the island as well as two isolated populations on north west and north of the island. There are three subspecies; the nominate race occurs in the East Herzog Mountains and south east New Guinea, M. f. kumawa is restricted to the southern Bomberai Peninsula and M. f. goliathi ranges from the Weyland Mountains to the west Herzog mountains. Mid-montane and montane forest, including highaltitude stunged moss forest, forest edge, secondary growth, and disturbed and modified habitats, including gardens. From 750 m to 4200, but rarely below 1100 m and mainly 1400-3400 m. Across altitudinal gradient on Mt Karimui, Only immature at 1100-1370 m and mainly females at 2160-2490 m, with breeding males not found below 1830 m.
Predominantly frugivores, but insectict and some floral parts also taken, not known to eat nectar, and one observed while pecking at flowers was found to have only insect in stomach. Takes mainly small fruits 2-8 mm in diameter, also eats pulp of larger fruits by pecking. Mainly in canopy to middle- stages at edge of forest, but occurs at all levels. Usually seen singly, less often in twos, rarely in small parties of 5-6 individuals.
Season at least late dry season, with eggs late Sept and early Oct, and nestlings and fledglings late Aug to late Oct, and unseen nestling heard in Dec, birds in breeding condition Aug-Nov. Nest a large and rather bulky, loose pencil cup of long, thin mosses, and few leaves and other plant material.