Meliphaga albonotata
White-marked Scrub Honeyeater
Other common names: (Scrub/Southern) White-eared/(Scrub) White-marked Honeyeater/Meliphaga, Scrub Whiteeyed/ Southern/Diamond Honeyeater, Scrub Mountain- honeyeater/- meliphaga
Has top and side of head and neck and entire upperbody greyish-olive, with blackish lores, white lower ear-coverts forming small rounded ear-patch, and bright yellow or orange-yellow gape merging with narrow and contrastingly paler (pale yellow or cream) rictal streak (which does not meet pale ear-patch); upperwing-coverts and alula dark brown with yellowish-olive fringes, remiges dark brown with yellowish olive outer edges and pale yellowish-buff inner edges; tail fothers dark brown with yellowish-olive outer edges and pale yellowish-buff inner edges;
Not Threatened
Has top and side of head and neck and entire upper body greyish-olive, with blackish lores, white lower ear-coverts forming small rounded ear-patch, and bright yellow or orange-yellow gape merging with narrow and contrastingly paler (pale yellow or cream) rectal streak (which does not meet pale ear-patch); upperwing-coverts and alula dark brown with yellowish-olive fringes, remiges dark brown with yellowish olive outer edges and pale yellowish-buff inner edges; tail fathers dark brown with yellowish-olive outer edges and pale yellowish-buff inner edges; tail feathers dark brown with yellowish-olive outer edges; rather uniform light olive-grey below, pale yellow tinge or diffuse streaking on breast and belly; underwing-coverts olive- yellowish or buff; iris grey to grey-brown or dark brown; bill black to brownish-black (descriptions as greyish may represent juvenile character); lags grey to grey-brown of dark olive-grey. Diggers from similar M. montana mainly in brighter green crown and upperparts, yellowish or creamy (not white) rectal streak, yellowish or yellowish-olive fringes and edges on upperwing and tail, plainer under parts, and richer yellow gape. Sexes alike in plumage, male on average larger than female. Juvenile differs from adult in having yellow tinge in ear-patch, dark olive-brown upperparts, and irregular darker olive-brown band across breast.
17-19cm; male 27-34 g, female 20-29 g
Taxonomy: Ptilotis albonotata Salvadori, 1876, Naiabui, Hall Sound, south-east New Guinea. On basis of molecular evidence, genus consists of two clades; present species is part of group which contains also M. orientalis, M. analoga, M. vicina, M. gracilis, M. cinereifrons, M. mimikae, M. montana, M. flavirictus, M. albilineata, M. fordiana and M. reticulata. Formerly treated as conspecific with M. montana. Proposed races setekwa (from upper Setekwa R, in Nassau Range), auga (Mafulu, in Central Division) and gretae (Nondugl, on Wahgi R, in Central Highlands).
(source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Typically in disturbed habitats, including secondary growth and forest edge, forest remnants along creeks, marginal primary forest, mid-montane scrub, anthropogenic grasslands, plantations, and town and village gardens; apparently absent from interior of forest. Mainly foothills and lower mountains, less often in lowlands; sea-level to c. 1950 m, with possible records at 2900 m (between Laiagam and Kanep).
Diet includes insects, nectar and some fruit. Usually forages in understory (e.g. frequently up to 5 m above ground), but visits flowering and fruiting trees. Forages by gleaning, including hover-gleaning; seen to forage at flowers of Ficus taitenses, and to hover at papayas partly eaten by fruit-bats to feed on pulp. Usually singly or in twos (probably pairs); seen to feed in flowering tree with other species, including three species of Myzomela.
Recorded in dry season and middle of wet season; eggs in early Mar and Sept, nestlings late Jul, late Sept and late Oct, and fledglings late Aug, Sept, Feb and May. Nest a neat cup of fine fibres, moss grasses, bark and much animal silk, lined with thread-like woody fibres, plant down and fluffy cotton-like seed material, external diameter c. 8 cm, depth 6.4-8 cm, internal diameter 5-7 cm, depth c. 3.5 cm, suspended 1-5 (sometimes higher, to 11 m) above ground from horizontal fork in small tree, in shrub or in bamboo thicket. Clutch 1-2 eggs; no information on incubation and nestling periods; chicks are fed by both parents.
