Melidectes belfordi
Belford's Melidectes (*Melidectes belfordi*) is a striking, medium-sized honeyeater endemic to the high-altitude montane forests of New Guinea. Measuring approximately 20-25 cm in length and weighing 40-60 grams, its plumage is predominantly dark olive-brown on the upperparts, with slightly paler, streaked underparts. The most distinctive field mark is the extensive, bare skin around the eye, which can range from bright yellow to yellowish-orange or even reddish, often forming a small, fleshy...
This montane specialist inhabits high-altitude rainforests, moss forests, subalpine scrub, and forest edges, typically found between 1,400 to 4,000 meters above sea level.
The diet of Belford's Melidectes consists mainly of nectar, which it obtains by probing a variety of flowering plants, supplemented by insects (such as ants, beetles, and moths) and small fruits.
Belford's Melidectes is a diurnal and highly active bird, spending its day foraging and defending its territory. It employs a versatile foraging strategy, primarily probing flowers for nectar, gleaning insects from foliage and bark, hawking flying insects in mid-air, and occasionally consuming sm...
Belford's Melidectes is endemic to the central mountain ranges of New Guinea, with a broad distribution across both Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian provinces of Papua (formerly Irian Jaya). Its range extends from the Vogelkop Peninsula in the west, eastward through the entire length of the Ce...
Least Concern
- Belford's Melidectes is entirely endemic to the central mountain ranges of New Guinea, found nowhere else in the world. - It is one of the highest-altitude honeyeaters, regularly recorded at elevations up to 4,000 meters (over 13,000 feet) in the subalpine zone. - The prominent bare skin around...