Caligavis subfrenata
The Black-throated Honeyeater (*Caligavis subfrenata*) is a vibrant passerine endemic to the mountainous regions of New Guinea, a striking member of the Meliphagidae family. Averaging 18-21 cm in length and weighing around 30-40 grams, its plumage features brilliant olive-green upperparts, bright yellow underparts, and a distinctive velvety black throat patch, bordered by a prominent yellow malar stripe that extends behind the eye. This combination of yellow and black, especially the gape, se...
This species primarily inhabits tropical montane rainforests, forest edges, and secondary growth, typically found at elevations between 800 and 2,800 meters above sea level. It shows a strong preference for areas with abundant flowering trees and shrubs, which are crucial for its nectar diet.
The diet consists predominantly of nectar, supplemented significantly by insects, such as beetles, flies, and spiders, and occasionally small fruits or berries. It forages actively by probing flowers and gleaning arthropods from foliage or catching them in flight.
Black-throated Honeyeaters are highly active and diurnal, spending their days foraging energetically through the forest canopy and understory, often singly or in pairs. Their foraging strategy primarily involves probing flowers for nectar with their specialized brush-tipped tongues, but they are ...
The Black-throated Honeyeater is endemic to the island of New Guinea, where it is widely distributed across the central mountain ranges. Its primary range extends throughout the high-altitude forests of both Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua. It is specifically...
Least Concern
- The Black-throated Honeyeater is endemic to the island of New Guinea, found nowhere else in the world. - Its scientific name *subfrenata* refers to the yellow stripe below the black throat, with 'sub' meaning below and 'frenum' referring to the bridle or strap-like marking. - This honeyeater ac...