Melipotes fumigatus
The Common Smoky Honeyeater (Melipotes fumigatus) is a distinctive passerine bird endemic to the montane forests of New Guinea, instantly recognizable by its rather drab plumage contrasted with striking bare facial skin. Measuring approximately 22 cm (8.7 in) in length and weighing between 40-60 grams, its body is uniformly dusky olive-brown to sooty grey, lending it its 'smoky' moniker. The most prominent identification mark is the conspicuous patch of bare skin around the eye and lores, whi...
This species primarily inhabits montane rainforests, cloud forests, and disturbed forest edges, often found among tree-ferns and epiphytes at elevations typically ranging from 1,200 to 3,600 meters.
Their diet primarily consists of nectar from various flowering plants, small insects gleaned from foliage and bark, and small fruits and berries.
Common Smoky Honeyeaters are diurnal, often observed foraging alone or in small, loose groups, though they may join mixed-species flocks. Their foraging strategy is largely arboreal, involving gleaning insects from foliage, probing mosses and epiphytes, and collecting nectar from high-altitude fl...
The Common Smoky Honeyeater is endemic to the central highlands of New Guinea, maintaining a year-round resident distribution across a wide area. Its range spans from the Arfak and Vogelkop Mountains in West Papua (Indonesia) eastward through the main cordillera of Papua New Guinea, including sig...
Least Concern
- The genus name *Melipotes* is derived from the Greek words 'meli' (honey) and 'potes' (drinker), aptly describing its primary dietary preference. - The intensity and color of the Common Smoky Honeyeater's bare facial skin can vary, often brightening with excitement, stress, or during breeding s...