Lichmera incana
The Grey-eared Honeyeater (Lichmera incana) is a small-to-medium-sized passerine bird belonging to the large and diverse honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. Measuring approximately 12-16 cm in length and weighing 10-18 grams, its plumage is generally dull grey-brown on the upperparts, contrasting with a paler, often whitish, belly. The most distinctive field mark, giving it its common name, is a prominent greyish ear-patch that stands out against its otherwise subdued head coloration. Its slende...
This adaptable species primarily inhabits a variety of lowland to mid-elevation environments, including coastal scrub, open eucalypt woodlands, mangroves, melaleuca swamps, and even urban gardens.
Their diet mainly consists of nectar from a wide variety of native and introduced flowering plants, supplemented significantly by insects gleaned from foliage or caught in flight, and occasionally small fruits or spiders.
The Grey-eared Honeyeater is a highly active and vocal bird, spending its days darting among flowering plants and foliage. Its foraging strategy is versatile, encompassing nectar probing from various blossoms, gleaning insects from leaves and bark, and occasionally hawking insects mid-air. They c...
The Grey-eared Honeyeater boasts a wide distribution across parts of Oceania, primarily found in eastern Australia, New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, and Vanuatu. In Australia, its range is largely restricted to the coastal regions of Queensland, extending northwards through the Cape York Penin...
Least Concern
- The Grey-eared Honeyeater is named for the distinctive grey patch covering its ear coverts, a key identification feature. - Despite its relatively plain plumage, its persistent and varied vocalizations are a prominent sound in its native habitats. - This species acts as an important pollinator ...