Melilestes megarhynchus
The Long-billed Honeyeater (Melilestes megarhynchus) is a distinctive medium-sized passerine, typically measuring 18-20 cm in length and weighing between 20-30 grams. Its most striking feature is its remarkably long (3-4 cm), slender, and strongly decurved black bill, perfectly adapted for probing deep flowers. The overall plumage is a drab olive-green, darker on the upperparts and paler, dull greenish-yellow below, sometimes with faint streaking on the breast, providing excellent camouflage ...
Primarily inhabits tropical lowland and hill rainforests, extending into secondary growth, forest edges, and disturbed areas, typically from sea level up to 1,500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on nectar extracted from a variety of forest flowers, supplemented by small insects, spiders, and occasionally tiny fruits.
This diurnal species is often observed singly or in pairs, frequently joining mixed-species foraging flocks high in the forest canopy. Its foraging strategy is highly specialized, involving active probing of long-tubular flowers for nectar, often while perching or briefly hovering; it also gleans...
The Long-billed Honeyeater is endemic to the island of New Guinea and several surrounding smaller islands, including Yapen, Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo, and Misool. It is widespread throughout the lowlands and hill regions of both Indonesian West Papua and Papua New Guinea. Two subspecies are recog...
Least Concern
- The Long-billed Honeyeater possesses one of the most exaggeratedly decurved bills among all honeyeaters, a marvel of evolutionary adaptation. - Its drab olive-green plumage makes it surprisingly difficult to spot amidst dense forest foliage, despite its unique bill. - It is the sole member of i...