Melipotes ater
The Spangled Honeyeater (*Melipotes ater*) is a distinctive medium-sized passerine, typically measuring around 22 cm (8.7 inches) in length. Its plumage is predominantly a sooty-black, giving it a rather somber appearance, but this is strikingly contrasted by a prominent patch of bare, bright yellow to orange skin behind the eye, often likened to "spectacles," which serves as its most distinguishing field mark. Subtle pale spangling or mottling can be observed on its back and wings, lending t...
This species is an altitudinal specialist, found exclusively in montane cloud forests, moss forests, and subalpine shrubbery, typically at elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters.
Their diet is omnivorous, primarily consisting of nectar from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented significantly by small insects, and occasional small fruits or berries.
Spangled Honeyeaters are active diurnal foragers, often observed singly or in pairs, though they can congregate in small, loose groups at rich food sources. They employ varied foraging strategies, gleaning insects from foliage, hawking flying insects in mid-air, and probing flowers and epiphytes ...
The Spangled Honeyeater is endemic to the rugged Central Highlands of New Guinea, where it maintains a relatively continuous distribution across the main mountain ranges. Its breeding range spans from the Weyland Mountains in the western part of the island (e.g., West Papua, Indonesia) eastward t...
Least Concern
- The "ater" in its scientific name, *Melipotes ater*, is Latin for "black," referring to its predominant plumage color. - Its most striking feature, the bare yellow-orange patch behind the eye, can vary in intensity and color saturation, possibly indicating mood or breeding condition. - Despite ...