Brown Honeyeater
Lichmera indistincta· 吸蜜鸟科(2 photos)
Brown Honeyeater
11-15 cm. Male much larger. Plain brown honeyeater with longish curved bill; yellowish/silvery white spot behind eye; flight/tail feathers edged yellowish. Gape yellow; black in breeding males. Immature: yellow-white mark near gape, no yellowish, silvery spot. Singles, pairs, flocks: demonstrative, aerobatic; song distinctive.
- Similar Species
- Dusky Honeyeater; Red-headed, Scarlet Honeyeaters, females.
- Voice
- strong, varied, like Clamorous Reed-Warbler; 'sweet-sweet-quarty-quarty'; grating 'kreee?'; throaty 'dup'.
- Habitat
- eucalypt forests, inland scrubs and watercourses, subtropical/tropical woodlands, rainforest margins, coastal scrubs, paperbarks, mangroves, inland watercourse-vegetation, golf courses, parks, gardens.
- Breeding
- June-Jan.
- Nest
- deep cup of grass, bark shreds, leaves, palm-fibre, spiders' web; in foliage 1-6 m high.
- Eggs
- 2-3; white with red-brown spots.
- Range & Status
- widespread mainland Aust. except Western and Simpson Deserts, Nullarbor and sse. Aust. In nw. SA, extends s. into Gt Victoria Desert. In NSW, extends w. to Wanaaring, s. to Hillston-Dubbo-Hunter R., coastally s. to Cronulla-Port Hacking. Casual w. of Coober Pedy (SA); Red Cliffs (Vic.). Common. Sedentary; locally nomadic.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. lichmera indistincta indistincta 2. lichmera indistincta ocularis 3. lichmera indistincta melvillensis
