The grey-eared honeyeater (''Lichmera incana''), also known as the dark-brown honeyeater, is a
passerine bird of the
honeyeater
The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family (biology), family, Meliphagidae, of small to medium-sized birds. The family includes the Epthianura, Australian chats, myzomelas, friarbirds, wattlebirds, Manorina, miners and melidectes. They are ...
family which is found in
Vanuatu and
New Caledonia
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in the south-west
Pacific. It is sometimes known as the silver-eared honeyeater, but this name is also used for the
silver-eared honeyeater
The silver-eared honeyeater (''Lichmera alboauricularis'') is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae.
It is found in New Guinea.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.
Description
The Silver-eared honeyeater
...
(''Lichmera alboauricularis'') of
New Guinea.
Description
The grey-eared honeyeater is 13 to 17 cm long with the males being larger than the females. The
plumage
Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, ...
is mainly dull green-brown above and grey with an olive tint below. The cheeks are silvery-grey, and the crown is dark grey. The black
bill
Bill(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States)
* Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature
* Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer
* Bill, a bird or animal's beak
Plac ...
is long and slightly downcurved; the legs and feet are blue-grey.
Juveniles are paler than the adults without the silvery cheeks.
They are noisy birds which begin calling before dawn. They have a harsh ' call and a warbling
song.
Distribution and habitat
It is a common bird across most of its range and occurs in the lowlands and low hills in a variety of habitats, including forest,
scrub
Scrub(s) may refer to:
* Scrub, low shrub and grass characteristic of scrubland
* Scrubs (clothing), worn by medical staff
* ''Scrubs'' (TV series), an American television program
* Scrubs (occupation), also called "scrub tech," "scrub nurse," ...
,
mangroves, and gardens. There are five
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
; the nominate subspecies ''L. i. incana'' is found on Grande Terre, the main island of New Caledonia. ''L. i. poliotis'' and ''L. i. mareensis'' are found on the
Loyalty Islands to the north-east of New Caledonia. ''L. i. flavotincta'' and ''L. i. griseoviridis'' occur in Vanuatu.
Behaviour
Feeding
Grey-eared honeyeaters feed from the shrub layer up to the canopy, moving from branch to branch in search of flowers from which they take
nectar
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
and
pollen
Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametophyt ...
. They also feed on
insects and
spiders, searching among leaves or making short flights into the air to catch them. They will sometimes hover in front of flowers or
spider webs looking for food.
Reproduction
The
breeding season
Seasonal breeders are animal species that successfully mate only during certain times of the year. These times of year allow for the optimization of survival of young due to factors such as ambient temperature, food and water availability, and cha ...
usually lasts from October to February. The
nest is made mainly of
grass and plant fibres, held together by spider webs. It is built in the fork of a branch in a tree or bush. Two
eggs are laid; these are white with a few reddish spots and are
incubated for 14 days. The young birds are fed on insects and spiders and leave the nest after 12 days.
References
* Bregulla, Heinrich L. (1992) ''Birds of Vanuatu'', Anthony Nelson, Oswestry, England.
* Doughty, Chris; Nicolas Day, Nicolas & Andrew Plant (1999) ''Birds of the Solomons, Vanuatu & New Caledonia'', Christopher Helm, London.
External links
Photo of a dark-brown honeyeater - Australasian Bird Image Database
{{Taxonbar, from=Q901966
grey-eared honeyeater
Birds of New Caledonia
Birds of Vanuatu
grey-eared honeyeater