ID CHALLENGE Friday 2 October 2020 P Plate by Mary Clarke
Who is this little darling? Seen and photographed by Mary Clarke in Tinaroo, Atherton Tablelands Queensland in September.
Size: small (smaller than a New Holland Honeyeater) Behaviour: feeding in a flowering callistemon with many other birds.
Solution:
Yes, it is a Brown-backed Honeyeater Ramsayornis modestus.
My first impression of this bird was that it had a ‘pretty face’ – not very useful for identification purposes . I think my first sighting of it was on the Barron River, round behind Tinaroo Dam. I like to get a photo of a bird to help me with identification but this bird flits around very quickly and it took me a long time to get a photo that was of any use. I have also seen it in Cairns at Tingara Street in some Melaleuca trees, and at the Townsville Town Common Melaleuca Viewing Area. When I looked in the ABG today I was surprised to see that they say it is mostly found in coastal lowlands as I have seen it more often on the tablelands but it is definitely always near water.
It has several easy to see ID features that help in its identification. Firstly, as the ABG says it has a ‘distinctive facial pattern’ (aka – pretty face ) with a clear white line from the base of the upper mandible to below eye, bordered by a dark pencil line from gape to below eye and a white malar stripe’ Also the pink colouring in its bill and legs is obvious in an adult bird. It eats insects from foliage or that it captures in the air and nectar when available.
More pics of these beauties, and the calls here: https://ebird.org/species/brbhon1
and some good info at Graeme Chapman’s site: https://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/viewphotos.php?c=249
Comments:
Sonja Ross: Great to have a northern bird, thanks, Mary. My most distinct memory of them is nest-building over the water at Tyto Wetlands in Ingham.
Mary Clarke: Actually – I saw some at Tyto Wetlands on Monday
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