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18

Brown-backed Honeyeater

(Ramsayornis modestus)
Alternate name(s): "Unadorned Honeyeater", "Modest Honeyeater"
Size: 11-13 cm
Weight: 11-14 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Brown-backed Honeyeater at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Brown-backed Honeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Brown-backed Honeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cattana Wetlands, Cairns, QLD, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Brown-backed Honeater approaching a water bowl (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, in November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Brown-backed Honeater approaching a water bowl (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Kingfisher Park, Julatten, QLD, in November 2018]

Lateral view of a Brown-backed Honeater drinking from a water bowl (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, December 2009]

Dorsal view of a Brown-backed Honeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, August 2023]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Mar Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 15 days Fledging age: 14 - 15 days

Nest building: ? Incubation: Female Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Hanging domed basket Material: Paperbark strips, flakes, grass, webs Height above ground: 2 - 4 m

Brown-backed Honeyeater nests are usually built hanging from thin outer branches, overhanging water. In ideal conditions Brown-backed Honeyeaters can nest semi-colonially.

Brown-backed Honeater at its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, August 2023]

Brown-backed Honeater bringing a paperbark strip for its nest (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree, QLD, October 2022]

Brown-backed Honeater nest still under construction, with its owner nearby (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]

Brown-backed Honeater working on its nest, which is still lacking its outer layer and dome (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]

Brown-backed Honeater collecting material for its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, September 2020]

Brown-backed Honeater collecting material for its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, September 2020]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 20 x 14 mm Colour: Creamy, with sparse light-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Food, Diet

Near-frontal view of a Brown-backed Honeater taking nectar (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Thala Beach Nature Reserve, near Oak Beach, QLD, October 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Brown-backed Honeater at a food source (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Thala Beach Nature Reserve, near Oak Beach, QLD, October 2020]

Lateral view of a Brown-backed Honeater taking nectar from a Callistemon (bottlebrush) (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, August 2023]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

brbkhon_me_20230814.mp3 (N QLD) Dawn chorus (+ Bar-shouldered Dove) © ME

More Brown-backed Honeyeater sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.