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Dusky Honeyeater (Myzomela obscura) Size: 12-15 cm Body mass: 10-15 g

Australia: Family Group 18 Family Group 18 Table Yellow Wattlebird Red Wattlebird Little Wattlebird Western Wattlebird Regent Honeyeater Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Striped Honeyeater Helmeted Friarbird Silver-crowned Friarbird Noisy Friarbird Little Friarbird Blue-faced Honeyeater Bell Miner Yellow-throated Miner Noisy Miner Macleay's Honeyeater Tawny-breasted Honeyeater Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Graceful Honeyeater Lewin's Honeyeater Yellow-faced Honeyeater Bridled Honeyeater Eungella Honeyeater Singing Honeyeater Mangrove Honeyeater Varied Honeyeater White-lined Honeyeater Kimberley Honeyeater White-gaped Honeyeater Yellow Honeyeater White-eared Honeyeater Yellow-throated Honeyeater Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Purple-gaped Honeyeater Grey-headed Honeyeater Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Grey-fronted Honeyeater Fuscous Honeyeater Yellow-tinted Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeater Green-backed Honeyeater Brown Honeyeater Bar-breasted Honeyeater Brown-backed Honeyeater Rufous-throated Honeyeater Grey Honeyeater Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Rufous-banded Honeyeater White-streaked Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater White-cheeked Honeyeater Crescent Honeyeater White-fronted Honeyeater Painted Honeyeater Black-chinned Honeyeater White-throated Honeyeater Strong-billed Honeyeater White-naped Honeyeater Brown-headed Honeyeater Black-headed Honeyeater Eastern Spinebill Western Spinebill Banded Honeyeater Black Honeyeater Pied Honeyeater Scarlet Honeyeater Red-headed Honeyeater Dusky Honeyeater Garden Sunbird Gibberbird Crimson Chat Orange Chat Yellow Chat White-fronted Chat Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Dusky Honeyeaters are very small nectar-eating birds. They are nearly uniformly dark greyish-brown, with dark-grey lores and dark-grey flight feathers. The tail is also dark greyish-brown. The irises are dark-brown. The long, slightly down-curved bill is black, while the legs and feet are grey. In bad light conditions Dusky Honeyeaters can appear to be almost all black. Juveniles are more brownish, with an orange lower mandible.

Taxonomy, classification See Dusky Honeyeater at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Dusky Honeyeater is available HERE . There are three races of Dusky Honeyeaters. Their range extends from eastern Indonesia via New Guinea and some islands in the Solomon Sea to tropical northern Australia. Races "obscura" and "harterti" are endemic to Australia. Nominate race "obscura" is found only along a (near-)coastal strip of the NT's Top End to about the NT/QLD border. Farther East, along the coastline of Cape York peninsula (sometimes also all over the peninsula) and along the QLD coastline as far South as Brisbane, race "harterti" is found. Race "fumata" does not live on Australian territory, but on tropical islands to the North (Torres Strait, Papua New Guinea). Dusky Honeyeaters are usually found in dense (mostly coastal) forest or mangrove, often near swamps.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "obscura" H. Mouritsen reports spotting Dusky Honeyeaters, race "obscura", in various locations in and around Darwin, NT, in October 2015. P. Brown reports finding Dusky Honeyeaters, race "obscura", occasionally in and around Darwin, NT. A Dusky Honeyeater, race "obscura", was also found along the Bird Billabong, Adelaide River, Mary River NP, Top End, NT, in November 2019. Fledglings were found by P. Brown along the Gurambai Trail, Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT, in June 2020. Race "harterti" Dusky Honeyeaters, race "harterti", were spotted by us in Byfield NP, QLD, near the township of Stockyard Point, in July 2009. They were quite curious and/or protective of their territory. B. Hensen reports spotting Dusky Honeyeaters, race "harterti", at Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, in July 2013. M. Eaton reports finding Dusky Honeyeaters, race "harterti", at Town of 1770, QLD, in September 2017, in Cairns, QLD, in July 2018, and at Gunshot Creek, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019. More were found at Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, in May 2020. The next sighting was at Yungaburra, QLD, in Augugst 2023. R. Russell spotted a Dusky Honeyeater, race "harterti", at Mount Molloy, QLD, in March 2011. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found a Dusky Honeyeater, race "harterti", at Kuranda, QLD, in May 2019. Others were spotted in the Atherton Tablelands - at Yungaburra, QLD, in August 2023 and at Lake Barrine, QLD, in October 2023, respectively. C. Linfoot occasionally finds Dusky Honeyeaters, race "harterti", at Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD.

Photos

Race "obscura"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong, Adelaide River, Mary River NP, Top End, NT, November 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater taking nectar (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Dusky Honeyeater with its tongue sticking out (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Dusky Honeyeater on the point of departure (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Dorsal view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Holmes Jungle Nature Park, Darwin, NT, February 2018]

Ventral view of a Dusky Honeyeater taking nectar from a flower (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Dusky Honeyeater acrobatics - "the things you do for a bit of nectar"... (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Dusky Honeyeater; note the pale gape
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Dusky Honeyeater; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 30 May 2019
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of two juvenile Dusky Honeyeaters; these are the birds whose calls were recorded on 4 June 2020 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

Race "harterti"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of C. Linfoot)
[Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, April 2022]

Frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, May 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2023]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Lake Barrine, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, October 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Dusky Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Maleny, QLD, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, May 2020]

Close-up ventral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Dusky Honeyeater
[Byfield NP, QLD, July 2009]

Close-up lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, October 2023]

Lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gunshot Creek, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater, face full of pollen(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Lateral view of a peculiar Dusky Honeyeater that is either sick or in a full head moult (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, May 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, May 2020]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cairns, QLD, July 2018]

Close-up dorsal view of a Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of C. Linfoot)
[Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, August 2022]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Dusky Honeyeater looking sideways; note the orange gape
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Kuranda, QLD, May 2019]

Frontal/ventral view of a juvenile Dusky Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gunshot Creek, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Lateral view of a Dusky Honeyeater feeding on nectar while hanging upside down; the remnant orange gape and the tapered length of the tail feathers may indicate that this is a juvenile bird (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, Marh 2011]

Lateral view of a juvenile Dusky Honeyeater showing its sticky tongue
[Byfield NP, QLD, July 2009]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Mar

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 12 - 13 days

Fledging age: ca. 14 days

Nest

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

Type: Suspended basket

Material: Rootlets, bark fibre, dry grass, webs

Height above ground: 2 - 15 m

Dusky Honeyeater nest with at least one downy chick inside (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Gurambai Walking Trail, Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT, February 2022]

Dusky Honeyeater feeding a chick (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Gurambai Walking Trail, Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT, February 2022]

Dusky Honeyeater at its nest after feeding a chick (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Gurambai Walking Trail, Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT, February 2022]

Eggs

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

Size: 17 x 14 mm

Colour: Off-white, with chestnut to rufous speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Food, Diet

Close-up view of a Dusky Honeyeater taking nectar from flowers (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2023]

Dusky Honeyeater feeding on the nectar of a flower (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Dusky Honeyeater taking nectar from a flower (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Dusky Honeyeater taking nectar from a flower (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tumbling Waters, near Darwin, NT, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Dusky Honeyeater taking prey from a spider's web
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, June 2018]

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.

duskhon_pb_20191023.m4a	obscura (Darwin, NT)	Territorial call(?)	© PB
duskhon_pb_20190530_2.m4a	obscura (Darwin, NT)	Contact call(?), juvenile	© PB
duskhon_pb_20190530.m4a	obscura (Darwin, NT)	Contact calls(?), juvenile	© PB
duskhon_pb_20200604.m4a	obscura (Darwin, NT)	Begging calls, juvenile	© PB
duskhon_pb_20200614.m4a	obscura (Darwin, NT)	?	© PB

More Dusky 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.

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