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Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii) Alternate name(s): "Yellow-eared Honeyeater", "Brasseye", "Orangebird", "Banana-bird*" Size: 19-22 cm Body mass: 27-49 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

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Lewin's Honeyeaters are medium-sized nectar-eating birds. Their head is dark-brown, with near-black eye patches and a sickle-shaped pale-yellow patch on the ear coverts. They have a yellowish gape. The front is dark greyish-brown, the back yet darker grey-brown. The primaries and the outer tail feathers have olive-green edges. The irises are dark-blue. The down-curved bill is dark-grey, while legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have darker blue irises than adults and a more brownish frons. Twitcher's tip Compared with Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters and Graceful Honeyeaters, Lewin's Honeyeaters are bigger and they have a more elongated, quarter-moon shaped yellow patch on their ear coverts, while the rest of the head is darker.

Taxonomy, classification See Lewin's 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 Lewin's Honeyeater is available HERE . Lewin's Honeyeaters are endemic to Australia. The range of the three races of Lewin's Honeyeaters extends all along the East coast of the Australian continent, from the tip of Cape York, QLD, to Melbourne, VIC. The two races in QLD, "amphochlora" (North of about Cairns) and "mab" (South of Cairns, to about Rockhampton) are mostly found in dense rainforest on the slopes of the ranges, not on the narrow coastal strip. The southernmost race, nominate race "lewinii", is found both on the coastal strip and on the slopes, from about Rockhampton, QLD, to Melbourne, VIC. While the two northern races only occasionally extend their range towards the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in QLD, race "lewinii" is regularly observed throughout the Great Dividing Range in NSW and on the western slopes (see our observations below). Further South they are observed as far to the West as Canberra, ACT. Lewin's Honeyeaters have been observed by us consistently in dense, wet forest, including the underbrush of rainforest and littoral rainforest. They adapt quite well to the presence of humans and will also enter densely vegetated urban parks and gardens. Where to look? How to find this species? While feeding in eucalypts, honeyeaters often stay high up in the crowns of trees and are therefore hard to spot. But many species, including Lewin's Honeyeaters, will also visit lower plants to feed on nectar in gardens, such as e.g. Eremophila, Banksia, Grevillea or Callistemon. There they are much easier to spot.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "lewinii" Lewin's Honeyeaters, race "lewinii", were first seen by us in the area from Dorrigo to Grafton, on the NSW North Coast, in 2004, where they can be found in a great variety of habitats, from gardens to rainforest. On the western side of the Great Dividing Range, Lewin's Honeyeaters, race "lewinii", are usually found in locations with a favourable (humid) micro-climate, mostly near the pools of waterfalls, such as e.g. Sawn Rocks and Waa Gorge in Mt. Kaputar NP, or Dripping Rock, near Maules Creek. But we have also seen Lewin's Honeyeaters, race "lewinii", in more open, drier sclerophyll woodland, e.g. in Deriah Aboriginal Area, 30 km East of Narrabri. Lewin's Honeyeaters, race "lewinii", have been found by us, and reported to us by contributors, in many different locations along the Australian East coast, from subtropical QLD to NSW, but also as far inland as Bunya Mountains NP and Girraween NP. R. Plumtreereports spotting a Lewin's Honeyeater, race "lewinii", at Mt. Nuniong, East Gippsland, VIC, which is near the southern end of the species' range, in September 2018. Another was found at Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, in December 2018. Race "mab" We first found a Lewin's Honeyeater, race "mab", near Byfield NP, QLD, in July 2009. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports finding a Lewin's Honeyeater, race "mab", at Lake Barrine, QLD, in June 2019. M. Eaton spotted a Lewin's Honeyeater, race "mab", at Atherton, QLD, in June 2024. C. Linfoot reports finding Lewin's Honeyeaters, race "mab", in a rural garden at Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD. Race "amphochlora" B. Hensen reports spotting a Lewin's Honeyeater, race "amphochlora", at Julatten, QLD, in July 2013.

Photos

Race "lewinii"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Regional Park, near Anstead, QLD, May 2019]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater
[Springbrook NP, Gold Coast, QLD, May 2014]

Frontal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater turning sideways in search of food in littoral rainforest
[Manning Point, NSW, July 2013]

Near-frontal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2005]

Near-lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, July 2005]

Lateral view of a curious Lewin's Honeyeater looking at the photographer (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Depot Beach, Murramarang National Park, NSW, February 2009]

Lateral portrait of a Lewin's Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Beachmere, QLD, May 2012]

Lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater looking away from the observer
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater in a full tail moult
[Newcastle, NSW, July 2025]

Near-dorsal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, October 2023]

Dorsal portrait of a Lewin's Honeyeater looking sideways
[O'Reilly's Plateau, Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, May 2014]

Dorsal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater feeding on the nectar of a grevillea (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Lewin's Honeyeater; note the very dark-blue irises and the short tail feathers
(photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Depot Beach, Murramarang NP, NSW, February 2009]

Race "mab"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal portrait of a Lewin's Honeyeater (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Lake Barrine, QLD, June 2019]

Frontal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atherton, QLD, June 2024]

Frontal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atherton, QLD, June 2024]

Near-frontal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atherton, QLD, June 2024]

Near-frontal view of a Lewin's Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atherton, QLD, June 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Lake Barrine, QLD, June 2019]

Race "amphochlora"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater approaching water (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Julatten, QLD, July 2013]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Jan

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 14 days

Fledging age: ca. 14 days

Lewin's Honeyeater's breeding season depends on geographic latitude and can span from June to March.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: ?

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

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

Type: Suspended basket

Material: Bark strips, leaves, moss, webs, down

Height above ground: 2 - 5 m

Lewin's Honeyeater nest in the final stages of construction (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[St. Albans, NSW, December 2017]

Lewin's Honeyeater nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Upper Little River, East Gippsland, VIC, January 2019]

Eggs

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

Size: 24 x 17 mm

Colour: Creamy, with dark-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial?

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Lewin's Honeyeaters are well-adapted to wet conditions, as can be seen below. They are active during wet weather, when other birds are roosting.

Near-lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater; this bird was out and about, foraging in drenching rain, when all other birds were roosting
[Wingham Brush NR, NSW, June 2011]

Lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater on the ground in rainforest (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Depot Beach, Murramarang National Park, NSW, February 2009]

Lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater diving into a bird bath (photo courtesy of C. Linfoot)
[Hervey Range, near Townsville, QLD, February 2024]

Lewin's Honeyeater can adapt to the presence of humans quite well; this one is waiting for its ride at Scenic World...
[Scenic World, Blue Mountains, NSW, August 2015]

Food, Diet

Like many other honeyeaters, Lewin's Honeyeaters do not exclusively feed on nectar, but use their sticky tongue to take insects too, on which they feed primarily. Known to take fruit as well.

Lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater feeding upside down on a banksia flower
[Girraween NP, QLD, July 2009]

Lateral view of a Lewin's Honeyeater feeding head down in a bottlebrush
[Near Wingham Brush NR, NSW, September 2011]

Lewin's Honeyeater feeding on a grevillea flower (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

Here a Lewin's Honeyeater taking a fruit (photo courtesy of T. Allison)
[Maleny, QLD, March 2015]

Lewin's Honeyeater approaching a waterhole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, May 2018]

Lewin's Honeyeater approaching water (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, June 2013]

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.

lewin_20150328_3.m4a	lewinii (SE QLD)	Territorial call?	© MD
lewin_20140526.mp3	lewinii (NE NSW)	Territorial call? (slow)	© MD
lewin_20160313.m4a	lewinii (S QLD)	Territorial call? (slow)	© MD
lewin_20160313_2.m4a	lewinii (S QLD)	Territorial call? (very slow)	© MD
lewin_20140525_5.mp3	lewinii (SE QLD)	Territorial call? (quick)	© MD
lewin_20220601.m4a	lewinii (NW NSW)	Territorial call?	© MD
lewin_art_20131125.m4a	lewinii (SE QLD)	Territorial call?	© ART
lewin_20140525_4.mp3	lewinii (SE QLD)	Competing territorial calls?	© MD
lewin_20170608.m4a	lewinii (SE QLD)	Competing territorial calls?	© MD
lewin_20140526_4.mp3	lewinii (NE NSW)	Competing territorial calls?	© MD
lewin_20150820.m4a	lewinii (NE NSW)	Defending territory	© MD
lewin_20150326.m4a	lewinii (NE NSW)	Annoyed/alarm calls	© MD
lewin_20170608_3.m4a	lewinii (SE QLD)	Annoyed/alarm calls	© MD
lewin_20170608_4.m4a	lewinii (SE QLD)	Annoyed calls(?)	© MD
lewin_me_20240621.m4a	mab (N QLD)	Territorial call	© ME
lewin_me_20200927.m4a	mab (N QLD)	Territorial call	© ME
lewin_me_20200927_2.m4a	mab (N QLD)	Territorial call	© ME
lewin_me_20241018.m4a	mab (N QLD)	Territorial call (+ Victoria's Riflebird)	© ME

Click here for more recordings

More Lewin's 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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