Meliphagidae – Honeyeaters
The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also found in New Zealand, the Pacific islands as far east as Samoa and Tonga, and the islands to the north and west of New Guinea known as Wallacea. Bali, on the other side of the Wallace Line, has a single species.
Honeyeaters and the Australian chats make up the family Meliphagidae. In total there are 187 species in 50 genera, roughly half of them native to Australia, many of the remainder occupying New Guinea. With their closest relatives, the Maluridae (Australian fairy-wrens), Pardalotidae (pardalotes), and Acanthizidae (thornbills, Australian warblers, scrubwrens, etc.) they comprise the superfamily Meliphagoidea and originated early in the evolutionary history of the oscine passerine radiation. Although honeyeaters look and behave very much like other nectar-feeding passerines around the world (such as the sunbirds and flowerpeckers), they are unrelated, and the similarities are the consequence of convergent evolution.
The extent of the evolutionary partnership between honeyeaters and Australasian flowering plants is unknown, but probably substantial. A great many Australian plants are fertilised by honeyeaters, particularly the Proteaceae, Myrtaceae, and Epacridaceae. It is known that the honeyeaters are important in New Zealand as well, and assumed that the same applies in other areas.
Meliphagoidea is a superfamily of passerine birds. They contain a vast diversity of small to mid-sized passerines widespread in the Austro-pacific region. The Australian Continent has the largest richness in genera and species including the Meliphagidae; the family of Honeyeaters.
Honeyeaters can be either nectarivorous, insectivorous, frugivorous, or a combination of nectar and insect-eating. Unlike the hummingbirds of America, honeyeaters do not have extensive adaptations for hovering flight, though smaller members of the family do hover hummingbird-style to collect nectar from time to time. In general, honeyeaters prefer to flit quickly from perch to perch in the outer foliage, stretching up or sideways or hanging upside down at need. Many genera have a highly developed brush-tipped tongue, frayed and fringed with bristles which soak up liquids readily. The tongue is flicked rapidly and repeatedly into a flower, the upper mandible then compressing any liquid out when the bill is closed.
In addition to nectar, all or nearly all honeyeaters take insects and other small creatures, usually by hawking, sometimes by gleaning. A few of the larger species, notably the White-eared Honeyeater, and the Strong-billed Honeyeater of Tasmania, probe under bark for insects and other morsels. Many species supplement their diets with a little fruit, and a small number eat considerable amounts of fruit, particularly in tropical rainforests and, oddly, in semi-arid scrubland. The Painted Honeyeater is a mistletoe specialist. Most, however, exist on a diet of nectar supplemented by varying quantities of insects. In general, the honeyeaters with long, fine bills are more nectarivorous, the shorter-billed species less so, but even specialised nectar eaters like the spinebills take extra insects to add protein to their diet when breeding.
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Number of bird species: 193
(As at December 2025)
According to the recently (2025) amalgamated AviList, there are one hundred and ninety-three species of honeyeater, miner, friarbird, myzomela and allies in fifty-one genera in the family. They are:
Dark-eared Myza Myza celebensis
White-eared Myza Myza sarasinorum
Western Spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus
Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Green-backed Honeyeater Glycichaera fallax
Sooty Honeyeater Melidectes fuscus
Short-bearded Honeyeater Melidectes nouhuysi
Long-bearded Honeyeater Melidectes princeps
Leaden Honeyeater Ptiloprora plumbea
Yellowish-streaked Honeyeater Ptiloprora meekiana
Rufous-sided Honeyeater Ptiloprora erythropleura
Mayr’s Honeyeater Ptiloprora mayri
Rufous-backed Honeyeater Ptiloprora guisei
Grey-streaked Honeyeater Ptiloprora perstriata
Gibberbird Ashbyia lovensis
Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea
Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor
Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons
White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons
Bougainville Honeyeater Stresemannia bougainvillei
Bar-breasted Honeyeater Ramsayornis fasciatus
Brown-backed Honeyeater Ramsayornis modestus
Rufous-banded Honeyeater Conopophila albogularis
Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis
Grey Honeyeater Conopophila whitei
Long-billed Honeyeater Melilestes megarhynchus
Tawny Straightbill Timeliopsis griseigula
Olive Straightbill Timeliopsis fulvigula
MacGregor’s Honeyeater Macgregoria pulchra
Arfak Honeyeater Melipotes gymnops
Common Smoky Honeyeater Melipotes fumigatus
Wattled Smoky Honeyeater Melipotes carolae
Spangled Honeyeater Melipotes ater
Barred Honeyeater Gliciphila undulata
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Gliciphila melanops
White-bellied Honeyeater Gliciphila notabilis
Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Chatham Bellbird Anthornis melanocephala
New Zealand Bellbird Anthornis melanura
Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus
Plain Honeyeater Pycnopygius ixoides
Marbled Honeyeater Pycnopygius cinereus
Streak-headed Honeyeater Pycnopygius stictocephalus
Black Honeyeater Sugomel nigrum
White-streaked Friarbird Melitograis gilolensis
Gilliard’s Honeyeater Vosea whitemanensis
Drab Myzomela Myzomela blasii
White-chinned Myzomela Myzomela albigula
Ruby-throated Myzomela Myzomela eques
Ashy Myzomela Myzomela cineracea
Moluccan Myzomela Myzomela simplex
Red-tinged Myzomela Myzomela rubrotincta
Biak Myzomela Myzomela rubrobrunnea
Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura
Red Myzomela Myzomela cruentata
Redish Myzomela Myzomela erythrina
Papuan Black Myzomela Myzomela nigrita
New Ireland Myzomela Myzomela pulchella
Alor Myzomela Myzomela prawiradilagae
Crimson-hooded Myzomela Myzomela kuehni
Red-headed Myzomela Myzomela erythrocephala
Sumba Myzomela Myzomela dammermani
Rote Myzomela Myzomela irianawidodoae
Mountain Myzomela Myzomela adolphinae
Sulawesi Myzomela Myzomela chloroptera
Bacan Myzomela Myzomela batjanensis
Taliabu Myzomela Myzomela wahe
Wakolo Myzomela Myzomela wakoloensis
Banda Myzomela Myzomela boiei
New Caledonian Myzomela Myzomela caledonica
Scarlet Myzomela Myzomela sanguinolenta
Micronesian Myzomela Myzomela rubratra
Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis
Samoan Myzomela Myzomela nigriventris
Rotuma Myzomela Myzomela chermesina
Sclater’s Myzomela Myzomela sclateri
Bismarck Black Myzomela Myzomela pammelaena
Red-capped Myzomela Myzomela lafargei
Crimson-rumped Myzomela Myzomela eichhorni
Red-vested Myzomela Myzomela malaitae
Black-headed Myzomela Myzomela melanocephala
Sooty Myzomela Myzomela tristrami
Sulphur-breasted Myzomela Myzomela jugularis
Black-bellied Myzomela Myzomela erythromelas
Black-breasted Myzomela Myzomela vulnerata
Red-collared Myzomela Myzomela rosenbergii
Long-billed Myzomela Myzomela longirostris
Yellow-billed Honeyeater Gymnomyza viridis
Giant Honeyeater Gymnomyza brunneirostris
Mao Gymnomyza samoensis
Crow Honeyeater Gymnomyza aubryana
Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata
Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater Xanthotis flaviventer
Spotted Honeyeater Xanthotis polygrammus
Macleay’s Honeyeater Xanthotis macleayanus
Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis
Meyer’s Friarbird Philemon meyeri
Timor Friarbird Philemon inornatus
Grey Friarbird Philemon kisserensis
Brass’s Friarbird Philemon brassi
Dusky Friarbird Philemon fuscicapillus
Black-faced Friarbird Philemon moluccensis
Tanimbar Friarbird Philemon plumigenis
Seram Friarbird Philemon subcorniculatus
New Ireland Friarbird Philemon eichhorni
Helmeted Friarbird Philemon buceroides
Manus Friarbird Philemon albitorques
New Britain Friarbird Philemon cockerelli
Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps
Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus
New Caledonian Friarbird Philemon diemenensis
Makira Honeyeater Meliarchus sclateri
Guadalcanal Honeyeater Guadalcanaria inexpectata
Kadavu Honeyeater Meliphacator provocator
Kikau Foulehaio procerior
Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio carunculatus
Fiji Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio taviunensis
White-streaked Honeyeater Trichodere cockerelli
Crescent Honeyeater Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus
New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris niger
Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis
Scaly-crowned Honeyeater Lichmera lombokia
Olive Honeyeater Lichmera argentauris
Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
Grey-eared Honeyeater Lichmera incana
Scaly-breasted Honeyeater Lichmera squamata
Silver-eared Honeyeater Lichmera alboauricularis
Buru Honeyeater Lichmera deningeri
Seram Honeyeater Lichmera monticola
Flame-eared Honeyeater Lichmera flavicans
Black-necklaced Honeyeater Lichmera notabilis
Yellow-throated Honeyeater Nesoptilotis flavicollis
White-eared Honeyeater Nesoptilotis leucotis
Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis
White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis
Gilbert’s Honeyeater Melithreptus chloropsis
White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus
Black-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus affinis
Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris
Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis
Strong-billed Honeyeater Melithreptus validirostris
White-gaped Honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor
Yellow Honeyeater Stomiopera flava
Puff-backed Honeyeater Meliphaga aruensis
Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Meliphaga notata
Lewin’s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii
Streak-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga reticulata
Kimberley Honeyeater Meliphaga fordiana
White-lined Honeyeater Meliphaga albilineata
Orange-cheeked Honeyeater Meliphaga chrysogenys
Forest Honeyeater Meliphaga montana
Mottle-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga mimikae
Yellow-gaped Honeyeater Meliphaga flavirictus
Mountain Honeyeater Meliphaga orientalis
Scrub Honeyeater Meliphaga albonotata
Mimic Honeyeater Meliphaga analoga
Tagula Honeyeater Meliphaga vicina
Graceful Honeyeater Meliphaga gracilis
Cryptic Honeyeater Meliphaga imitatrix
Elegant Honeyeater Meliphaga cinereifrons
White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons
Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops
Varied Honeyeater Gavicalis versicolor
Mangrove Honeyeater Gavicalis fasciogularis
Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula ornata
White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata
Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Ptilotula flavescens
Fuscous Honeyeater Ptilotula fusca
Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi
Grey-fronted Honeyeater Ptilotula plumula
Yellow-faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops
Black-throated Honeyeater Caligavis subfrenata
Obscure Honeyeater Caligavis obscura
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis
Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera
Western Wattlebird Anthochaera lunulata
Regent Honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia
Yellow Wattlebird Anthochaera paradoxa
Bridled Honeyeater Bolemoreus frenatus
Eungella Honeyeater Bolemoreus hindwoodi
Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys
Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala
Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula
Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis
Ornate Melidectes Melidectes torquatus
Cinnamon-browed Melidectes Melidectes ochromelas
Vogelkop Melidectes Melidectes leucostephes
Huon Melidectes Melidectes foersteri
Belford’s Melidectes Melidectes belfordi
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Regent Honeyeater Project
WebsiteWorking with landholders to protect and restore our local environment
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Meliphagidae
Family AccountAlthough a few species of this rich group have dispersed north and east into the islands of the Pacific, the vast majority live in Australo-Papua itself, and none have crossed Wallace’s line into Asia. -
Meliphagidae
Family AccountThe honeyeaters are a large and diverse family, Meliphagidae, of small to medium-sized birds. The family includes the Australian chats, myzomelas, friarbirds, wattlebirds, miners and melidectes.
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Black-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus affinus
Species AccountThe black-headed honeyeater (Melithreptus affinis) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is one of two members of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. Despite its name, the black-headed honeyeater eats predominantly insects. -
Black-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus affinus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Blue-faced Honeteater Entomyzon cyanotis
Species AccountThe blue-faced honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis), also colloquially known as the bananabird, is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. -
Blue-faced Honeteater Entomyzon cyanotis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Common Smoky Honeyeater Melipotes fumigatus
Species AccountThe common smoky honeyeater (Melipotes fumigatus) is a medium-sized bird found in central Papua New Guinea and Eastern Indonesia. -
Common Smoky Honeyeater Melipotes fumigatus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor
Species AccountThe crimson chat (Epthianura tricolor) is a species of small bird found in Australia. It is also known as the tricoloured chat, saltbush canary, and crimson-breasted nun. -
Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Fiji Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio taviunensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Fiji Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio taviunensis
Species AccountA medium-sized grayish honeyeater with an olive cast to the wings and a bright yellow-orange wattle on the cheek below the eye. Found mainly in mature forest. -
Giant Honeyeater Gymnomyza brunneirostris
Species AccountThe duetting giant honeyeater (Gymnomyza brunneirostris), formerly known as the giant honeyeater, is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. -
Giant Honeyeater Gymnomyza brunneirostris
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Gibberbird Ashbyia lovensis
Species AccountThe gibberbird (Ashbyia lovensis) is a species of chat within the passerine birds. This species, also known at the desert chat or gibber chat is endemic to Australia and the only species within the genus Ashbyia. This genus was in fact named after the South Australian ornithologist Edwin Ashby.[3] It, along with the four chats of the genus Epithianura, have sometimes been placed in a separate family, Epthianuridae (the Australian chats), but are now thought to be aberrant honeyeaters in the family Meliphagidae. -
Gibberbird Ashbyia lovensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii
Species AccountThe Lewin's honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii) is a bird that inhabits the ranges along the east coast of Australia. It has a semicircular ear patch, pale yellow in colour. -
Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons
Orange Chat Epthianura aurifronsThe orange chat (Epthianura aurifrons) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is endemic to Australia. -
Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons
Orange Chat Epthianura aurifronsSound archive and distribution map -
Rufous-backed Honeyeater Ptiloprora guisei
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Rufous-backed Honeyeater Ptiloprora guisei
Species AccountA common, medium-sized honeyeater of montane forest in eastern New Guinea. Gray head and underparts, diffuse rufous-brown back and flanks. -
Scarlet MyzomelaMyzomela sanguinolenta
Species AccountThe scarlet myzomela (Myzomela sanguinolenta) also known as crimson honeyeater, scarlet honeyeater, sanguineous honeyeater or, colloquially, bloodbird, is a small passerine bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to the east coast of Australia, Indonesia and New Caledonia. It is the smallest honeyeater in Australia. The male is a striking bright red with black wings; the female is entirely brown. -
Scarlet MyzomelaMyzomela sanguinolenta
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Streak-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga reticulata
Species AccountA fairly small honeyeater of lowland and foothill wooded areas on Timor. -
Streak-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga reticulata
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Strong-billed Honeyeater Melithreptus validirostris
Species AccountThe strong-billed honeyeater (Melithreptus validirostris) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is one of two species of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. -
Strong-billed Honeyeater Melithreptus validirostris
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Sulphur-breasted Myzomela Myzomela jugularis
Species AccountThe sulphur-breasted myzomela (Myzomela jugularis), also known as the orange-breasted myzomela or orange-breasted honeyeater... -
Sulphur-breasted Myzomela Myzomela jugularis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons
Species AccountThe white-fronted chat (Epthianura albifrons) is a species of bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to southern Australia. The male has a white face bordered by a black breast band. It is insectivorous. -
White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea
Species AccountThe yellow chat (Epthianura crocea) is a small passerine bird endemic to Australia. They are known for their remarkable adaptions that aid their survival in their arid habitat. -
Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Yellow Honeyeater Stomoipera flava
Species AccountIts natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. -
Yellow Honeyeater Stomoipera flava
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Yellow Wattlebird Anthochaera paradoxa
Species AccountThe yellow wattlebird (Anthochaera paradoxa) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae.[1] Other names include the long or Tasmanian wattlebird. -
Yellow Wattlebird Anthochaera paradoxa
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Yellow-throated Honeyeater Nesoptilotis flavicollis
Species AccountThe yellow-throated honeyeater (Nesoptilotis flavicollis), also known as the green cherry-picker, green dick or green linnet is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is similar in behaviour and appearance to the white-eared honeyeater and is endemic to Australia's island state of Tasmania. It was formerly considered a pest of orchards. -
Yellow-throated Honeyeater Nesoptilotis flavicollis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map