Kingdom Animalia Order Passeriformes Genus Meliphaga Higher classification Meliphaga | Phylum Chordata Family Meliphagidae Scientific name Meliphaga fordiana Rank Species | |
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The Kimberley honeyeater (Meliphaga fordiana) is a bird in the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. It was formerly lumped with the White-lined Honeyeater but, based on DNA research, it is considered a separate species by most authorities. The IUCN, however, has not separately assessed the species, and still considers this taxon to be a subspecies of the White-lined Honeyeater. Papers in 2014 and 2015 provided further evidence that the Kimberley and White-lined differ not only genetically, but also in song and foraging ecology. The Kimberley Honeyeater is endemic to northern Australia.
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Description
The Kimberley Honeyeater is similar in appearance to the White-lined Honeyeater, having dark grey upperparts, light grey underparts, grey eyes, with dark grey below the eyes and a black beak. It is distinguished from the White-lined Honeyeater by the lack of citrine edging on the upper surface of the remiges and retrices, pale creamy-buff under-wing coverts, and a milky-white belly.
Distribution
The Kimberley Honeyeater lives only in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, in rainforests, eucalypt woodlands and paperbark forests.
Breeding
The Kimberley Honeyeater breeds from August to January. Two pinkish eggs, spotted red or brown, are laid in a deep nest made of spiderweb and plant fibres.