Barring is less obvious in juvenile birds.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
At a glance
FamilyHoneyeaters
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatUsually found in flowering trees near rivers or in swamps.
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from June to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Peter Boesman
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
11085approx records
3states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Usually found in flowering trees near rivers or in swamps. Endemic to northern Australia.
Behavior
Feeds on insects and nectar; usually quite inconspicuous.
Gallery
Regional timing
Northern Territory
Queensland
Western Australia
Commonly confused with
Graceful HoneyeaterMeliphaga gracilisAdults also have a blue-gray eye while Lewin’s has a bluish eye and Yellow-spotted has a brown eye. Found on the Cape York Peninsula and southern New Guinea.→Yellow-tinted HoneyeaterPtilotula flavescensPlumage is mostly olive-gray with yellow coloration in the wing and tail. Adult has an entirely black bill, whereas juvenile’s bill is mostly yellow. Tends to be aggressive towards other species.→Rufous-banded HoneyeaterConopophila albogularisAlso found in mangroves. Juveniles lack the rusty breast band and also have pink on the bill. Found at lower altitudes in northern Australia and New Guinea. This species is abundant in parks and gardens in Darwin.→