Photo: Salvadori, 1878 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Meyer’s Friarbird
Philemon meyeri
Meyer's Friarbird (Philemon meyeri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Meyer’s Friarbird (Philemon meyeri) is a member of the Meliphagidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 52 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Meliphagidae Honeyeaters
- Genus Philemon
- Species meyeri
Where it lives
New Guinea (except Bird'southern Head, northwestern and lower Fly, south-central New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 52 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Meyer’s Friarbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Meyer’s Friarbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Meyer’s Friarbird (Philemon meyeri) is a member of the Meliphagidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU New Guinea (except Bird's Head, nw and lower Fly, sc New Guinea).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 52 g, with a wing length of about 10.9 cm and a tail of around 9.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 466,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Meyer’s Friarbird?
The Meyer’s Friarbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 52 g.
Where does the Meyer’s Friarbird live?
The Meyer’s Friarbird is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU New Guinea (except Bird's Head, nw and lower Fly, sc New Guinea), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Meyer’s Friarbird belong to?
The Meyer’s Friarbird (Philemon meyeri) belongs to the Meliphagidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Meyer’s Friarbird eat?
The Meyer’s Friarbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Meyer’s Friarbird migrate?
The Meyer’s Friarbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Meyer’s Friarbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Meyer’s Friarbird make?
1 real field recording of the Meyer’s Friarbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Meyer’s Friarbird's range?
The Meyer’s Friarbird has a mapped global range of about 466,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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