Photo: William Matthew Hart / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Olive Honeyeater
Lichmera argentauris
Olive Honeyeater (Lichmera argentauris) — 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 Olive Honeyeater (Lichmera argentauris) is a member of the Meliphagidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 14 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 Lichmera
- Species argentauris
Where it lives
Lusaolate (north of central Seram), Kekek (east of Obi), Damar (south of Halmahera; northern, central Moluccas) and islets of Raja Ampat Is. (northwest of New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Olive Honeyeater is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Olive Honeyeater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Olive Honeyeater (Lichmera argentauris) belongs to the Meliphagidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Lusaolate (n of c Seram), Kekek (e of Obi), Damar (s of Halmahera; n, c Moluccas) and islets of Raja Ampat Is. (nw of New Guinea).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14 g, with a wing length of about 6.7 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8,367 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Olive Honeyeater?
The Olive Honeyeater is a very small bird that weighs around 14 g.
Where does the Olive Honeyeater live?
The Olive Honeyeater is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Lusaolate (n of c Seram), Kekek (e of Obi), Damar (s of Halmahera; n, c Moluccas) and islets of Raja Ampat Is. (nw of New Guinea), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Olive Honeyeater belong to?
The Olive Honeyeater (Lichmera argentauris) belongs to the Meliphagidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Olive Honeyeater eat?
The Olive Honeyeater is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Olive Honeyeater migrate?
The Olive Honeyeater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Olive Honeyeater 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 Olive Honeyeater make?
1 real field recording of the Olive Honeyeater — 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 Olive Honeyeater's range?
The Olive Honeyeater has a mapped global range of about 8,367 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Meliphagidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.