Cryptic Honeyeater
Microptilotis imitatrix
Cryptic Honeyeater (Microptilotis imitatrix) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
The Cryptic Honeyeater (Microptilotis imitatrix) is a member of the Meliphagidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 15 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 Microptilotis
- Species imitatrix
Where it lives
Southeastern Cape York Pen., northeastern QLD (northeastern Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cryptic Honeyeater is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Cryptic Honeyeater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Cryptic Honeyeater (Microptilotis imitatrix) is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU se Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 15 g, with a wing length of about 7.5 cm and a tail of around 6.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 19,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cryptic Honeyeater?
The Cryptic Honeyeater is a very small bird that weighs around 15 g.
Where does the Cryptic Honeyeater live?
The Cryptic Honeyeater is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU se Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Cryptic Honeyeater belong to?
The Cryptic Honeyeater (Microptilotis imitatrix) belongs to the Meliphagidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cryptic Honeyeater eat?
The Cryptic Honeyeater is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Cryptic Honeyeater migrate?
The Cryptic Honeyeater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Cryptic 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 Cryptic Honeyeater make?
1 real field recording of the Cryptic Honeyeater — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Cryptic Honeyeater's range?
The Cryptic Honeyeater has a mapped global range of about 19,000 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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