Photo: John Gould / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Melampitta
Melampitta lugubris
Lesser Melampitta (Melampitta lugubris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
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The Lesser Melampitta (Melampitta lugubris) is a member of the Melampittidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 42.7 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 Melampittidae Melampittas
- Genus Melampitta
- Species lugubris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 42.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Melampittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser Melampitta is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Lesser Melampitta is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesser Melampitta (Melampitta lugubris) is a species of bird in the Melampittidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane New Guinea.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 42.7 g, with a wing length of about 8.3 cm and a tail of around 6 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 59,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Melampitta?
The Lesser Melampitta is a small bird that weighs around 42.7 g.
Where does the Lesser Melampitta live?
The Lesser Melampitta is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane New Guinea, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Lesser Melampitta belong to?
The Lesser Melampitta (Melampitta lugubris) belongs to the Melampittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Lesser Melampitta eat?
The Lesser Melampitta is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Lesser Melampitta migrate?
The Lesser Melampitta is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesser Melampitta 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 Lesser Melampitta make?
1 real field recording of the Lesser Melampitta — 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 Lesser Melampitta's range?
The Lesser Melampitta has a mapped global range of about 59,000 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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