Obscure Berrypecker
Melanocharis arfakiana
Obscure Berrypecker (Melanocharis arfakiana) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Obscure Berrypecker (Melanocharis arfakiana) is a member of the Melanocharitidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 11.5 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 Melanocharitidae Berrypeckers, Longbills
- Genus Melanocharis
- Species arfakiana
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.5 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Melanocharitidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Obscure Berrypecker is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Obscure Berrypecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Obscure Berrypecker (Melanocharis arfakiana) is a member of the Melanocharitidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU patchily in New Guinea foothills.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.5 g, with a wing length of about 5.9 cm and a tail of around 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9,005 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Obscure Berrypecker?
The Obscure Berrypecker is a very small bird that weighs around 11.5 g.
Where does the Obscure Berrypecker live?
The Obscure Berrypecker is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU patchily in New Guinea foothills, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Obscure Berrypecker belong to?
The Obscure Berrypecker (Melanocharis arfakiana) belongs to the Melanocharitidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Obscure Berrypecker eat?
The Obscure Berrypecker is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Obscure Berrypecker migrate?
The Obscure Berrypecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Obscure Berrypecker 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 Obscure Berrypecker make?
1 real field recording of the Obscure Berrypecker — 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 Obscure Berrypecker's range?
The Obscure Berrypecker has a mapped global range of about 9,005 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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