May 15

Bird of the day

Black-headed honeyeater

Melithreptus affinis

The black-headed honeyeater (Melithreptus affinis) is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae.

It is one of two members of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania. Its natural habitats are temperate forest and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. Despite its name, the black-headed honeyeater eats predominantly insects.

A mid-sized honeyeater, it is olive-green above and white below, with a wholly black head that lacks the white nape of its relatives. It has a blue-white patch of bare skin around the eye. Its beak is small.

Aliases

Black-headed Honeyeater