The silver-eared honeyeater (''Lichmera alboauricularis'') is a species of

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

in the family

Meliphagidae The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family (biology), family, Meliphagidae, of small to medium-sized birds. The family includes the Epthianura, Australian chats, myzomelas, friarbirds, wattlebirds, Manorina, miners and melidectes. They are m ...

. It is found in

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...

. Its natural

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

is subtropical or tropical mangrove

forest A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...

Description

The Silver-eared

honeyeater The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family, Meliphagidae, of small to medium-sized birds. The family includes the Australian chats, myzomelas, friarbirds, wattlebirds, miners and melidectes. They are most common in Australia and New Gui ...

is a sparrow-sized honeyeater with a downcurved bill, a prominent white ear mark, plain brown upperparts, and pale underparts with distinct dark mottling on the breast. Inhabits open coastal areas with canegrass and scattered trees, and also mangroves and coconut plantations. Generally occurs within vegetation close to watercourses. Combination of streaked chest, pale ear patch, and plain brown upperparts separate it from all other New Guinea honeyeaters. Vocalizations include harsh chattering and nasal “weet-weet-weet” calls, as well as a sharp “jit” note.

References

silver-eared honeyeater Endemic birds of New Guinea silver-eared honeyeater Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Meliphagidae-stub