The green-backed honeyeater is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is monotypic within the genus Glycichaera. It is found in the Aru Islands, New Guinea and northern Cape York Peninsula. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
Region
New Guinea and northern Australia
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and foothill rainforests, including primary forest, edges, and secondary growth. It often forages in the mid to upper canopy and along forest margins where flowering trees are abundant. The species also uses riverine and gallery forests and can persist in well-vegetated gardens near forest. Local presence is patchy but widespread within suitable habitat.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The green-backed honeyeater is the only member of the genus Glycichaera, a distinctive small honeyeater of rainforest canopies. It frequents flowering trees where it takes nectar and also gleans small insects from foliage. Its range spans New Guinea, the Aru Islands, and the northern Cape York Peninsula of Australia. It is generally unobtrusive and often joins mixed-species feeding flocks.
Temperament
active and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, and frequently associates with mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Pairs maintain small territories around rich nectar sources. Nesting is presumed to be a small cup placed in foliage, with both parents involved in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Soft, high-pitched tinkling notes and thin trills delivered from cover. Calls are brief and can be easily missed amid canopy insect noise, but become more frequent near flowering trees.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with a clean, paler grayish-white underside and slight yellowish wash on the flanks. Feathers are smooth and plain, lacking heavy streaking or barring. The overall appearance is neat and rather uniform with subtle facial contrast.
Diet
Takes nectar from a variety of flowering trees and shrubs and supplements this with small insects and other arthropods gleaned from leaves and twigs. Occasionally consumes small fruits or berries. Foraging is agile, often hanging briefly to probe flowers and foliage.
Preferred Environment
Most often feeds in the mid to upper canopy of rainforest edges and clearings with abundant blossoms. Will also forage along river corridors and in secondary growth where flowering resources are concentrated.
