Mayr's honeyeater is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is found in New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. There were no confirmed sightings between 2008 and 2023 until a scientific expedition to the Cyclops Mountains in New Guinea captured images of a pair of the birds in June and July of that year.
Region
New Guinea
Typical Environment
This species is associated with subtropical to tropical moist montane forest on New Guinea, including mossy forest and forest edges. It favors dense foliage along ridges, gullies, and mid-elevation slopes, where flowering shrubs and trees are available. It may use lightly disturbed secondary growth and edges but is most often reported within intact, humid montane habitats. Records include the Cyclops Mountains in the Indonesian half of the island; it likely follows similar habitat elsewhere where suitable forest persists.
Altitude Range
800–2000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Mayr's honeyeater is a little-known New Guinea meliphagid named in honor of ornithologist Ernst Mayr. It inhabits moist montane forests and was long elusive, with no confirmed records between 2008 and 2023. In mid-2023, a scientific team photographed a pair in the Cyclops Mountains of Indonesian New Guinea, confirming the species’ continued survival. Like other honeyeaters, it uses a brush-tipped tongue to take nectar and also feeds on insects.
Temperament
active and somewhat inconspicuous
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly, in pairs, or as part of small mixed-species flocks in the mid-story. Likely forms monogamous pairs during the breeding season and defends small feeding territories around flowering shrubs or trees. Nesting is presumed to be a small cup placed in dense foliage, typical of honeyeaters.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Soft, high-pitched chips and thin, slightly nasal notes delivered from within foliage. Calls are brief and often interspersed with foraging, making the bird easier to detect by ear than by sight.
