Dusky Honeyeater
Myzomela obscura
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyMeliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
- GenusMyzomela (Myzomelas)
- SpeciesMyzomela obscura (Dusky Honeyeater)
The dusky myzomela or dusky honeyeater (Myzomela obscura) is a small, brown bird that is a common resident of the Aru Islands, southern New Guinea and northern and eastern Australia, where there are two separated populations, one in the Top End, another from Cape York Peninsula along the east coast as far south as the New South Wales border, though the species is rare south of Rockhampton. The Moluccan myzomela (M. simplex), red-tinged myzomela (M. rubrotincta), and Biak myzomela (M. rubrobrunnea) were formerly considered conspecific, but was split as distinct species by the IOC in 2021. Around 12 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in) long, dusky myzomelas are dull-coloured but active and fast moving, often hovering to take insects or nectar from flowers in the upper storey. They inhabit a wide range of habitat types, including monsoonal forests and scrubs, woodlands, swamps and almost any area near water. Dusky myzomelas tend to be sedentary in sufficiently attractive areas, nomadic or migratory in less attractive districts, particularly in the southern part of their range. Breeding takes place in the dry season (typically March to September). Wikipedia →
40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Dusky Honeyeater sighting in Litchfield National Park, based on 120 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Litchfield National Park
Red-headed Myzomela
Myzomela erythrocephala
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Entomyzon cyanotis
White-gaped Honeyeater
Stomiopera unicolor
White-throated Honeyeater
Melithreptus albogularis
Silver-crowned Friarbird
Philemon argenticeps
Brown Honeyeater
Lichmera indistincta
Little Friarbird
Philemon citreogularis
Yellow-throated Miner
Manorina flavigula
Bar-breasted Honeyeater
Ramsayornis fasciatus
Rufous-banded Honeyeater
Conopophila albogularis
Helmeted Friarbird
Philemon buceroides
Rufous-throated Honeyeater
Conopophila rufogularis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Dusky Honeyeater in Litchfield National Park?
About 42% of wildlife watchers report a Dusky Honeyeater sighting in Litchfield National Park, based on 120 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Dusky Honeyeater in Litchfield National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Dusky Honeyeater in Litchfield National Park in our monthly data.