Duetting Giant-Honeyeater Gymnomyza brunneirostris Scientific name definitions

25–31 cm. Large, robust honeyeater with moderately long, slender, and slightly decurved bill. Foulehaio carunculatus is similarly drab but much smaller, has dark bare parts and yellow-and-black moustachial wattle. Sexes alike in plumage, with male slightly larger than female. Differs from formerly conspecific G. viridis in olive-brown to blackish-brown bill, legs and feet; slightly shorter bill and longer tail , plumage also subtly paler and brighter olive , without blackish tones. Juvenile differs from adult only in having a yellowish bill with brownish tip.

Viti Levu, in W Fiji.

Mainly nectar (including from coconut palms), also arthropods; small berries, soft fruit; occasionally lizards. Usually forages in outer canopy or subcanopy of tall forest, occasionally lower (most often middle levels), including on ground. Active, leaping about in canopy or understorey; said to creep up tree trunks, but confirmation needed. Forages actively for arthropods, including by gleaning. Shy and retiring, heard more often than seen, but sometimes perches in open. Sociable and pugnacious; usually seen singly or in twos (possibly pairs), but sometimes in noisy flocks at food sources. Aggressive to some other species, such as Collared Lory (Phigys solitarius), in flowering trees.

Call described as repeated, ringing “keekow”, “kee-yow”, “keetoo” or “eekou”, often run together in series (20 or more repeats), or loud “keow, keow, keow” repeated monotonously for minutes at a time, both given by one or more birds, or in duets. In duets, birds (usually less than 30 cm apart) give brisk, loud, ringing calls from crown of tree, each calling c. 30 times in perfect alternation at intervals of 0·5 seconds, the leader at higher pitch, the second somewhat more hoarsely; occasionally leader starts and finishes alone, joined by second bird only in middle of vocalization. Also some other quieter phrases, and a loud sucking noise. Considered loud and vocal, calling creating a characteristic yodelling cacophony that reverberates through forest and can be heard more than 1 km away; calling can begin several hours before dawn and continues until well after dark, though less often during middle of day (e.g. from 02:15 each morning in Aug–Sept; from 04:00 until after dawn during Jun–Jul). For differences from formerly conspecific G. viridis, see Taxonomy (above).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in Fiji EBA. Fairly common in suitable habitat. Studies of calling birds suggested a population of c. 142,000 calling individuals; another study of territory size suggested a population of 60,000 pairs, while a third using distance sampling to estimate densities produced a figure of 70,000 pairs. Population appears not to be declining significantly. Occurs in nearly all protected areas with good forest, and is protected under Fijian law. Does, however, require large areas of contiguous rainforest, and past and present loss and degradation of mature forests are an ongoing threat; only c. 50% of Viti Levu remains forested. Although industrial logging has stopped, forests are being slowly degraded by logging for domestic use and agricultural expansion.