Mimic Honeyeater Microptilotis analogus Scientific name definitions

15·5–19·5 cm; male 18·5–30 g and female 18–24 g (nominate), male 18–28·7 g and female 17·8–26 g (flavidus). Nominate race is generally brownish-olive above , browner on top of head, with blackish-olive lores and vaguely diffuse streak running through eye to above ear-coverts, pale yellow lower ear-­coverts forming fairly large, roughly triangular patch; yellow to orange-yellow gape merges with rather narrow pale yellow rictal streak (which does not extend to meet pale ear-patch); upperwing-coverts and alula dark brown with yellowish-olive outer edges or fringes, remiges dark brown with yellowish-olive outer edges and pale yellowish inner edges; tail feathers dark brown with yellowish-olive outer edges; rather uniformly pale greyish-yellow below , sometimes light grey-brown wash on side of breast; underwing-coverts pale olive-yellow; iris brown to grey-brown or dark grey; bill black, possibly sometimes brownish-black (may be juvenile character); legs blue-grey to brownish-grey, dark olive-grey or fleshy grey. Differs from very similar M. gracilis and M. cinereifrons in generally slightly larger size, slightly longer and less slender bill, and less dusky side of head (streak behind eye), from latter also in less buff underwing-coverts. Sexes alike in plumage, male on average slightly larger than female; iris reported as green-brown in one female. Juvenile not properly described, said to be like adult but paler. Race flavidus is brighter yellowish-olive above and has more yellow tinge below than nominate, also greyer iris; longirostris has slightly longer bill than nominate.

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Also (racially distinct, identity uncertain) N watershed of SE New Guinea.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Primary forest and forest edge, secondary forest, tall secondary growth, scrub and scrub-forest, riparian and roadside vegetation, in some areas also coffee plantations, gardens and garden trees at forest edge, and tidal mangroves. In lowland Madang Province, seen in swamp island in savanna and grassland in Ramu Valley; in canopy of open woodland in lowland Western Province. Sea-level to 1250 m, to 1450 m near Telefomin; recorded to 990 m in Eastern Highlands; on Batanta, at 300–460 m on slopes of Mt Besar.

Probably largely sedentary, with some local movements.

Diet includes arthropods (insects), fruit (including of Symplocos), seeds (probably ingested with fruit), and nectar from flowering trees (including Syzygium). Seen to feed on small caterpillars in a poinciana tree (Delonix). Gleans from branches, twigs and foliage in lower and middle storeys, often in understorey at forest edge; sometimes in canopy. Usually singly, in twos (probably often pairs) or in small groups of 5–6 individuals; sometimes with other honeyeaters. Once caught together with both M. gracilis and Meliphaga aruensis in same mist-net in Varirata National Park.

Call notes include shrill or staccato “tup”; short, bright disyllabic or upslurred note and similar but thinner and downwardly inflected disyllabic call; repeated querulous piping note. Calls much louder than those of M. orientalis.

Breeding birds Aug–Dec and (race flavidus) Mar–May. Described nest claimed as being of present species considered more likely that of M. albonotatus. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Generally common, especially in S. No estimates of total population. Probably the easiest member of genus to observe in New Guinea.