Green-backed Honeyeater

1. Pale blue-grey eyes with a thin yellow eyering (adults)

2. Uniform olive-green upperparts and bright yellow underparts

3. Straight black bill, often with a paler lower mandible

Green-backed Honeyeaters are primarily insectivorous, gleaning small insects from leaves and branches, often hanging acrobatically while foraging. They also take nectar and occasionally small fruits. These birds are social, often seen in pairs or small groups, and may join mixed-species flocks with other insect-eating birds. Breeding has been observed during the dry season, with nests typically found from June to August.

Look for Green-backed Honeyeaters in the wet rainforests and gallery forests of northern Cape York Peninsula, especially in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. They are most often seen high in the canopy, moving quickly as they search for insects and nectar. Early morning is the best time to spot them, and their repeated “pee pee pee” calls can help birdwatchers locate them in dense foliage.