Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Meliphagidae
  4. ›
  5. Microptilotis
  6. ›
  7. Cryptic Honeyeater

BirdUp · Species

Cryptic Honeyeater

Microptilotis imitatrix(Mathews, 1912)

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Microptilotis

At a glance

The Cryptic Honeyeater is a small bird, about 16–19 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia.

Size
16–19 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Cryptic Honeyeater look like?

The Cryptic Honeyeater is a small bird, about 16–19 cm long and weighing 18–28 g.

The cryptic honeyeater, also known as the imitatress honeyeater, is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is found in northeastern Queensland in Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
16–19 cm
Weight
18–28 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Cryptic Honeyeater eat?

The Cryptic Honeyeater feeds on consists of nectar, small fruits and and invertebrates ., usually foraging in foliage gleaner.

The BirdUp app

Log your next Cryptic Honeyeater in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Cryptic Honeyeater live in Australia?

The Cryptic Honeyeater is endemic to Australia.

Breeding range
South-east Cape York Pen., north-east QLD (north-east Australia)