Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified due to recent taxonomic splits.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats (Higgins et al. 2019).
Microptilotis imitatrix is endemic to Australia and occurs throughout the coastal region of north-east Queensland. It occupies a narrow strip in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, east of the Great Dividing Range from around Princess Charlotte Bay and Cooktown, south to Halifax Bay and the Paluma range and inland to Atherton Tableland. It is largely uncommon in the northern extremities of its range (Nielsen 2018, Higgins et al. 2019).
The species occurs predominantly in lowland locations from the coast to the foothills and ranges, and occasionally tablelands. It inhabits primarily lowland rainforest, particularly at edges, but also occupies adjacent areas of more open forest, parks and gardens up to an altitude of 500 m (Nielsen 2018, Higgins et al. 2019). It avoids drier open tropical woodlands, which cover much of Cape York Peninsula and the Wet Tropics (Nielsen 2018).
15–17 cm; male 14–17.9 g and female 12·5–17 g. Mostly dark olive, grading across side of head to greyish-olive on chin and throat with a rich yellow tinge on the chin. Prominent yet fuzzy and indistinct yellow spot on rear-ear coverts, short yellow to orange-yellow gape, that meets short, thin pale yellow rictal streak. Edges of tail brighter yellow-olive than upperparts, underparts paler olive-grey than dark upperparts; small, narrow yellow stripe in centre of belly. Black bill with pale to dark grey or greyish-brown legs and feet. Sexes alike in plumage, females slightly smaller. Juvenile very similar to adult except the mantle, back, scapulars and rump are washed brown and the moustachial stripe is less distinct (Higgins et al. 2019).
Text account compilers
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Everest, J., Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Cryptic Honeyeater Microptilotis imitatrix. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/cryptic-honeyeater-microptilotis-imitatrix on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.