Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not 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, but the species is described as generally common (Higgins et al. 2019).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats (Higgins et al. 2019).
Occurs throughout the northern Cape York Peninsula, Australia, and the southern range of New Guinea, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It further occurs throughout the islands of the Torres Strait and the Aru Islands (Beehler and Pratt 2016, Nielsen 2018, Higgins et al. 2019).
The species occurs predominantly in the lowlands in New Guinea and from the coast to the foothills and ranges, and occasionally tablelands, in Australia. It is found mostly below 500 m and rarely up to 800 m (Higgins et al. 2019). In Australia, it occurs throughout rainforest or forest edge, including regrowth (Higgins et al. 2019). It moreover occurs in adjoining open forests and woodlands of Eucalyptus and Melaleuca with grassy or rainforest understorey, semi-deciduous dune-woodland and sometimes mangroves, especially beside wetlands or rainforests (Higgins et al. 2019). In New Guinea, it occurs in mangroves, secondary growth, forest edge, primary, riverine and monsoon forest, savanna woodland, minorly-logged forest and scrub. It further occurs in gardens and orchards of built-up areas (Higgins et al. 2019). The species avoids dry open tropical woodlands, which cover much of Cape York Peninsula and the Wet Tropics (Nielsen 2018).
15–17 cm; male 14–17 g and female 12·5–16·5 g. Mostly dark olive, grading across side of head to paler greyish-olive on chin and throat with the possibility of a yellow tinge on the chin. Prominent 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 upperparts; 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
Everest, J., Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Graceful Honeyeater Microptilotis gracilis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/graceful-honeyeater-microptilotis-gracilis on 26/12/2024.
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 26/12/2024.