Nimbin Rainbow Walk

Lewin’s Honeyeater

(Bundjalung name)

Meliphaga lewinii

Songs & Calls

Listen to the call of the lewins honeyeater bird

Local Notes

With its distinctive yellow ear patch, blue eyes and loud, melodious voice, the Lewin’s Honeyeater was the first bird I learned to identify after moving to Nimbin from the city. Bold enough to come in the house in search of an over-ripe banana, the Lewin’s Honeyeater is an enthusiastic bather and doesn’t share birdbaths well.

by Bob Tissott

Bird Overview

The Lewin’s Honeyeater is small to medium in size. It is dark greenish grey in colour, with a creamy yellow gape (fleshy corners of the mouth). It has large, yellowish crescent-shaped ear patches.

In flight, the pale yellow edges of the flight feathers can be seen. The bill is black and the eye is blue-grey. Both sexes are similar in appearance. Young Lewin’s Honeyeaters are similar to the adults, but have brown eyes.