Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae)

Brown-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris) - HBW 13, p. 673

French: Méliphage à tête brune German: Braunkopf-Honigschmecker Spanish: Mielero Cabecipardo
Other common names: Short-billed/Least Honeyeater, Large-billed/Long-billed Honeyeater

Taxonomy: Meliphaga brevirostris Vigors and Horsfield, 1827, Sydney region (Parramatta), New South Wales, Australia.
Races intergrade where they abut: pallidiceps intergrades with nominate in broad hybrid zone inland of Great Divide in Victoria, and with leucogenys in narrow zone in South Australia (extending S from about Port Augusta and S Flinders Ranges to Yorke Peninsula). Proposed race augustus (described from Port Augusta) relates to latter intergrading population. Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

leucogenys Milligan, 1903 - S Western Australia (from Peron Peninsula E to W Nullarbor Plain); also S South Australia (Eyre Peninsula).
pallidiceps Mathews, 1912 - inland plains and W slopes of Great Divide in S Queensland, W & C New South Wales and N Victoria, extending W into S South Australia.
brevirostris (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - E slopes of Great Divide New South Wales and both slopes in Victoria, extending W into SE South Australia.

See all 5 subspecies

leucogenys Milligan, 1903 - S Western Australia (from Peron Peninsula E to W Nullarbor Plain); also S South Australia (Eyre Peninsula).
pallidiceps Mathews, 1912 - inland plains and W slopes of Great Divide in S Queensland, W & C New South Wales and N Victoria, extending W into S South Australia.
brevirostris (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - E slopes of Great Divide New South Wales and both slopes in Victoria, extending W into SE South Australia.
magnirostris North, 1905 - Kangaroo I (South Australia).
wombeyi Schodde & Mason, 1999 - Otway Ranges and S Gippsland, in S Victoria.