Meliphaga
Meliphaga is a genus of birds in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae.
The genus was introduced by the English artist John Lewin in 1808. The name Meliphaga combines the Ancient Greek meaning "honey" and meaning eating. The type species is Lewin's honeyeater.
In 2019 molecular phylogenetic studies found that Meliphaga was paraphyletic with the monotypic genus Oreornis, containing the orange-cheeked honeyeater, embedded within it. To created monophyletic genera, the genus was split up and species moved into the resurrected genera Territornis and Microptilotis, leaving just three species in Meliphaga. In 2025 the AviList team instead adopted a broader Meliphaga that contained 17 species and included the orange-cheeked honeyeater.
The genus contains 17 species:
- Puff-backed honeyeater, Meliphaga aruensis – New Guinea including western Papuan islands, Aru and Trobriand islands, and D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago
- Yellow-spotted honeyeater, Meliphaga notata – northeast Australia
- Lewin's honeyeater, Meliphaga lewinii – east Australia
- Streak-breasted honeyeater, Meliphaga reticulata – eastern Lesser Sunda Islands
- Kimberley honeyeater, Meliphaga fordiana – northwestern Australia
- White-lined honeyeater, Meliphaga albilineata – north-central Australia
- Orange-cheeked honeyeater, Meliphaga chrysogenys – west-central New Guinea
- Forest honeyeater, Meliphaga montana – north to southeast New Guinea
- Mottle-breasted honeyeater, Meliphaga mimikae – montane west-central to southeastern New Guinea
- Yellow-gaped honeyeater, Meliphaga flavirictus – northeast Western Australia to northeast Queensland
- Mountain honeyeater, Meliphaga orientalis – montane New Guinea
- Scrub honeyeater, Meliphaga albonotata – foothills of southern New Guinea
- Mimic honeyeater, Meliphaga analoga – New Guinea including western Papuan islands and Aru Islands
- Tagula honeyeater, Meliphaga vicina – lowlands and hills of Tagula Island
- Graceful honeyeater, Meliphaga gracilis – southern New Guinea including Aru Islands, and northeastern Australia
- Cryptic honeyeater, Meliphaga imitatrix – northeastern Australia
- Elegant honeyeater, Meliphaga cinereifrons – southeastern New Guinea