I found this photo in my old folders. The Cryptic Honeyeater is a 2019 split from the Graceful Honeyeater Microptilotis gracilis, with the former found in a relatively small area of Queensland's Wet Tropics and the latter found in the top end of the Cape York Peninsula and in New Guinea. They look almost identical but apparently there is no overlap in distribution. They also look extremely similar to the Yellow-spotted Honeyeater and the Lewin's Honeyeater, although both of those are larger (and the Lewin's has a markedly different-shaped ear-spot). According to the following paper the yellow streak down the breast is diagnostic for the Cryptic / Graceful Honeyeaters and is absent in the other two species. https://birdingaustralia.com.au/wp-...published-in-Australian-Field-Ornithology.pdf
Huh! I thought Cryptic and Yellow-spotted do not occur on the Tablelands and all "yellow-spotted type" honeyeaters there were Lewin's. I guess I've been proven wrong, this is definitely not a Lewin's!
@DaLilFishie yeah there is all sorts of confusion with those three ear-spotted honeyeaters! Lake Eachem bird lists include Lewin's and Graceful (i.e. before the split) - I've seen some lists include Yellow-spotted as well but I think those must be in error. On the other hand the Cryptic and Yellow-spotted are supposed to occur only in lowlands - e.g. both are common around Kuranda. Of course it's easier to tell in real life when you can see the size of the bird and listen to its call, and now I'm 15 years removed from having photographed this one, but its characteristics don't fit with a Lewin's at all.
