Honeyeaters

The Banded Honeyeater is an uncommon resident of dry wooded areas in northern parts of Australia. Its movements are not totally understood but it does move around within its range. It is unusual in appearance looking more akin to a monarch or even flycatcher. 

The Bar-breasted Honeyeater is another northern species with distinctive plumage. Attractive bars appear on the front of the bird with the belly a plain white. As a tropical honeyeater, it is usually found near waterways and wetlands in flowering trees. Populations are restricted to northernmost Australia although there are some reports along the coast of Far North Queensland. 

The Black Honeyeater is a tiny bird and the male has a black head and throat. It is an uncommon resident of dry, inland areas. It is not actually black. The male is pied and the female is brown with a buff breast. This unusual honeyeater is unpredictable in its population movements, often being seen in areas after absences of many years.

Resident of Tasmania, the Black-headed Honeyeater is an attractive, small honeyeater with a black hood and prominent white brow. It is closely related to the White-naped Honeyeater of the mainland. This species moves about Tasmania and can be found in active and sometimes aggressive groups of up to 20 birds.

The Bridled Honeyeater is a rainforest resident, although it can be found in drier areas during the winter months. Only found in Far North Queensland, it has distinctive facial markings that make it easy to identify. They are usually in groups as they feed on flowering gums but can be missed as they spend their time in the canopy. 

A very common honeyeater, you will hear the Brown, even if you don't see it. The loud, clacking call belies its tiny size. The indistincta name reflects the plain plumage and it is usually identified by the yellow triangle behind the eye.  The abundance and widespread range of this honeyeater means its movements are difficult to track.

The Brown-backed Honeyeater is another bird with a jarring, repetitive call. Only found in Far North Queensland, it is not really understood if it is just nomadic, partially migratory or both. Regardless, it can usually be found nesting in trees that overhang water in a wide range of habitats.

The Brown-headed Honeyeater is a small and attractive bird that is usually seen foraging and building nests in an industrious manner. Field guides describe it as the dullest species of capped honeyeater but it is engaging when seen. It prefers gum forests in southern areas of Australia, away from the arid desert parts. 

A bird primarily found in Tasmania, The Crescent Honeyeater is a small species with a rather thick head and clear crescent pattern on the top of the breast. It can be located in a range of habitats from mountain and coastal forests to parks and gardens in winter. 

The Cryptic Honeyeater is the first and smallest of the yellow-spotted species. To further the confusion, it has been split from the Graceful Honeyeater, which looks similar but is found futher north. The distinctive single, high pitched beep call is the easiest way to identify it. 

The Eungella Honeyeater is similar to the Bridled Honeyeater but is only found in a tiny area around Eungella National Park on the central coast of Queensland. It is the most geographically restricted of all Australian passerines. In addition, it is only found above 900 metres, although it may move down during winter.

The Fuscous Honeyeater is known as being rather indistinct but it is actually and attractive and sweet bird, seen in eastern Australia. Identifiable features can be hard to see in the field with small black and yellow lines under the cheeks. It prefers dry eucalypt forests where it quietly forages, sometimes moving around its range.

The Gilbert's Honeyeater is another black-headed species with a prominent brow. In this case that is white. It is only found in the south-western corner of Australia in dry areas. It used to be considered a subspecies of the White-naped Honeyeater. It is partially migratory, moving to the Swan Coastal Plain for winter.

Formerly conspecific with the Cryptic Honeyeater, the Graceful is now considered restricted to northern areas of Cape York. It is the smallest of the yellow-spotted honeyeaters. The call is a high pitched single note that is easy to identify in its rainforest habitat.

The Green-backed Honeyeater looks more like a warbler or gerygone. It is only found at the tip of Cape York. Inhabiting the rainforest canopy and with fairly cryptic plumage, it is difficult to locate.

Resembling the Jacky Winter, this plain Honeyeater is resident in dry, desert areas of central and western Australia. It is uncommon and, I'm told, the call resembles a phone ringing. This is an understudied honeyeater and little is known about its movements. 

This is the first of some easy to mis-identify species. Its range overlaps in part with the Fuscous Honeyeater but note the streaky breast and large yellow spot under the eye. The defining mark is the grey spot at the top of the bill, which is hard to see in the field. The Grey-fronted Honeyeater has a wide range and is usually found inland in warm, drier areas. 

The Grey-headed Honeyeater can be found in similar areas as the Grey-fronted but it is slightly larger and has a yellower breast. The grey is also easier to see as it covers the cap. They are easy to separate when side by side but harder when alone. Their range is northern and central in dry, eucalypt areas. They are active feeders on flowers and will hunt for small insects.

The Herberton Honeyeater is an unofficial and very local distinct species. Closely resembling the Fuscous and Yellow-tinted, it appears distinct from both. Only found in areas close to Herberton, around 2 hours south west of Cairns, it is not recorded on any official bird taxonomy. And yet ... it undoubtedly exists.

The Kimberley Honeyeater is a very rare species found only in remote parts of the Kimberley, WA. It is a rather plain looking bird, rather like a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater stripped of its colours. However, it is closely related to the White-lined Honeyeater.

The third of the four yellow-spotted Honeyeater, the Lewin's is the largest with a bright yellow and large spot behind the eye. Its staccato call is again the best way to identify it. Unlike the others, it is not strictly a rainforest species, although it can be found in wetter areas as well as gardens and parks. 

This is one of my favourite honeyeaters with its bright and bold patterning. It is locally common in rainforest areas in a restricted area around Cairns. The Macleay's Honeyeater is a specialist insect hunter and nectar supping bird. While it can be difficult to locate and is shy, it will tolerate humans that sit quietly to watch it.

Similar in appearance to the Grey-headed and Singing Honeyeater, the Mangrove Honeyeater is only found in mangroves across coastal areas of central and south Queensland. There, it is loud and gregarious, feeding with other birds. Plumage is similar to the Singing and Varied Honeyeaters but the location makes identification easy. 

The New Holland Honeyeater is a common resident across southern Australia, outside of very dry areas. Its distinctive plumage makes it easy to identify. Any confusion is cleared up by looking for those gorgeous white moustaches. This must be one of the most photogenic of the family, often seen sitting atop a perch in the open. 

The Painted Honeyeater is listed as Least Concern and has a widespread range. However, it is still uncommon and tricky to find. Its unusual and lovely call is usually the give away to its location. It prefers mistletoe so that can also be a giveaway. The reward is then a pretty looking bird that is hugely interesting to watch.

The Pied Honeyeater (female pictured here) is hard to track down as it has nomadic tendencies across drier parts of Australia. When seen, it can be alone or in fairly large groups. Unlike other honeyeaters, the bill is large and has a distinctive downward curve. 

A rather rare and indistinct Honeyeater, the Purple-gaped is restricted to southern coastal areas, preferring mallee habitats. It shy demeanour makes it difficult to spot. Additionally, the purple marking can be difficult to discern. The black mask with yellow band underneath is more likely to be seen and helps to identify them. It is one of the less studied species of Australian honeyeater. 

The Regent Honeyeater is probably the rarest of the family and is listed as Critically Endangered. It is also one of the most striking species with its black head and scaly breast. It moves around New South Wales and Victoria and is the subject of intensive efforts to save it from extinction.

The Rufous-banded Honeyeater is small, shy and with plain plumage, easy to overlook. The rufous banding can be distinct or less obvious depending on age and breeding season. It is resident of mangroves in northern Queensland but can also be found around other sources of water. The bird photographed is a juvenile, which lacks the distinct band.

This little Honeyeater is a fairly small, sweet and attractive bird found in woodlands around water in northern parts of Australia. The red patch under the chin is sometimes indistinct but it also has bright yellow wing patches. The Rufous-throated Honeyeater is found usually close to water in a range of wooded habitats.

The Singing Honeyeater is a loud and common species throughout much of Australia. It is often the dominant honeyeater where it is found. The thick black stripe and white patch distinguish it from similar species like the Grey-fronted and Grey-headed. However, there are distinct regional variations in size and plumage. 

This large honeyeater is reasonably common in parks and gardens in a wide swathe of southern Australia. They are loud, sociable and unmistakable. I always find them to be very interesting to watch, even if they often scare other species away. They are so large that they can be mistaken for the huge Red Wattlebird. 

The Striped Honeyeater is a medium sized and uncommon resident of south eastern Australia. While its range of habitat is broad, it can be very difficult to find. Thankfully, it has a distinctive call, which makes it easier to locate. Despite being only black and white, this is a stunning bird and wonderful to find.

Endemic to Tasmania, the Strong-billed Honeyeater is a rare species that resembles the White-naped and Black-chinned  Honeyeaters. It is named for the thick but short bill. Unlike the other Tasmanian species, it inhabits wet and dense forests across a range of altitudes.

A real resident of Papua New Guinea, the Tawny-breasted  Honeyeater is a visitor to the tip of Cape York only. It looks a lot like the Little Friarbird. However, the belly is distinctively rusty. This species inhabits a range of rainforest environments from mangroves to eucalypt.

The Tawny-crowned  Honeyeater is a beautiful bird with a pale, buff cap. It is uncommon across southernmost parts of Australia. Found in rural areas on native plants, it sits erect in the open as it sings, a beautiful but mournful call. Difficult to locate, look for flowers within its range. 

I only ever see this large and colourful honeyeater in one place - Cairns Esplanade. There, it holds court in the trees adjacent to the water. It has a loud and babbling call that gives away its location. They nest there too and can be seen hunting small lizards for the chicks. It is reported along the eastern Cape York coastline south to Cairns. 

This is a large honeyeater found in a range of habitats on the eastern coast and south western corner of Australia. Isolated pockets exist in elevations of Far North Queensland. Looking a lot like the New Holland Honeyeater, it has large white patches on its face instead of just moustaches.

This is another shy and elusive honeyeater, but when you find a spot they like, they suddenly become more visible. Inhabiting a range of woodlands, the White-eared Honeyeater searches for insects on stripped bark. The combination of the olive, black and the contrasting large white spot makes this a very lovely bird.  

This unusual honeyeater had me chasing around for days. It is again named for the patch of white above the bill. The rest of bird is a combination of white, black and olive, with a red spot on the back of the eye. The call is an electronic buzz which I just loved to hear. It is described as common in arid areas but you still have to work at finding it!

The White-gaped Honeyeater is a fairly dumpy, plain bird. The cream spot between the eye and bill is its only defining identifier. The call is similar to the Varied Honeyeater and they respond to each other's song. They are common within their northern Australia range but as they are shy and reclusive, it is still hard to find them.

The White-lined Honeyeater is restricted to a small northern area within the Northern Territory. Quite similar to the White-gaped Honeyeater, it has a bright blue eye and distinctive white mark underneath. Photographs are hard to find, mostly being of dead birds. It is on the 'to find' list!

This is another common honeyeater in southern and eastern areas. It is similar to the White-throated Honeyeater but easily distinguishable by the red brow. It prefers gum forests where it actively feeds with others using agility and energy to find food.

The White-plumed Honeyeater is very common in its area and often dominates other species. They are loud and active, showing adaptability in habitats. I always love seeing them, even if they are bullying other birds as they seem to have such energy about them. This species is easy to spot as they zoom around in groups. The white plume contrasts against the yellow head. 

This very rare honeyeater is only found in small areas of Cape York with reports further south in the Cairns region. It is rather an unkempt bird with rough looking feathers and a blue patch at the gape that gives it a smiling appearance. 

Often seen hanging upside down (as the bird in this photo was) in a range of tree types. It is a common bird of northern areas and most often found by examining foraging activity within the leaves. Similar to other black-capped honeyeaters, it has a distinctive white brow. This is an acrobatic and very attractive bird.

The Yellow Honeyeater is uniformly dark yellow/olive with a black bill. This species is the only honeyeater with uniform coloured plumage. It loves flowering trees and is found within them actively foraging and calling its noisy song. They are restricted in range to Far North Queensland in a range of habitats.

Unmistakable honeyeater with yellow and black stripes below the eye. The Yellow-faced is another active bird, usually looking for food alone. It is a migratory species spending the winter months in the warmer climes of north east Australia and can be found in a range of wooded habitats. 

Another southern species, the Yellow-plumed Honeyeater is an attractive bird with yellow markings that do, at times, flush out from the side of the face. Younger birds resemble the Fuscous Honeyeater so care should be taken where ranges overlap. It is a dry species, preferring arid woodlands where it can be seen in groups making a lot of noise. 

The Yellow-spotted Honeyeater is the medium sized bird of those with yellow spots behind the eye. Plumage is again, an olive brown and it also has the yellow gape and bright spot behind the cheek. It has a dull, repetitive call and is only found in the low elevation rainforests of Far North Queensland. 

The Yellow-throated Honeyeater is another unusual species endemic to Tasmania and nearby islands. It is fairly dark all over with a bright yellow throat. It is more common than other honeyeaters found on the island, preferring forests where it can be seen on tree trunks hunting for insects. Surprisingly, the Yellow-throated is related to the White-eared Honeyeater.

While this honeyeater is similar to others in appearance, it is one of my favourites with the black mark on a yellow face somehow making it more striking. Descriptions and drawings in field guides do not do it justice.  Found only in northern parts, it resides in tropical forests, usually sedentary. There, it tends to dominate other species, often aggressively. 

The Yellow-tufted Honeyeater is one of the most striking of the family with bright yellow and contrasting black colours across the face. At times the tufts under the black cheeks are visible. They are often found in groups as they forage for food. Located in eastern and south-eastern Australia, this species is relatively common in open woodlands, usually seen in small familial groups.