New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
The New Holland Honeyeater is one of Australia’s most energetic birds. Fuelled up on high-energy nectar taken from the flowers of banksias, eucalypts, grevilleas and other trees and shrubs, they are always active and pugnacious. Whether they are dashing in pursuit of a flying insect or chasing other honeyeaters away, the New Holland Honeyeater is seldom seen sitting still. One of their more unusual activities is to conduct ‘Corroborrees’, where up to a dozen birds congregate and noisily display together, fluttering their wings. Description The New Holland Honeyeater is mostly black and white, with a large yellow wing patch and yellow sides on the tail. It has a small white ear patch, a thin white whisker at the base of the bill and a white eye. This honeyeater is an active bird, and rarely sits still long enough to give an extended view. Sexes are similar in looks, but females are slightly smaller in size. Young birds are browner and have a grey eye. Similar Species One very similar species is the White-cheeked Honeyeater,Phylidonyris nigra. This species has a single large white cheek patch and a dark eye. The two species frequently occur together. Distribution The New Holland Honeyeater's range extends throughout southern Australia, from about Brisbane, Queensland, to just north of Perth, Western Australia. Habitat The New Holland Honeyeater is common in health, forests, woodland and gardens, mainly where grevilleas and banksias are found. It is inquisitive and approaches humans. It also mixes with other types of honeyeaters. Feeding New Holland Honeyeaters are active feeders. They mostly eat the nectar of flowers, and busily dart from flower to flower in search of this high-energy food. Other food items include fruit, insects and spiders. Birds may feed alone, but normally gather in quite large groups. Most feeding takes place in lower areas of bushes and thickets. Breeding The New Holland Honeyeater's cup-shaped nest is made of bark and grasses, bound together
Size: 5000px × 5000px
Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Photo credit: © Alexander Kondakov / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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