Little Friarbird

1. Bare blue-grey skin patch under the eye and over the cheek, with no casque (ridge) on the bill.

2. Square-cut tail with pale tips and dark grey-brown upperparts.

3. Juveniles show a yellowish wash on the throat and paler facial skin

Little Friarbirds primarily feed on nectar from flowering trees but also eat insects, fruit, and occasionally seeds. They are active and vocal, often feeding alone, in pairs, or in small flocks, and sometimes join mixed-species groups with other honeyeaters. Breeding occurs from July to February, with pairs building a flimsy open cup nest-usually over water and suspended from branches. Clutches typically contain two to three eggs. The female incubates the eggs, but both parents feed the chicks. The species is sometimes parasitised by the Common Koel.

Little Friarbirds are widespread across northern and eastern Australia, with seasonal movements into southeastern regions. They are most commonly seen in open forests, woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus, swamp woodlands, mangroves, and along rivers. During good flowering seasons, they also visit orchards, vineyards, and urban gardens. The species is rarely seen on the ground, preferring to forage high in the canopy for nectar and insects. They are present year-round in some areas, but their numbers increase in spring and summer when migrants arrive from further north