Black Honeyeater

1. Males are black above with a black chest stripe; females are brown-grey with pale, streaked underparts.

2. Both sexes have a long, curved bill suited for feeding on tubular flowers.

3. Listen for the male’s high-pitched, drawn-out “peeee” call, especially during breeding season

Primarily nectar feeders, Black Honeyeaters also catch insects in flight. Their movements track the flowering of key plants, and they may travel long distances to find food. Breeding occurs from July to December, with cup-shaped nests built low in shrubs. Females build and incubate the nests, while both parents feed the young. Notably, females are often seen eating ash from old campfires, likely to supplement calcium needed for egg-laying.

Black Honeyeaters are found across inland Australia, from Western Australia through central Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. They favour open woodlands and shrublands, especially where emu-bushes are flowering. These birds are nomadic, moving in response to the availability of nectar, and are most often seen in mulga woodlands, mallee, or areas with flowering shrubs like grevilleas and mistletoes. Large flocks may gather at abundant food sources, but individuals and small groups are more common.