Eungella Honeyeater

1. Blackish face with thin white stripe below and behind a pale blue-grey eye

2. Subtle white and yellow-edged ear plume (often difficult to see)

3. Series of sharp, frantic whistles echoing from the rainforest canopy

Eungella Honeyeaters feed on nectar, fruit, and insects, foraging mainly in the upper canopy. They probe flowers-especially mistletoes and pandanus-and glean insects from bark. Breeding takes place in spring, with both parents building a moss-covered cup nest high in the trees, cleverly camouflaged among the foliage. The species is vulnerable due to its tiny range and threats from habitat loss and climate change`.`

This honeyeater is found in high-altitude rainforest, usually above the cloud line in the Clarke Range, including Eungella National Park and Crediton State Forest. During winter, some birds move to lower elevations, where they may be seen in eucalypt woodlands, casuarina forests, or even gardens. Look for them high in the canopy, especially around flowering trees and mistletoes, and listen for their distinctive calls at dawn`. 12`