Gilbert's Honeyeater

1. Black head with white band behind the eye and narrow white arc above

2. Chalky white arc of bare skin over the eye (sometimes faintly blue-green)

3. Black extends below the black bill

These birds feed on nectar, insects, honeydew, lerp, and sometimes fruit, foraging actively and often acrobatically in the canopy and sometimes in the understory. They breed from September to February, building cup-shaped nests hidden in tree foliage, with both parents and sometimes helpers feeding the young. The species is generally sedentary but may move locally, especially between reserves and gardens. Gilbert’s Honeyeater is important for pollination and pest control in native ecosystems.

Gilbert’s Honeyeaters are found in open forests and woodlands dominated by jarrah, marri, or karri eucalypts throughout southwestern Western Australia, including the Perth region and the Swan Coastal Plain. They prefer the canopy, often foraging above 5 meters, and can be seen in gardens near bushland, especially in the morning when they are most active.