Mangrove Honeyeater

1. Broad black facial mask with yellow stripe and white tuft

2. Finely barred throat and grey breast band

3. Active and vocal in mangrove forests

Mangrove Honeyeaters feed on nectar, insects, and occasionally small marine animals like snails and crabs. They are agile foragers, often seen moving through mangrove foliage and visiting flowering trees. Breeding occurs mainly from August to December, with a possible second season in April–May in the north. Nests are small, cup-shaped, and built from dried grasses and plant fibers, suspended in dense mangroves. Both parents care for the young, and nests are sometimes parasitized by cuckoos.

Mangrove Honeyeaters are found in mangrove forests, woodlands, and coastal wetlands along eastern Australia, from Townsville to northern New South Wales. They are most common in Queensland and less frequent further south. These birds are often seen foraging in the outer foliage of mangroves and are especially visible at low tide when searching among exposed roots. They may also visit nearby parks and gardens close to mangroves.