New Holland Honeyeater

1. Bright yellow panels on wings and tail visible in flight

2. Two small white facial patches and a white plume behind the ear

3. Distinctive white eye and black-and-white streaked plumage

Highly active and social, New Holland Honeyeaters feed mainly on nectar, using their specialized brush-tipped tongues to extract it from flowers. They also eat insects, spiders, and sometimes fruit to supplement their diet. These birds are fiercely territorial, often chasing away much larger species from their feeding areas. Breeding can occur at any time of year, but mainly in winter and spring. They build cup-shaped nests in dense shrubs, with both parents sharing chick-feeding duties. Juveniles fledge after about two weeks in the nest.

New Holland Honeyeaters are common in coastal heathlands, woodlands, and dense shrublands, especially where native flowering plants like Banksia, Grevillea, and Callistemon are present. They also thrive in suburban gardens and parks, particularly in southern Australia, Tasmania, and southwestern Western Australia. These birds are active throughout the day but are especially busy in the early morning, often perching conspicuously and defending their territories.