Strong-billed Honeyeater

1. Black head and nape with a contrasting white crescent on the nape

2. Robust, thick black bill in adults; orange-based bill in juveniles

3. Bright yellow legs stand out against olive-brown upperparts

Strong-billed Honeyeaters are adept bark-foragers, using their powerful bills to pry and flake bark from trees in search of insects and other invertebrates. They also eat nectar and fallen fruit, though insects make up the bulk of their diet. Breeding occurs from September to January, with nests built as thick-walled bowls of grass and bark in the forks of tall eucalypts. Colonies form during the breeding season, with adults often cooperating in nest building, feeding, and defense. These birds can be seen in small, noisy flocks, especially outside the breeding season.The Strong-billed Honeyeater is a classic example of island evolution, with specialised foraging techniques not seen in mainland honeyeaters. It is one of Tasmania’s iconic endemic birds.

This species is found throughout Tasmania in mature temperate forests, especially those dominated by large eucalypts like *Eucalyptus regs* and *E. delegatensis*. It also frequents wet scrub, heath, and occasionally urban parks and gardens. Look for them foraging on tree trunks and large branches, often behaving like treecreepers as they search for insects beneath bark. Their loud “cheep cheep” or churring calls are often heard before the birds are seen, especially at dawn and in forest clearings.