White-fronted Honeyeater

1. Bold white face mask and 'moustache' against a dark throat and chest.

2. Yellow wing panels visible during flight.

3. White underparts with black streaking.

White-fronted Honeyeaters primarily feed on nectar from flowering shrubs and trees, such as mallee eucalypts and emu bushes, but will also eat insects and sometimes honeydew. Their movements are closely linked to the availability of food, with birds travelling large distances to exploit new flowering sites. Breeding usually occurs from August to November, often with several pairs nesting in the same area. Nests are cup-shaped, built low in shrubs, and made from grasses, bark, spider webs, and roots. During hot weather, adults may straddle the nest to shade their young from the sun. Both parents feed the chicks, but the female is primarily responsible for incubation.

White-fronted Honeyeaters inhabit arid and semi-arid shrublands and woodlands, especially mallee and acacia scrubs. Their range extends from Western Australia, through South Australia, to western New South Wales and Victoria, with occasional sightings in the Northern Territory. These birds are highly nomadic, moving in response to flowering events, so their presence is often temporary. They may also be seen in semi-arid coastal areas and, less commonly, along roadsides or in gardens.