White-gaped Honeyeater

1. Creamy-white patch at the gape contrasting with darker plumage.

2. Noticeably larger and bulkier than the similar Dusky Honeyeater.

3. Loud, ringing calls often heard in the early morning.

White-gaped Honeyeaters feed on nectar, insects, spiders, and occasionally fruit, using their brush-tipped tongues to extract nectar from flowers. They forage energetically among foliage and bark, sometimes alone but often in pairs. Breeding can occur nearly year-round in the north, with females constructing deep, cup-shaped nests suspended from tree forks, often reinforced with spider webs. Both parents care for the young, and males are known for their territorial singing.

White-gaped Honeyeaters are widespread across northern Australia, from the Kimberley region in Western Australia, across the Northern Territory, to northern Queensland. They inhabit mangroves, swamps, riparian forests, and paperbark and pandanus thickets, often near water. These birds are also found in gardens and parks in northern towns. They are most active and vocal in the early mornings, making this the best time to spot or hear them.