Yellow-throated Honeyeater

1. Bright yellow throat and chin stand out against a silvery-grey head and olive-green back

2. Deep ruby red eyes and black bill

3. Juveniles are duller with a brownish head and paler yellow throat

Primarily insectivorous, the Yellow-throated Honeyeater also feeds on nectar and occasionally fruit or seeds. It forages actively from the canopy to the ground, often seen gleaning insects from bark or hanging upside-down on branches. This species is highly territorial and aggressive, frequently chasing away other birds from its feeding areas. Breeding occurs from August to January. Females build deep cup-shaped nests low in bushes or tussocks, using grass, bark, and animal fur-sometimes collected directly from live animals, including humans. Clutches usually contain two or three pinkish eggs, and the female alone incubates and feeds the young.

Yellow-throated Honeyeaters are widespread across Tasmania, King Island, and the Furneaux Group. They thrive in a range of habitats, including wet and dry eucalypt forests, coastal heathland, alpine woodland, and even parks and gardens. These birds are most often seen foraging in forests with a diverse understory, from sea level up to about 1,000 metres elevation.