Bell Miner

1. Bright olive-green plumage with a yellow bill and orange-yellow legs

2. Red-orange bare patch behind the eye and blackish crown

3. Constant, bell-like “tink” calls from dense eucalypt understorey

Bell Miners live year-round in permanent colonies, where breeding pairs and helpers work together to raise young. Breeding occurs year-round but mainly occurs between june-November, varying slightly by region. Colonies fiercely defend their territory and exclude other insect-eating birds, which can lead to outbreaks of their main food source-psyllids-and sometimes tree dieback. They forage mainly in the canopy for lerps and insects, but also eat nectar and fruit. Nests are small cups built by females in dense undergrowth, with both parents and helpers feeding the chicks. Breeding occurs throughout the year, often with multiple broods. Their loud, bell-like “tink” call is a constant sound in their habitat, and they have a complex range of calls for communication and defense.

Bell Miners are found along the east and southeast of mainland Australia, from Gympie in Queensland south to Melbourne in Victoria. They inhabit open eucalypt forests and woodlands with a dense shrubby understorey, especially in gullies, foothills, and coastal plains. They are also found in suburban parks and gardens with remt bushland, provided dense undergrowth and eucalypts remain. Bell Miners are most often encountered in colonies, especially in areas where eucalypts are infested with psyllids, sometimes contributing to forest dieback.