Noisy Miner

1. Grey body with a black crown and cheeks

2. Bright yellow patch behind the eye and yellow bill

3. Loud, social, and highly territorial behaviour

Noisy Miners are communal birds, forming colonies that can number in the hundreds. They are cooperative breeders: females build deep cup-shaped nests, while multiple males help feed the chicks. These birds feed mainly on nectar, fruit, and insects, but will also eat small reptiles and amphibians. Their aggressive nature allows them to exclude other bird species from their territory, which has led to a reduction in local bird diversity where they are abundant. Noisy Miners are sedentary and breed year-round, with peak activity from July to December.

Noisy Miners are common in open eucalypt woodlands, grassy forests, and especially in urban parks and gardens with scattered trees but few shrubs. They are widespread from Far North Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and southeastern South Australia. Listen for their loud, repetitive calls-often the first clue to their presence. They are active throughout the day, foraging from the canopy to the ground and are most visible where there are open spaces with flowering trees.