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New Holland Honeyeater

(Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
Alternative names: "White-bearded Honey-eater", "Jewbird", "Yellow-winged Honey-eater"
Size: 17-19 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

In total there are five races of New Holland Honeyeaters in Australia. Nominate race "novaehollandiae" is found along the south and east coast of the continent, from Eyre peninsula, SA, via the south-eastern corner of SA and most of VIC, through the coastal fringe and Great Dividing Range of NSW into southern QLD, just to the north of Brisbane. In Tasmania there is race "canescens", wherewas race "caudata" is found on the smaller islands along Bass Strait. Race "campbelli" exists only on Kangaroo Island, SA. Race "longirostris" is found in the south-eastern corner of WA, including the Perth area.

New Holland Honeyeaters can be found in coastal woodland and also heath. They have a preference for banksias. Compared to White-cheeked Honeyeaters they are usually found in denser vegetation.

Sightings

New Holland Honeyeaters were seen by C. Kellenberg at Gillards Beach, Mimosa Rocks National Park, NSW, in February 2009.

Subsequently spotted by us in various nature reserves along the NSW coast from Myall Lakes to Bouddi National Park in June 2009. In June 2011 spotted in various other locations along the NSW coastline, including e.g. the Wingham Nature Reserve.

In July 2009 spotted in various locations in southern and central QLD, in particular in coastal areas, but also as far west as Girraween National Park. Also seen in Urunga, NSW, in banksias from which birds launched themselves into steep-climbing display flights with loud calls, then returned into the trees that they had come from.

Photos

Frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater (click on image for larger version)

... and here with its head turned sideways (click on image for larger version)

Lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater feeding on a banksia flower (click on image for larger version)

Lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater; photo courtesy C. Kellenberg (click on image for larger version)

Frontal view of a bird checking out the intruder in its territory (click on image for larger version)

Here the same bird as above, now issuing a warning call

Food

Like many other honeyeaters, New Holland Honeyeaters do not exclusively feed on nectar, but take insects too.