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White-plumed Honeyeater

(Lichenostomus penicillatus)
Alternative names: "Greenie", "Linner", "Chickoowee", "Ringeye", "Ringneck", "Australian Canary"
Size: 15-17 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

There are four races of White-plumed Honeyeaters - for details see a field guide. Together, their range includes large parts of the Australian continent, including the semi-arid interior, with the following exceptions: White-plumed Honeyeaters are NOT found in the far north of the continent (Kimberleys, top end of the NT, Cape York peninsula), and not along the coast and Great Dividing Range of QLD either. There are no White-plumed Honeyeaters in the southern third of WA and a wide coastal fringe in SA, and the Gibson desert either. Neither are they found at Lake Eyre or the area just to the north of it.

White-plumed Honeyeaters can be found in open woodland, often in eucalypts. They have a preference for River Red Gums along watercourses. They adapt quite well to the presence of humans and are also found in urban parks and e.g. on farms.

Sightings

White-plumed Honeyeaters were visible and audible around the place where we lived in 2003-2006, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, on the edge of the Pilliga scrub, basically every day, except the coldest season. They were one of the most common birds there, came in whole families and sometimes made quite a racket. Also seen by us in other parts of the Pilliga scrub.

In contrast, they are hardly ever seen 20 km east of Narrabri, which is located farther away from a large area of contiguous bushland. White-plumed Honeyeaters occasionally come to visit the flowers of eucalypt trees and our water bowls, but never in numbers of more than two at a time.

At the two places where we lived, there is a distinct anti-coincidence of White-plumed Honeyeaters and Singing Honeyeaters.

Also seen by us on a trip to South Australia, specifically at Hawker, SA, in March 2008.

Photos

White-plumed Honeyeater feeding in a bottlebrush tree

Lateral view of an adult White-plumed Honeyeater

Frontal view of an adult White-plumed Honeyeater

Near-lateral view of an adult White-plumed Honeyeater

Here an adult bird approaching a waterhole (photo taken by R. Druce)

White-plumed Honeyeater checking the surroundings while drinking from a waterhole

Here the same bird seen drinking...

... and then scooping up the water

Frontal view of an immature White-plumed Honeyeater

Near-frontal view of an immature White-plumed Honeyeater

Slightly different posture

Lateral view of an immature White-plumed Honeyeater

Here an immature White-plumed Honeyeater begging for food

This one is having a drink

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jun - Jan Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 14 days Fledging age: ca. 15 days

Given the right conditions, White-plumed Honeyeaters can breed any time of the year.

Nest

Type: Hanging basket Material: Root fibres, grass stems, webs Height above ground: 1 - 10

Here a view of a White-plumed Honeyeater chick in its nest in a White Cedar tree.

White-plumed Honeyeater chicks in their nest waiting to be fed

Here a nest in a more open spot

Eggs

Size: 20 x 15 mm Colour: Creamy, with light-brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Dispersive/ sedentary Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

White-plumed Honeyeaters are one of the species that like a good splash every day; however, they do not only use shallow bowls or puddles for taking their bath - instead they fly from perches onto the surface of standing water fluttering their wings, just touching the surfaces and getting half-emersed before taking off back to the perch again (see photo below).

Action shot of a White-plumed Honeyeater flying in for a bath

Another unexpected experience was seeing White-plumed Honeyeaters foraging for insects in tree bark in wintertime.

Food

Like many other honeyeaters, White-plumed Honeyeaters do not exclusively feed on nectar, but take insects too.

View of the back of an immature bird feeding head-down on nectar

This bird is taking psyllids and lerps