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White-cheeked Honeyeater

(Phylidonyris nigra)
Alternative name: "Moustached Honey-eater"
Size: 16-18 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Of the two races of White-cheeked Honeyeaters, nominate race "nigra" is found along the east coast of Australia, from about Bega, NSW, in the south to about the Whitsundays, QLD, in the north. They only rarely extend their range into the Great Dividing Range. Further north in QLD they are found only in the tablelands, up to just north-west of Townsville, QLD. They are also resident on Flinders and Cape Barren Islands in the Bass Strait. Race "gouldii" is resident only in the south-eastern corner of WA, including Perth. In favourable conditions they can extend their range northwards along the coast to about Geraldton, WA, and northwards from the south coast to almost Kalgoorlie, WA.

White-cheeked Honeyeaters can be found in coastal woodland and also heath. They have a preference for banksias.

Sightings

Seen by us for the first time at Royal National Park south of Sydney, NSW, in May 2006.

Spotted again in November 2006 at Dorrigo National Park, northern NSW. Subsequently spotted by us in various locations along the NSW coast from the NSW north coast, at Urunga, to Bouddi National Park on the central coast in the years 2009-2011.

Spotted also by C. Kellenberg at Inskip Point, QLD, in January 2009.

Photos

Near-frontal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater

Here a more lateral view of the same bird as shown above

White-cheeked Honeyeater seen from behind

Lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater feeding on a banksia flower

Here one can see the characteristic sticky tongue of a honeyeater

Lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater; photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg