Crescent honeyeater

Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus

Photo by J.J. Harrison (Wikipedia)

Common name:
crescent honeyeater (en); melífago-d'asa-dourada (pt); méliphage à croissants (fr); mielero alifuego (es); goldflügel-honigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is found in endemic to south-eastern Australia, being found from north-eastern New South Wales to south-eastern South Australia, and in Tasmania and islands in the Bass Strait.

Size:
These birds are 14-17 cm long and have a wingspan of 16-23 cm. They weigh 12-23 g.

Habitat:
The crescent honeyeater is mostly found in tall, Eucalyptus-dominated sclerophyll forests, also using dry scrublands, plantations and urban areas.

Diet:
They feed on nectar, fruit and insects, as well as manna, honeydew and lerp.

Breeding:
Crescent honeyeaters can breed all year round and form long-term pair bonds. They nest in loose colonies, each female building a deep cup made of of cobweb, bark, grass, twigs, roots and other plant materials, and lined with grass, down, moss and fur. It is placed in the centre of a scrub, often near water. there she lays 2-3 pale pink eggs with lavender and chestnut splotches, which she incubates alone for 13 days. The chicks are raised by both parents and fledge 13 days after hatching, but only become fully independent about 2 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Wattled honeyeater

Foulehaio carunculatus

(Photo from Zoochat)

Common name:

wattled honeyeater (en); melífago-foulehaio (pt); méliphage foulehaio (fr); mielero foulehaio (es); schuppenkopf-honigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Meliphagidae

Range:

This species is found in the Pacific archipelagos of Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Wallis and Futuna.

Size:

These birds are 19-21 cm long and weigh 25-45 g.

Habitat:

The wattled honeyeater is mostly found in moist tropical forests, but also uses a wide range of other habitats, including mangroves, coastal forests, second growths, rural gardens and urban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.900 m.

Diet:

They feed mainly on nectar, but also take various arthropods, including adult and larval insects, and spiders.

Breeding:

Wattled honeyeaters can breed all year round. The nest is woven cup made of grasses, usually well-hidden within the foliage of a tree, where the female lays 1-2 eggs. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a relatively large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 1-2,5 million individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to competition with introduced bird species.

Yellow-browed melidectes

Melidectes rufocrissalis

Photo by Jon Hornbuckle (Birding Around the World)

Common name:
yellow-browed melidectes (en); melífago-de-Reichenow (pt); méliphage de Reichenow (fr); mielero cejiamarillo (es); Reichenowhonigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is endemic to New guinea, being found in the central and eastern mountains of Papua-New Guinea and marginally across the border into Indonesia.

Size:
These birds are 26-29 cm long and weigh 55-95 g.

Habitat:
The yellow-browed melidectes is found in lower and middle mountain rainforests, also using second growths, forests edges and even gardens.

Diet:
They forage on the middle and upper levels of the forests, taking insects, nectar and fruits.

Breeding:
These birds possibly breed all year round. The nest in an open basket woven with fine grasses. There is no further information regarding the incubation of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as fairly common to common. There is no available information on population trends.

Rufous-banded honeyeater

Conopophila albogularis

Photo by Darryl Jones (Flickr)

Common name:
rufous-banded honeyeater (en); melífago- (pt); méliphage à gorge blanche (fr); mielero pechirrufo (es); rostband-honigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is found in northern Australia, in coastal areas of northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, and also along the southern coast of New Guinea and in some parts of northern Papua-New Guinea.

Size:
These birds are 12-14,5 cm long and weigh 9-14,5 g.

Habitat:
The rufous-banded honeyeater is found in riparian paperback Melaleuca sp. woodlands, Eucalyptus forests, mangroves, moist scrublands and savannas, and in urban parks and gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 600 m.

Diet:
They are mainly insectivorous, taking various insects and spiders, but also eat nectar from Eucalyptus and paperbark flowers and eat the arils that attach wattle seeds to the pod.

Breeding:
Rufous-banded honeyeaters can breed all year round, but with peaks in September-November and January-March. The nest is a purse-shaped structure suspended from the outer twigs of a wattle or paperbark, often over water. The female lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated for about 14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Little friarbird

Philemon citreogularis

Photo by Jeremy Ringma (Flickr)

Common name:
little friarbird (en); frade-de-garganta-amarela (pt); polochion à menton jaune (fr); filemón goligualdo (es); glattstirn-lederkopf (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is found in eastern and northern Australia, as well as in southern New Guinea.

Size:
These birds are 25-29 cm long and weigh 48-84 g.

Habitat:
The little friarbird is mostly found in dry savannas and dry tropical forests dominated by Eucalyptus, but also uses moist tropical forests, mangroves, dry scrublands, and even urban areas. They tend to favour areas near water and occur from sea level up to an altitude of 900 m.

Diet:
They mostly forage alone, in pairs or small flocks, but can join mixed groups with other honeyeaters. These birds feed mainly on nectar and invertebrates such as insects and spiders, but also take flowers, fruits and seeds.

Breeding:
Little friarbirds are monogamous and breed in August-April. They nest in a large, deep open cup made of grasses and lined with finer grasses and other soft materials. The nest is almost always placed in a tree overhanging water. The female lays 2-4 eggs which she incubates alone for 13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14 days after hatching. Each pair raises 1-2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as perhaps common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Noisy friarbird

Philemon corniculatus

Photo by David McKay (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
noisy friarbird (en); frade-gritador (pt); polochion criard (fr); filemón gritón (es); lärmlederkopf (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is found in eastern Australia, from north-eastern Queensland to Victoria, and also in southern New Guinea.

Size:
These birds are 31-36 cm long and weigh about 120 g.

Habitat:
The noisy friarbird is mostly found in dry forests and Eucalyptus woodlands, but alses a wide range of other habitats such as scrublands, moist forests, mangroves, arable land, rural gardens and even urban areas.

Diet:
They feed on nectar, fruits, insects and other invertebrates, occasionally also taking bird eggs and nestlings.

Breeding:
The noisy friarbird breeds in July-March. They are monogamous and pair bonds can last several years. The nest is built by the female, consisting of a large cup made of bark and grass, bound with spider webs. It is suspended from a branch, 1-3 m above the ground. There she lays 2-4 buff to pale pink eggs with brown or purplish splotches, which she incubates alone for 18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 3 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is considered fairly common to very common throughout this range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Dusky myzomela

Myzomela obscura

(Photo from Australia's National Landscapes)

Common name:
dusky myzomela (en); melífago-sombrio (pt); myzomèle ombré (fr); mielero sombrío (es); rußhonigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family  Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is found along the coasts of Queensland and the Northern territory, in Australia, and also along the southern coast of New Guinea and in the nearby islands of Aroe, North Maluku and Biak.

Size:
These birds are 12-15 cm long and weigh 12 g.

Habitat:
the dusky myzomela is mostly found in moist tropical forests, also using moist scrublands, mangroves, dry savannas, plantations and urban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on nectar.

Breeding:
Dusky myzomelas can breed all year round, but with a peak in March-September. The nest is a small, neat cup made of fine bark, spider webs, and leaves, usually placed on a well-hidden branch high over water. The female lays 2 white eggs with fine reddish spots which are incubated 12-13 days. The chicks are fed largely on nectar and fledge 13-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as moderately common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Lewin's honeyeater

Meliphaga lewinii

Photo by Tom Tarrant (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Lewin's honeyeater (en); melífago de Lewin (pt); méliphage de Lewin (fr); mielero de Lewin (es); goldohr-honigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is endemic to eastern Australia, being found from north-eastern Queensland to south-eastern Victoria.

Size:
These birds are 20-22 cm long and weigh 34 g.

Habitat:
The Lewin's honeyeater is found in both rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, also using scrublands, dry tropical forests, arable land, pastures, rural gardens and urban areas.

Diet:
They feed mainly on small fruits and berries, but also taking insects and nectar.

Breeding:
Lewin's honeyeaters breed in September-January. The nest is a large oval cup made of vegetation and other materials, bound together with spider webs and lined with softer materials. There the female lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated for about 14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14 day after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as abundant. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Yellow-faced honeyeater

Lichenostomus chrysops

Photo by David Piko (David L Piko Photography)

Common name:
yellow-faced honeyeater (en); melífago-de-faces-amarelas (pt); méliphage à joues d'or (fr); mielero carigualdo (es); dreistreifen-honigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is found in eastern Australia, from north-eastern Queensland to Victoria and south-eastern South Australia.

Size:
These birds are 15-17,5 cm long and have a wingspan of 21,5-26 cm. They weigh 12,5-20,5 g.

Habitat:
The yellow-faced honeyeater is found in a wide range of habitats, mainly in open sclerophyll forests, but also in riparian woodlands, moist tropical forests, dry savannas, scrublands, coastal heathland, plantations, rural gardens and parks and gardens within urban areas.

Diet:
They feed on nectar, pollen, fruits, seeds, honeydew and invertebrates. They are known to eat at the flowers of silver banksia Banksia marginata, heath-leaved banksia Banksia ericifolia, fern-leaved banksia Banksia oblongifolia, mountain devil Lambertia formosa and green spider flower Grevillea mucronulata. Among their invertebrate prey are insects such as flies, mosquitoes, midges, and beetles, as well as spiders.

Breeding:
Yellow-faced honeyeaters are monogamous and breed in July-March. The nest is a fragile cup, made of grasses and moss and lined with hair, namely of koala Phascolarctos cinereus. It is placed in an understory scrub, close to the ground. The female lays 1-3 pinkish-white eggs with reddish-brown spots and blotches. She incubates the eggs alone for about 14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13 days after hatching, but remain in the parental territory for another 2 weeks. Each pair may raise 2-3 clutches per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 100.000-1.000.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to the introduction of exotic predators, as well as habitat degradation through land clearing, grazing and infestation by exotic weeds.

Scarlet myzomela

Myzomela sanguinolenta

Photo by Andy Mackie (Flickr)

Common name:
scarlet myzomela (en); melífago-escarlate (pt); myzomèle écarlate (fr); mielero escarlata (es); scharlachhonigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
The scarlet myzomela is found along the east coast of Australia, from Cooktown, Queensland to Gippsland, Victoria. It is also found in Sulawesi, the Moluccas and Lesser Sundas, Indonesia and in New Caledonia.

Size:
These birds are 9-11 cm long and weigh 8 g.

Habitat:
The scarlet myzomela is mostly found in tropical and temperate open forests and woodlands, favouring areas with sparse understory and located near wetlands. They also use rainforests and mangroves, dry savannas, scrublands, rural gardens and urban areas.

Diet:
They feed mainly on nectar and sometimes on fruit and insects.

Breeding:
Scarlet myzomelas breed in July-January. They are monogamous and build a small cup-shaped nest, made of fine bark and grass bound with spider webs and lined with fine plant materials. The nest is suspended from an horizontal branch or in a fork. The female lays 2 eggs, which she incubates alone for 12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 12 days after hatching. Each pair can raise up to 3 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Stitchbird

Notiomystis cincta

Photo by Damian Davalos (Flickr)

Common name:
stitchbird (en); melífago-hihi (pt); méliphage hihi (fr); hihi (es); hihi (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
Once common throughout the North Island of New Zealand and in several offshore islands, the stitchbird in now only found naturally in Little Barrier Island, with small translocated populations also on the islands of Kapiti and Tiritiri Matangi and also in Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and Maungatautari on mainland North Island, as a result of conseration efforts.

Size:
These birds are 18 cm long and weigh 30-40 g.

Habitat:
The stitchbird is found in a variety of temperate forest habitats, requiring mature forests with plenty of tree holes for nesting. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 750 m.

Diet:
They feed on the nectar of various flowers, as well as various fruits, insects and other invertebrates.

Breeding:
Stichbirds can be socially monogamous, or form breeding groups where 2 male and 2 females breed in the same territory. There are also high levels of extra-pair parentage. They breed in September-March. The nest in a tree hole, where they build a bowl-shaped net with twigs, grass and fern rhizomes. The female lays 3-5 eggs, which she incubates alone for about 15 days. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge about 30 days after hatching.

Conservation:IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a very small breeding range and a global population estimated at just 3.000-4.500 individuals. There is no detailed information on population trends, but it believed to be declining. The stitchbird became extinct on the North Island mainland, probably due to the introduction of black rats Rattus rattus, avian desease and probably also deforestation in parts of its original range. Conservation efforts lead to the translocation of individuals into two offshore islands and a couple of areas in North Island but they appear to require large expanses of mature forest to survive which represents a major hurdle to conservation efforts.

Tui

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

Photo by Sid Mosdell (Wikipedia)

Common name:
tui (en); melífago-tui (pt); méliphage tui (fr); mielero tui (es); tui (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found throughout North Island, along the western and southern coasts of South Island, in Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, Raoul in the Kermadec Islands and in the Auckland Islands.

Size:
These bird are 30 cm long. The males tend to be larger and weigh 95-200 g while the females weigh 70-165 g.

Habitat:
The tui is mostly found in temperate and sub-Antarctic forests, but also in open rural areas and within urban areas.

Diet:
They mainly feed on nectar, but will also eat fruits and sap. Occasionally, they also take invertebrates.

Breeding:
Tuis breed in September-January. The nest is an open cup made of twigs and sticks, and lined with leaves, ferns and moss. It is placed in a fork or the outer branches of a tree or tall scrub, 2-6 m above the ground, often well hidden among thick vines. The female lays 3-4 white or pink eggs with reddish-brown speckles, which she incubates alone for 14 days. The chicks fledge 11 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 2.500-10.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and the effects of introduced species, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Brown honeyeater

Lichmera indistincta

Photo by David Kleinert (David Kleinert Photography)

Common name:
brown honeyeater (en); melífago-castanho (pt); méliphage brunâtre (fr); mielero pardo (es); braunhonigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is found throughout most of Australia, with the exceptions of Southern Australia and Victoria, and also in southern New Guinea, the Torres Strait Islands, the Tiwi Islands, Bali and the Lesser Sundas, and on the Aru Islands.

Size:
These birds are 11,5-16 cm long and have a wingspan of 18-23 cm. They weigh 9-11 g.

Habitat:
The brown honeyeater is found in various wooded habitats, including mangroves, rainforests, and savannas, in scrublands, marshes and swamps, along rivers and streams, in rural gardens and in urban parks and gardens.

Diet:
They forage among the foliage on the tree canopy, taking nectar and also insects such as beetles, flies, ants, wasps and bees.

Breeding:
Brown honeyeaters can breed all year round, varying  markedly across its range. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of an open cup made fine bark, especially Melaleuca bark, grass, plant down and sometimes paper, bound together with spider webs and lined with plant down, hair, fine grass or flowers. It is placed in a fork or horizontal branch of a tree or scrub, often near water and up to 2 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-3 white or pinkish eggs, sometimes spotted with faint reddish or brownish flecks. The eggs are incubated by the female for 13-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally common to moderately common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, especially due to habitat clearance for farming.

Striped honeyeater

Plectorhyncha lanceolata

Photo by David Cook (Flickr)

Common name:
striped honeyeater (en); melífado-lanceolado (pt); méliphage lancéolé (fr); mielero lanceolado (es); strichelhonigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found in eastern Australia, from mid-northern Queensland to northern Victoria and west to the York Peninsula, especially inland from the Great Dividing Range.

Size:
These birds are 20-25 cm longand have a wingspan of 28-36 cm. They weigh around 40 g.

Habitat:
The striped honeyeater is mostly found in dry forests and savannas, namely Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Acacia and native pines, and especially along rivers and streams. They are also found in swamp forests and mangroves, dry scrublands, hot deserts, rural gardens and even within urban areas.

Diet:
They mainly feed on insects and spiders, also taking fruits and berries, seeds, nectar and other plant sugars.

Breeding:
Striped honeyeaters breed in July-January. The nest is a suspended cup made of grasses and plant fibres and lined with fine grasses and feather, including emu feathers. It is placed at the lower end of big mistletoes or drooping branches of trees, 1-6 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-5 cream-coloured eggs with light-brown speckles, which are incubated by both sexes for 14-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, and sometimes also by helpers, fledging 15-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range but is described as rather uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, so it is not considered threatened at present.

Blue-faced honeyeater

Entomyzon cyanotis

(Photo from Whatafy)

Common name:
blue-faced honeyeater (en); melífago-de-faces-azuis (pt); méliphage à oreillons bleus (fr); mielero cariazul (es); blauohr-honigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is found in northern and eastern mainland Australia, from the Kimberley region, Western Australia to near Adelaide, South Australia.

Size:
These birds are 25-32 cm long and have a wingspan of 44 cm. They weigh around 105 g.

Habitat:
The blue-faced honeyeater is found in open Eucalyptus woodlands, mangroves, dry savannas, scrublands and also in orchards, parks, golf courses and gardens.

Diet:
They feed on insects and other invertebrates, on the nectar of various native and exotic flowers and on various fruits.

Breeding:
Blue-faced honeyeaters can form breeding pairs or breed cooperatively with several helpers, typically immature birds, helping the dominant pair. They breed in July-January, most often nesting on abandoned nests of other species, or building a neat round cup made of bark, twigs and grass. The nest is placed on a tree 3-20 m above the ground. The female lays 2-3 creamy eggs with brown speckles, which are incubated for 16-17 days. The chicks are raised by both parents and the helpers and fledge about 20 days after hatching, but remain with the parents for several more weeks. Each pair raises several broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as abundant in the north of its range and uncommon in the south. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Noisy miner

Manorina melanocephala

Photo by J.J. Harrison (Wikipedia)

Common name:
noisy miner (en); melífago-barulhento (pt); méliphage bruyant (fr); mielero chillón (es); weißstirn-schwatzvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found in the eastern half of the country from northern Queensland to eastern South Australia. It is also found in Tasmania.

Size:
These birds are 24-29 cm long and have a wingspan of 36-45 cm. They weigh 60-80 g.

Habitat:
The noisy miner is mostly found in dry woodlands and savannas, but also in grasslands, scrublands, pastures, arable land, rural gardens and often also in urban parks and gardens. 

Diet:
They mainly feed on nectar, but also fruits, seeds and invertebrates, also sometimes also small reptiles and amphibians. They are known to take the nectar of Jacaranda mimosifolia, Erythrina variegata, Lagunaria patersonia, Callistemon salignus, Callistemon viminalis, Eucalyptus sp., Banksia ericifolia, B. integrifolia, B. serrata, Grevillea aspleniifolia, G. banksii, G. hookeriana, G. juniperina, G. rosmarinifolia, and Chaenomeles speciosa.

Breeding:
Noisy miners breed in July-December. They form small to large colonies, with the females building the nests, deep cups woven of twigs and grasses with other plant material, animal hair and spider webs. There the female lays 2-4 white to cream, pinkish or buff coloured eggs with reddish-brown markings, which she incubates alone for about 16 days. The chicks are fed by the female and by up to 20 male helpers who bring food to several of the nests in the colony, and fledge about 16 days after hatching. They continue to receive food from adults for 4-5 weeks. Each female may raise several broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat

White-plumed honeyeater

Lichenostomus penicillatus

(Photo from PBase)

Common name:
white-plumed honeyeater (en); melífago-de-colar (pt); méliphage serti (fr); mielero empenachado (es); weißbürzel-honigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being throughout the country except in the tropical north, Cape York Peninsula and the most arid areas.

Size:
White-plumed honeyeaters are 15-17 cm long and weigh around 20 g.

Habitat:
They are mainly found in open forests and woodlands, often near water and wetlands, showing a preference for areas with river red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis. They are also found in dry scrublands, rural gardens and within urban areas.

Diet:
White-plumed honeyeaters eat nectar, insects and their products such as lerps and honeydew, manna and fruits, and occasionally some seeds.

Breeding:
These birds can breed all year round, but mostly in August-December. The nest is a small cup woven by the female from grass and spider web and lined with wool, hair or feathers. It is placed in the crown of a tree 1-20 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-4 ground colour or pink eggs with reddish spots, which she incubates alone for 10-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 12-14 days after hatching. Each pair raises 2-3 clutches per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat degradation through the removal of trees along creeks and predation by domestic mammals. However, the white-plumed honeyeater is very adaptable to urban environments and not considered threatened at present.

New Holland honeyeater

Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

Photo by J.J. Harrison (Wikipedia)

Common name:
New Holland honeyeater (en); melífago-de-olho-branco (pt); méliphage de Nouvelle Hollande (fr); mielero de Nueva Holanda (es); weißaugen-honigfresser (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae


Range:
This species is found throughout southern Australia, including Tasmania, from Brisbane, Queensland, to just north of Perth, Western Australia.


Size:
These bird are 18 cm long and weigh 20 g.


Habitat:
New Holland honeyeaters are mostly found in dry scrublands, but also in dry savannas, forests, grasslands, plantations and gardens, especially where Grevillea and Banksia are found.


Diet:
They mostly feed on the nectar of native flowers, such as Banksia, Hakea, Xanthorrhoea, Grevillea and Acacia, but will also eat fruits, insects, spiders and honeydew.


Breeding:
New Holland honeyeaters breed in June-January. The cup-shaped nest is made of bark and grasses, bound together with spider webs and lined with soft materials. It is placed in a scrub or tree, from ground level up to 6 m above the ground. The female lays 1-3 light pinkish eggs with dark red and grey spots, which are incubated for 11-14 days. The chicks fledge 13-16 days after hatching. Each pair may raise 2-3 clutches per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and, although the population size is yet to be quantified, the New Holland honeyeater is described as common within areas of suitable habitat. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

White-naped honeyeater

Melithreptus lunatus

Photo by Russell Cockman (Russell's Astronomy)

Common name:
white-naped honeyeater (en); melífago-de-nuca-branca (pt); méliphage à lunule (fr); mielero nuquiblanco (es); mondstreif-honigschmecker (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae


Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, occurring in two disjunct populations, one in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the country, from northern Queensland to eastern South Australia, and another in the south-western corner of the country.


Size:
The white-naped honeyeater is 13-15 cm long and weighs around 13 g.


Habitat:
These birds are found in temperate forests and woodlands, but also in dry savannas, dry scrublands, plantations and urban parks and gardens.


Diet:
They mostly eat the nectar of a wide range of flowers, but also manna, insects and insect products such as honeydew and lerp.


Breeding:
White-naped honeyeaters can breed all year round, but mostly in September-November. They breed communally, with both the parents and helpers looking after the young, although only the female incubates the eggs. The female builds a small open cup nest made of grass, bark and spider webs, placed high up in a tall tree, usually Eucalyptus. She lays 2-3 shiny buff-pink eggs with red-brown spots, which she incubates alone for 14 days. The chicks fledge 14-15 days after hatching. Each pair raises 1-2 broods per year.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Brown-backed honeyeater

Ramsayornis modestus

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Common name:
brown-backed honeyeater (en); melífago-modesto (pt); méliphage modeste (fr); mielero modesto (es); sumpfhonigfresser (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Meliphagidae


Range:
This species is found in southern New Guinea and in north-eastern Queensland, Australia and adjacent islands.


Size:
These birds are 11 cm long and weigh 11-12 g.


Habitat:
These birds are mostly found in Melaleuca swamps and woodlands, but also occur in mangroves, rainforests, riverine vegetation, scrubland along creeks in dry woodlands and sometimes in open country.


Diet:
They eat the nectar of various plants, as well as insects and other small invertebrates.


Breeding:
Brown-backed honeyeaters breed in August-December. The nest is a domed or roofed pensile structure, made of Melaleuca bark and bound together with spider webs. The nest is placed at the end of a branch of a tree or scrub, 1-8 m above the ground and sometimes over water. The female lays 1-3 eggs which are incubated for 14-16 days. The chicks fledge 12-15 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as moderately common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.