Honey Eaters Factsheet - the Living Smart Program

Honeyeaters belong to one of Australia’s mosttypical and largest bird families, Family Melaphagidae. Theyare restricted to the region from Bali, New Guinea, Australiaand New Zealand to the central Pacific.Of the 165 or sospecies, 67 occurin Australia.Honeyeaters range in size from tiny to fairly large. Theyvary in colour from plain olive-greens, greys and brownsto rich reds, yellows, blues, black and white. They aretypically vocal, active and often aggressive birds. The billis usually long, slender and curved downwards, notchedand often with teeth, but never bristled. As an adaptationto feeding on nectar, the tongue can be protruded andhas longitudinal channels or grooves, and the end is splitinto four tips, each with a brush for mopping up the nectar.To assist honeyeaters in clambering and climbing on smallbranches and twigs to reach flowers, their feet are strongwith sharp claws.Nectar is mostly water and sugars, with only minuteamounts of other food substances. Sugar provides theenergy that honeyeaters need for their nonstop activity,but does not supply the proteins, vitamins and lipids (fats& oils) essential for growth, repair and functioning of theirtissues. Eating insects and small quantities of pollenprovides these nutrients. Some honeyeaters eat a lot offruit; others are particularly insectivorous; but all eatnectar. Honeyeaters drink often and love to bathe.

Hordes of insects seek out nectar and pollen – butterflies,moths, bees, wasps, ants, beetles and bugs; and theseattract multitudes of insectivorous animals – birds inthe daytime, bats and marsupials at night. Australianplants therefore are the centres of innumerablefood webs that provide for our local wildlife.Planting and retention of these ensure biodiversity, even insuburbia.The unnecessary and unfortunate removal of nativeplants, and their replacement by exotic plants for gardens,streets, roads and parkland, guarantees that fewer nativeanimals will inhabit our towns and cities of the future. Poorenvironmental decisions of the past and those of todayas to what to plant will impact upon our suburban nativewildlife for generations – possibly permanently.Plants with abundant nectar for honeyeaters includeeucalypts, corymbias, angophoras, callistemons,melaleucas, grevillias, banksias, hakeas and mistletoes.Others include Black Bean, Batswing Coral, native heaths,apple berries, kangaroo paws and Christmas Bells.Several species of honeyeater may live and feed in onearea, sometimes sharing flowers of the same plants, butusually feeding on flowers of certain species, andfrom particular levels within the habitat. Some seekfood near ground level and in low shrubs, some within themid-storey and others high in the canopy. Feeding occurswith boisterous chasing, squabbling and calling betweenmembers of the same or other species.

Nests of honeyeaters are shallow to deep cups hung fromor seated upon branches or twigs, from close to the groundto high in the canopy. They are made from a variety offibrous and other materials woven together – strips of bark,rootlets, grass, cobwebs, lichens, etc. Breeding is oftenopportunistic, occurring when conditions are favourable forsurvival, such as after good rain and when nectar yields andinsects are prolific. Breeding may occur from spring to lateautumn, usually between August and December.Some honeyeaters migrate north-south, moving northin the winter. Others migrate to coastal regions from theGreat Dividing Range in winter and stay until the warm earlysummer. Other species are essentially nomadic, followingthe flowering flushes of food plants. Some species andsome individual birds may stay throughout the year wherefood, water, shelter and breeding needs are provided (forexample, in well-planted native gardens).Why we need honeyeatersin our bush and gardens:• They bring a natural joy to our surroundings with theiruntiring activity, beauty and cheerful songs,• Honeyeaters assist pollination – many nativeflowers are adapted so that honeyeaters transfer pollento other plants of the species. Some groups of plants,such as many grevilleas and hakeas, rely especially onhoneyeaters for pollination.• Honeyeaters are major controllers of insectnumbers including insects that aggravatedieback in our native plants. All honeyeaters eatinsects, particularly before and during breeding. Somefeed mainly on insects and supplement this diet withnectar. Many catch insects on the wing; others seekinsects, their larvae and pupae among flowers, leaves,twigs and branches.

How to attract honeyeatersto our gardens:The three essential requirements for honeyeatersif they are to become permanent residents orregular visitors to our gardens are:Food – This can be totally supplied by retaining local bushland andgrowing a good variety of native plants in the garden, as street trees andin parkland. A variety of species is far better than a mono-culture. Becausewe are planting a majority of exotics that offer less insect food suitablefor honeyeaters and other small insect feeders, wildlife in suburbs isdecreasing.Water – A birdbath, a garden pool or dam for their drinking andbathing will encourage honeyeaters to stay and breed.Safety – Smaller honeyeaters (and other small birds) require refugefrom aggressive larger birds. Parkland, sports fields, streets, roadverges and gardens with lawns are attractive to the typically aggressivebirds of open spaces and forest edges – crows, currawongs, magpies,butcherbirds, noisy miners (themselves native honeyeaters) and maskedlapwings. We have increased the size and number of open spaces whenwe need to have smaller areas of lawn and more native plants in all levels– understorey, midstorey and canopy. Some prickly or thorny nativeplants in our gardens will provide refuge for smaller birds. Cats and dogsand imported Common (Indian) Mynahs are other reasons we have fewersmall birds such as honeyeaters in urban areas.

Supply of artificial foods isnot recommended as a way toattract honeyeaters to gardens.The provision of artificial foodfor honeyeaters may cause thefollowing problems:Malnutrition. Honey and sugar mixtures do not supplymany essential food substances and, if supplied regularlyand in anything but small amounts, can adversely affect thehealth of birds.Poisoning. Food mixtures left out too long, especially inhot weather, can become rancid and toxic.Overpopulation and dependency. Populationsof some species may become so high that, without constanthandouts, local natural food is insufficient, and many birdsdie if artificial feeding ceases.Pest species. Sparrows, Common (Indian) Mynahs,Spotted Turtledoves, rats and mice are some of theunwanted animals attracted to foods put out for nativeanimals.Decreased biodiversity. Constant supplies ofartificial food attract dominating species that drive thesmaller timid birds away - defeating the purpose forartificial feeding.Specially-formulated nectar foods from reputable produce shops,supplied in small quantities, will probably not upset naturalbalances or affect the health of the honeyeaters. However, theseartificial foods are not a substitute for gardens (or better, wholesuburbs) with a variety of many native plants that will supply foodcontinuously throughout the year.

Some local honeyeaters in detailNoisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)The Noisy Friarbird (also called Leather-head) is one of our largestand noisiest honeyeaters. They are particularly fond of the nectarof eucalypts, banksias and grevilleas and eat a range of insectson plants, and flying insects. Fruit is also eaten. They camp highin the canopy. In the morning after the repeated dawn (anddusk) call of ‘jacob’, they commence feeding with a cacophonyof rollicking ‘happy’ cackles as they hop about and hang in thefoliage or chase each other, other birds, and flying insects.In autumn they move from the mountains to the lowlands and flyhigh in groups as they move northward. They return in spring at amore leisurely pace, feeding in smaller groups as they go.Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)This is another of the larger honeyeaters. They are social birds thatfeed, roost, bathe and protect their territory as a group. They arefond of insects, catching them on the wing or collecting them inthe foliage. They are particularly fond of the caterpillars that feedon palm fronds. They also eat fruit and may do some damage inorchards.Blue-faced Honeyeatersbreed communally, usuallyclose to streams and wherethere is a supply of food,such as stands of floweringpaperbarks and eucalypts.They often use old nestsof other birds, especiallythose of the Grey-crownedBlue-faced HoneyeaterBabbler. The young have agreen cheek patch ratherthan blue.

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)Noisy Miners are often accused of ‘chasing little birds away’ frompeople’s gardens. This is unfair – small birds are attracted to andwill remain in gardens and parks that are more environmentallyfriendly.If lawn areas are smaller and all levels of vegetationoccur (groundcovers, understorey, mid-storey and canopy), andthere is a variety of native plants, a wider range of birds will befound. Cottage gardens of introduced plants, and mowed acreageblocks do not favour most native birds and other animals. NoisyMiners set up their communal groups in open spaces and edgesof vegetation and will defend these against other birds and mostother animals.Because they have a very varied diet, including nectar and otherplant juices, insects and their exudates (secretions), and fruit,they are common near playgrounds, picnic spots and barbecueareas where they eat human foods such as bread, honey, jam andbutter.The female builds the nest and then may attract as many as twodozen males to assist in the feeding of the young. Females andyoung beg to be fed by calling, ‘Mick, Mick, …’ ; thus the commonname, ‘Micky Bird’. Noisy Miners have a wide range of calls – amorning song before sunrise, other social contact calls, andspecific alarm calls for warning of particular dangers.Noisy Miner

Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)This is a bird that lives in and near rainforests. Its calls of rapidlyrepeated ‘toots’, at dawn and less frequently through the day,are typical of rainforest. Lewin’s Honeyeaters eat nectar, insectsand fruit, mostly from mid and upper canopies. They tend to besedentary, spending most of their time singly or in pairs in theirestablished territories, which they defend against others of theirkind and other honeyeaters. In winter the young of the previousseason usually move out to find new territories.Lewin’s Honeyeaters will become permanent members ofsuburban gardens if we grow a variety of small native rainforesttrees and shrubs. Suitable ones include myrtles (Austromyrtusspp.), plum myrtles (Pilidostigma spp.), Rhodamnia species,Native Guava, Blueberry Ash and lilly pillies. Nectar-producingplants such as callistemons, melaleucas, and grevilleas alsoattract Lewin’s Honeyeaters. They may eat some garden fruits.Lewin’s Honeyeater – artificial feeding of birds should be limited.Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanquinolenta)About the beginning of winter, this species, the smallest of ourhoneyeaters, moves down from the hills and mountains of theD’Aguilar Range to lower areas and stays until about November.Some also move up from the south at this time. As the breedingseason approaches, males sing their pretty tinkling song of aboutsix to eight notes, more often and more vigorously. Females uttera high-pitched chirp. She is not as colourful, lacking the scarletand black that make the male bird one of our most exquisitehoneyeaters.

The main food of the Scarlet Honeyeater is nectar, and this isprocured from flowering eucalypts (such as Grey Ironbark andQueensland Blue Gum), bottlebrush, paperbarks and banksias.Insects are also eaten, more so during the breeding season.The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs, her dullcolours making her less conspicuous. The colourful male is verynoticeable and advertises his presence to rival males by hisrepeated singing.Scarlet Honeyeater – many spend winter on the coast.Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris)Eastern Spinebills use their long bills and almost tube-liketongues for taking nectar. Tubular flowers are their specialty –appleberries (Billardeira), native heaths (Epacris), Christmas Bells(Blandfordia); and they are important pollinators of these plants.Eucalypts are also visited. If we grow these plants and nativessuch as grevilleas, banksias, hakeas, crinkle bush (Lomatia),kangaroo paws and geebungs we can encourage spinebills tothe garden. When feeding, usually alone, they flit audibly fromflower to flower, hovering in front of some flowers and hangingfrom twigs to suck the nectar. They spend most of their time inthe lower understorey. Though the adult diet is nectar and a fewinsects, they feed their young almost entirely on insects. The maleassists in the feeding of the young, and may also help a little innest construction and incubation.

In Pine Rivers we mostly observe Eastern Spinebills towards thewestern, more hilly and mountainous areas. They are commonat Mt Glorious and Mt Nebo. Some individual birds come to thelower and coastal areas in the cooler months, and return when itbecomes warmer.Sweet Apple BerryEastern Spinebill – adapted to tubular flowers.Some less-commonHoneyeaters of Pine RiversNew Holland HoneyeaterYellow-tufted HoneyeaterBrush (Little) Wattlebird

Honeyeatersof Pine RiversCommon Name Scientific Name CommentsRed WattlebirdBrush (Little)WattlebirdStriped HoneyeaterAnthochaeracarunculataAnthochaerachrysopteraPlectorhynchalanceolataRed wattles (fleshy lobes) on cheeks;eats nectar & insects; ‘chok’ soundsWattlebird, but lacks wattles; nectar& insect feeder; ‘chok’ soundsWarbling song; eats mostly fruit &insects, & some nectarNoisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus Large honeyeater; knob on bill; barehead; eats insects, nectar & fruitLittle Friarbird Philemon citreogularis Smallest of our friarbirds; no knobon bill; eats insects, nectar & fruitRegent Honeyeater Zanthomyza phrygia Rare honeyeater; metallic call; eatsmostly nectar, some insects & fruitBlue-facedHoneyeaterEntomyzon cyanotisLarge honeyeater. Young have greenface; eats mostly insectsBell Miner Manorina melanophrys Famed ‘bellbird’ – eats mainly scaleinsects & their sugary coatingNoisy MinerManorinamelanocephalaNative of open spaces & margins;eats mainly insects, & fruit & nectarLewin’s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii Rainforests and scrubby streams;eats fruit, nectar & insectsYellow-facedHoneyeaterMangroveHoneyeaterYellow-tuftedHoneyeaterFuscous HoneyeaterBlack-chinnedHoneyeaterWhite-throatedHoneyeaterWhite-napedHoneyeaterLichenostomuschrysopsLichenostomusversicolorLichenostomusmelanopsLichenostomusfasciogularisMelithreptus gularisMelithreptusalbogularisMelithreptus lunatusBreeds in south & migrates north inautumn; eats mainly nectar & insectsRestricted to mangrove and nearbyareasEucalypt forests; colonies often nearcreeksColonies in open forest, woodland;near creeksDrier areas of eucalypt woodland.Black centre line under chinBluish white above eye – Cf. WhitenapedHoneyeaterRed mark above eye – Cf. WhitethroatedHoneyeaterBrown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta A common garden bird. Plain olivegreyPainted Honeyeater Grantiella picta Eats mistletoe fruit – nomadic withfruitingNew HollandHoneyeaterWhite-cheekedHoneyeaterEastern SpinebillScarlet HoneyeaterPhylidonyrisnovaehollandiaePhylidonyris nigraAcanthorhynchustenuirostrisMyzomelasanquinolentaFeeds mostly in small trees & shrubsCoastal heaths & woodlands; esp.BanksiaAudibly flutters; long curved bill;feeds in the understoreyThe smallest of our honeyeaters

All honeyeaters eat nectar and insects. Nectar and pollen attractinsects. The amount and food value, and the attractiveness ofpollen and nectar to insects, all vary – with plant species, weatherconditions, and year to year. In natural bushland and where nativeplants are retained or planted, a continuous ’flow’ of nectar andpollen ensures that animals which feed on nectar, pollen andinsects are present throughout the year. The following chart showsthe annual food cycle for honeyeaters.Nectar & Pollen Flow of Trees and Shrubs of Pine Rivers(excluding rainforest species)n = minor nectar; N = medium nectar; N = major nectar;p = minor pollen; P = medium pollen; P = major pollen;- = nil nectar or nil pollen + = suitable for small gardensFlow Species Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec- P Hickory Wattle • • • • •N P Pink Bloodwood • • •n P Grey Mangrove •n P Soap Bush/Red Ash • • •N - Gum-topped Box • • •n P Blackbutt • • •N P Swamp Paperbark • • • • • •n P Flooded Gum • • •n p +Hill Banksia • • • • • • • • •N P +Coast Banksia • •- p Forest She Oak • •- P +Black She Oak • • • • • • •- P River She Oak • • • • • • •n P Broad-leaf Ironbark • • • • • • • • •- P +Early Black Wattle • • •n p Swamp Messmate • •n P Spotted Gum • • • •- P +Hairy Bush Pea • • • • •- P Late Black Wattle • • •- P +Brisbane Wattle • • •n P Qld Blue Gum • • • • •N p Grey Ironbark • • • • • •n p Scribbly Gum • • • •n P +Red Bottlebrush • • •n P +Dogwood • • •n P Tallowwood • • •N P Narrow-leaf Ironbark • • • • •n P +Ball Honey Myrtle • •- p Swamp She Oak • •n P White Bottlebrush • •N P Narrow-leaf Red Gum • • • •N P +Wild May • •N P River Mangrove • •n P Snow-in-Summer • •n P +Heath Myrtle • • •N P White Mahogany • • •N p Swamp Box • • •n p Moreton Bay Ash • • • •N P Red Stringybark • • • •n P +Wallum Bottlebrush • • • • • •n P Rusty Apple Gum • •N p Brush Box • •n P Broad-leaf Apple • •n P Smudgee • •n p +Swamp Banksia • • • • • •N P Silver-leaf Ironbark • • •n P Small-fruit Grey Gum • • •n p +Grass Tree species • • • • • • • • • • • •

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