White-Plumed Honeyeater
These active little birds are constantly moving between trees and shrubs as they search for food. This one paused briefly to enjoy a blooming bottle brush, allowing this photo to be captured.
Physical Appearance
The White-Plumed Honeyeater is a medium-sized honeyeater, measuring around 15–17 cm. It has yellowish-olive to grey upperparts, pale brown-grey underparts and a yellowish head. Its most distinctive feature is the white plume of feathers on the sides of its neck, which gives the species its name. Males are slightly larger than females, while young birds are duller and have less prominent neck plumes.
Habitat
The White-Plumed Honeyeater is found across much of mainland Australia, inhabiting open forests and woodlands, particularly around waterways and wetlands. It is strongly associated with River Red Gums, which provide important habitat and food. It has also adapted well to urban environments and can be found in remnant bushland, parks and gardens.
Behaviour
Diet: White-Plumed Honeyeaters feed mainly on nectar, insects and insect products such as lerp and honeydew. They also eat manna, fruit and some seeds, usually foraging among leaves and flowers high in trees and shrubs.
Active birds: These honeyeaters are highly active and constantly move from tree to tree with rapid, darting movements. They may forage alone or in groups and occasionally catch insects in the air or feed on the ground.
Calling: They are one of the first birds to call in the morning and one of the last to stop calling in the evening.
Breeding
Nesting: During the breeding season, males perform song flights above the treetops, singing before diving steeply back into the trees. Females build small cup-shaped nests using grass and spider web, usually high in the crown of a tree. The nests are lined with wool, hair or feathers.
Parental care: The female incubates the eggs, while both parents feed the young. Other birds may sometimes help to raise the chicks.
Breeding period: Anytime, but mainly August to December.
