White-plumed Honeyeater: a year-round resident

The White-plumed Honeyeater is one of the birds that call first in the morning and the last to call in the evening. It is commonly seen along the red gum lined waterways and associated parks and gardens throughout our district, flitting around the canopies of trees and shrubs. The White-plumed Honeyeater is a medium-sized honeyeater with a slightly down-curved bill. It is yellowish-olive above, pale brown-grey below, with a yellowish head and a distinctive white neck-plume, giving the bird its name. The males are slightly larger than the females, but the sexes are otherwise similar. The young are duller, with less distinct plumes and a paler bill. They are often seen in small groups, constantly moving from tree to tree with rapid darting movements. They are the only local honeyeater with a white neck-plume. The Fuscous Honeyeater, another similarly sized honeyeater has yellow neck-plumes. The White-plumed Honeyeater is found in open forests and woodlands across mainland Australia, often near water and wetlands. It is absent in arid regions unless water is artificially supplied (e.g. dams for stock). Their distribution is usually linked to River Red Gums, although they are also found in remnant bushland in urban areas, as well as parks and gardens. The White-plumed Honeyeater feeds actively from leaves and flowers in the crowns of trees and in shrubs, on nectar, insects and secretions from plants and insects like lerps, and honeydew. They can also feed on flying insects or forage on the ground. During the breeding season, male White-plumed Honeyeaters make several 'song flights' throughout the day above the treetops (10m-20m above ground) while singing a distinct song, before diving steeply into nearby tree. Females build a small cup-shaped nest in the crown of a tree from up to 20m off the ground. It is woven from grass and spiders web and lined with wool, hair or feathers. Females incubate the eggs but both parents feed the young, sometimes with the assistance of helpers. Two to three clutches are laid each year. We are fortunate locally that they are still very common, primarily because of the many red gum lined waterways throughout our region. At times, in limited areas, when their numbers are strong, they are known to harass and compete with smaller birds like thornbills and fantails for the available habitat.

White-plumed Honeyeater: a year-round resident

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