White-cheeked Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris nigra) inhabit the east coast and the southwest corner of Australia. This Honeyeater has a large white patch on its cheek, a brown eye, and a yellow panel on its wing.
Description
The White-cheeked Honeyeaters is a medium-sized black and white honeyeater, with a long, sturdy bill that curves downwards. It has a large bright yellow tail and wing panels, with a large conspicuous white cheek patch on a mainly black head.
The eye is dark brown. Young birds are duller (brownish) and paler with softer, fluffier plumage. Gregarious, active, and noisy with swift, erratic flight.
- Minimum size: 16 cm Maximum size: 19 cmAverage size: 18 cm Average weight: 19.5 g
Similar species
The New Holland Honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, is very similar in size, shape, and appearance, but can be distinguished by its white eye. Other black and white honeyeaters are much smaller, including the Crescent (P. pyrrhoptera), Tawny-crowned (P. melanops), and White-fronted Honeyeaters (P. albifrons).
Although very similar In appearance, there is not much competition between White-cheeked and New Holland Honeyeaters, as they choose different perching sites and have different nesting seasons.
Distribution
The White-cheeked Honeyeater is endemic to eastern and south-western Australia, ranging from east of the Great Divide in Queensland through coastal New South Wales, becoming scattered south to Jervis Bay. Also in south-western Western Australia and from Perth northwards to Murchison River. Mostly resident or sedentary, with some seasonal movement at the edge of the range.
Habitat
The White-cheeked Honeyeater is usually found in moist heathlands, as well as around wetlands and in forests or woodlands with a heath under story. Found in both temperate and subtropical zones.
Found in parks, gardens, and flowering street trees throughout the range. Not afraid of humans and adapting easily to settlement activity, they are sometimes killed by cats.
Feeding
White-cheeked Honeyeaters feed mainly on flowers, foliage, bark, or in the air and mainly eat nectar, but also insects. They often feed in small groups and may feed beside New Holland Honeyeater groups.
Breeding
White-cheeked Honeyeaters pair monogamously for the breeding season, with males defending breeding territories that can be held for several years.
Males aggressively attack other birds of their own and other species during the breeding season, but not familiar birds such as their own mates, relatives, and resident neighbors.
There is not much competition between White-cheeked and New Holland Honeyeaters, as they choose different perching sites and have different nesting seasons.
The female builds a cup-shaped nest from twigs, bark, and other plant materials, lined with pieces of flowers (e.g. Banksias, Isopogons).
The nest is placed low in forked branches of trees or shrubs, often close to the ground, but well-concealed in dense foliage or in grass below shrubs and ferns. Both parents feed their young.
- Breeding season: All months, usually coincides with nectar availabilityClutch size: 1 to 3, usually 2Incubation: 15 daysTime in nest: 15 daysReferences Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. and Steele, W.K. (eds) 2001. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 5 (Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
