Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Strong-billed Honeyeater (Melithreptus validirostris)
Strong-billed Honeyeater

Strong-billed Honeyeater

Melithreptus validirostris

The Strong-billed Honeyeater, a mid-sized bird of the Meliphagidae family, measures between 16.5 and 17.5 cm in length. It presents an olive-brown coloration on its upper parts and a pale grey-brown underside. The species is distinguished by its black head, nape, and throat, accented with a pale blue to off-white patch above the eye and a white crescent on the nape.

Identification Tips

Adults can be identified by their robust bill and the striking contrast between their black head and the white nape crescent. Juveniles exhibit a brownish crown, a lemon-tinged nape, and an orange base of the bill, which can aid in distinguishing them from mature birds.

Habitat

The Strong-billed Honeyeater is typically found in temperate forests, favoring mature woodlands with large trees, such as Eucalyptus regnans and E. delegatensis.

Distribution

This species is endemic to Tasmania, where it resides in suitable forest habitats across the island.

Behaviour

The Strong-billed Honeyeater is an adept forager, primarily seeking insects and other invertebrates on tree trunks. It supplements its diet with nectar and fallen fruit. It tends to forage in different areas and on different substrates compared to the Black-headed Honeyeater, thus reducing direct competition.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of this bird include a loud "cheep cheep" and a churring sound, which can be heard echoing through its forest habitat.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from September to January, with the possibility of one or two broods within this period. The nest is a well-constructed bowl of grasses and bark, situated in the fork of a tall eucalypt. Eggs are buff-pink, shiny, and sparsely spotted with red-brown, measuring about 22 x 17 mm.

Similar Species

While there are other black-headed species in the genus Melithreptus, the Strong-billed Honeyeater can be differentiated by its larger size and the distinct white crescent on its nape.

Diet and Feeding

The Strong-billed Honeyeater's diet is insectivorous, focusing on tree-trunk foraging, but it also consumes nectar and fruit, which provides a varied diet throughout the year.

Conservation Status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Strong-billed Honeyeater as Vulnerable, indicating that the species faces a high risk of endangerment in the wild.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Strong-billed Honeyeaters on Birda

Photos

More Honeyeaters

A photo of a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Acanthagenys rufogularis
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Abi.M
Awesome App
I really enjoy using this app! It is such a friendly community of bird-lovers who are happy to help if I need ID advice. It’s been great motivation to get outdoors and go birding more! 10/10 😍😍
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.