Strong-billed Honeyeater

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.