Yellow-tufted Honeyeater

The Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Lichenostomus melanops, is a striking passerine bird endemic to the south-east ranges of Australia. Exhibiting a predominantly black and yellow plumage, this honeyeater is a visual delight with its bright yellow forehead, crown, and throat, complemented by a glossy black facial mask and resplendent golden ear-tufts. The back transitions from olive-green to olive-brown on the wings and tail, while the underparts are tinged with olive-yellow.

Identification Tips

To identify the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, look for the distinctive bright yellow tufts on the head and the contrasting black mask. The bird's bill and gape are black, eyes are brown, and legs are grey-brown. Females are generally smaller than males, and the species ranges in length from 17 to 23 cm.

Habitat

This species thrives in dry open sclerophyll forests and woodlands, where eucalypts dominate and shrubby undergrowth abounds. It also frequents mallee, brigalow, and cypress-pine habitats.

Distribution

The Yellow-tufted Honeyeater can be found from south-east Queensland through eastern New South Wales and across Victoria.

Behaviour

A noisy and active bird, the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater is often seen in colonies ranging from a few individuals to a hundred. It is known for aggressively defending territories around flowering trees.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of this species is varied, including a warbled "tui-t-tui-t-tui", a whistled "wheit-wheit", a sharp "querk", and a harsh contact-call "yip" or "chop-chop".

Breeding

Breeding season spans from July to March, peaking from September to January. The species may produce one or two broods each season. Nests are cup-shaped, crafted from dried grasses and plant material, and suspended in dense vegetation. Clutches typically consist of two or three pinkish eggs, blotched with pale reddish- or buff-brown.

Diet and Feeding

The diet is primarily composed of arthropods, including insects, spiders, and occasionally snails. The Yellow-tufted Honeyeater also feeds on lerps, honeydew, nectar, sap flows from eucalypts, and sometimes fruit and flowers.

Conservation status

The Yellow-tufted Honeyeater is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, the helmeted honeyeater subspecies (L. m. cassidix) is endangered and critically endangered in certain regions, prompting specific conservation actions for its recovery.