White-plumed Honeyeater

The White-plumed Honeyeater, Ptilotula penicillata, is a small passerine bird endemic to Australia. Exhibiting no sexual dimorphism, both sexes share the same plumage. A distinctive white plume graces the side of the neck, while the head and neck are olive with a yellow eye-ring. The upperparts are grey-olive, and the underbody is light brown-grey with pale yellow streaks.

Identification Tips

Look for the conspicuous white neck plume, olive head, and yellow eye-ring. The cheeks and ear coverts are yellow-olive, and the upperwing coverts display a scalloped appearance due to their olive to yellow-olive tips. The bill and gape coloration vary with the breeding season, turning from black to orange-yellow or orange-brown.

Habitat

The White-plumed Honeyeater is found in open sclerophyll woodland, often near water sources such as wetlands, swamps, and creeks. It thrives in river red gum woodlands and riparian zones dominated by Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, or Casuarina species.

Distribution

This species is widespread across south-eastern Australia, extending into central and western regions where suitable habitats exist. It has undergone range expansion, now found in coastal areas and urban environments with native vegetation.

Behaviour

White-plumed Honeyeaters are gregarious, forming groups outside the breeding season. They exhibit territoriality, with increased song frequency during breeding. They may engage in communal defence against predators and have been observed forming hierarchies within captive populations.

Song & Calls

Their vocal repertoire includes a "chip-chip" contact call and a territorial song. During breeding, males perform a song flight display, singing while flying above the treetops.

Breeding

Breeding can occur throughout the year, with nests being small, cup-shaped structures woven from grasses and spider webs. Clutches usually consist of 2-3 eggs, with the female likely incubating alone. Both parents feed the nestlings.

Diet and Feeding

The diet is primarily nectar, insects, honeydew, lerp, and fruit. They forage by gleaning leaf surfaces with their brush-like tongues and may hawk insects in flight. In urban areas, they adapt their foraging behaviour to avoid competition.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the White-plumed Honeyeater as Least Concern. They are adaptable to suburban environments, which helps buffer against habitat loss.