New Holland Honeyeater

Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

A striking black-and-white songbird with a distinctive yellow wing patch, this feisty nectar-lover is a common sight in Australian gardens and woodlands.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The New Holland Honeyeater is a striking small bird with bold black and white plumage. Its back, wings, and tail are black with white edges, while the underparts are white with fine black streaks. A distinctive yellow patch on the wing and a white iris stand out against the black head.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles having duller plumage and brown eyes. The bird's slender, slightly curved bill is well-adapted for nectar feeding.

Size

Length

16cm to 20cm

Wingspan

22cm to 26cm

Weight

17g to 23g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White Yellow

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The New Holland Honeyeater can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The New Holland Honeyeater can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The New Holland Honeyeater can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The New Holland Honeyeater is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

New Holland Honeyeaters are found across southern Australia, including Tasmania, and parts of southeastern Australia. They inhabit various environments, including coastal heathlands, woodlands, forests, and urban gardens with native plants.

While primarily sedentary, some populations in cooler regions may undertake local movements in search of food during winter. They are common in many urban and suburban areas where native plants are present.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a New Holland Honeyeater. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons