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New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) Alternate name(s): "Yellow-winged Honeyeater", "White-bearded Honey-eater", "Jewbird", "White-eyed Honeyeater" Aboriginal name(s): "longirostris": "bandin*", "woorening" Size: 17-19 cm Body mass: 18-28 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description New Holland Honeyeaters are small nectar-eating birds. They have short eyebrows that start behind the eyes and a small white patch on the ear coverts, plus small white spots on the sides of the throat. Otherwise the head and throat are black. The front is white with bold black streaking, the back is dark-grey with some white streaking and a brownish tinge on the rump. The flight feathers and the outer tail feathers have bright-yellow edges. This gives the folded wings a bright yellow spot when perched. The tail is grey, with a broad white terminal band on the underside. The irises are off-white. The long, slightly down-curved bill is black. The legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have more brownish colours and a yellow gape. Twitcher's tip Compared with White-cheeked Honeyeaters, they have darker cheeks and lighter eyes.

Taxonomy, classification See New Holland Honeyeater at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the New Holland Honeyeater is available HERE . New Holland Honeyeaters are endemic to Australia. In total there are five races of New Holland Honeyeaters in Australia. Nominate race "novaehollandiae" is found along the South and East coast of the continent, from Eyre peninsula, SA, via the south-eastern corner of SA and most of VIC, through the coastal fringe and Great Dividing Range of NSW into southern QLD, to just North of Brisbane. In Tasmania there is race "canescens", whereas race "caudata" is found on the smaller islands along Bass Strait. Race "campbelli" exists only on Kangaroo Island, SA. Race "longirostris" is found in the south-western corner of WA, including the Perth area. New Holland Honeyeaters can be found in coastal woodland and also heath. They have a preference for coastal banksias. Compared to White-cheeked Honeyeaters they are usually found in denser vegetation.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "novaehollandiae" New Holland Honeyeaters, race "novaehollandiae", were first reported to us by C. Kellenberg, who spotted them at Gillards Beach, Mimosa Rocks NP, NSW, in February 2009. In subsequent years New Holland Honeyeaters, race "novaehollandiae", were found by us in various locations along the NSW coast, mostly in low growth, such as heath, in particular in and around coastal banksias and other flowering shrubs. In some such favourable habitats they were found by us in abundance. In July 2009 New Holland Honeyeaters, race "novaehollandiae", were spotted in various locations in southern QLD, in particular in coastal areas, but also as far West as Girraween NP. R. Plumtree reports spotting New Holland Honeyeaters, race "novaehollandiae", occasionally near Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. They were found breeding there in December 2014 and again in the 2019 season. M. Eaton reports spotting New Holland Honeyeaters, race "novaehollandiae", at the Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, in October 2017. Race "longirostris" J. Greaves reports spotting New Holland Honeyeaters, race "longirostris", occasionally in various locations in south-western WA, e.g. at Albany, WA, in January 2015 and again in February 2018, at Manjimup, WA, in March 2015, in Bunker Bay, WA, in May 2015, and in Balingup, WA, in May 2016. M. Eaton found New Holland Honeyeaters, race "longirostris", at Margaret River, WA, in April 2019. C. Pears reports finding New Holland Honeyeaters, race "longirostris", regularly in Quindalup, WA. They are also regularly found in various locations in Perth, WA. Race "canescens" D. Wilczynska reports spotting New Holland Honeyeaters, race "canescens", in St. Helens, TAS, in April 2015. B. Hensen spotted a New Holland Honeyeater, race "canescens", on Bruny Island, TAS, in March 2016. M. Eaton found New Holland Honeyeaters, race "canescens", at both Port Arthur, TAS, and along the Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, in April 2021. Another was found at St. Helens, TAS, in September 2021. C. Pears found a New Holland Honeyeater, race "canescens", at Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, TAS, in January 2023. Race "campbelli" J. Greaves reports spotting New Holland Honeyeaters, race "campbelli", at Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016.

Photos

Race "novaehollandiae"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Full-frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater shaking out its plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Sydney, NSW, June 2017]

Full-frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking sideways
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Frontal/ventral view of a New Holland Honeyeater on top of a coastal banksia looking sideways
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Near-frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a New Holland Honeyeater
[Central Coast, NSW, July 2009]

Near-lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking at the observer
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Close-up lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater issuing a warning call
[Central Coast, NSW, July 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy C. Kellenberg)
[Gillards Beach, Mimosa Rocks National Park, NSW, February 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, October 2017]

Dorsal view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking sideways
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]

Dorsal view of a New Holland Honeyeater
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, July 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Frontal view of a juvenile New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Frontal view of a begging juvenile New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Alpine Highway, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Alpine Highway, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2019]

Frontal view of a fledgling New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2019]

Race "longirostris"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Arpenteur NR, near Albany, WA, February 2018]

Near-frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Close-up near-lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, November 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Margaret River, WA, April 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2025]

Close-up lateral view onto the upperparts of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, October 2024]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, October 2024]

Dorsal view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, November 2024]

Dorsal view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, November 2022]

Race "canescens"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

Frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater taking a bath (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]

Near-lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. Helens, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port Arthur, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bruny Island, TAS, March 2016]

Race "campbelli"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater looking away from the observer
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Lateral/ventral view of a New Holland Honeyeater (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Karatta, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 14 - 15 days

Fledging age: 13 - 15 days

New Holland Honeyeaters usually breed when nectar-bearing plants are flowering; apart from their core breeding season, as stated above, they can also breed from March to May. In good conditions they can have more than one brood per season.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Twigs, grass, bark, with plant down and feather lining

Height above ground: 1 - 5 m

View from above into a(n abandoned) New Holland Honeyeater nest (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, October 2022]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 21 x 15 mm

Colour: Creamy, with chestnut to dark-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Closer look at the 2 eggs in a New Holland Honeyeater nest (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, October 2022]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Food, Diet

Like many other honeyeaters, New Holland Honeyeaters do not exclusively feed on nectar, but take insects and spiders too.

Frontal view of a New Holland Honeyeater feeding on the nectar of a grevillea flower (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Balingup, WA, May 2016]

Close-up lateral views of a New Holland Honeyeater feeding on the nectar of a coastal banksia
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2009]

Lateral view of a New Holland Honeyeater feeding on the nectar of a Callistemon (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, October 2022]

Dorsal view of a New Holland Honeyeater feeding on the nectar of a Callistemon (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Quindalup, WA, October 2025]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

newhhon_20150810.m4a	novaehollandiae (E NSW)	Contact call?	© MD
newhhon_20150611_6.m4a	novaehollandiae (E NSW)	Annoyed	© MD
newhhon_20150611_7.m4a	novaehollandiae (E NSW)	Annoyed	© MD
newhhon_20150611_5.mp3	novaehollandiae (E NSW)	Begging calls?	© MD
newhhon_20150817.m4a	novaehollandiae (NE NSW)	Various (mob)	© MD
newhhon_20150611_2.m4a	novaehollandiae (E NSW)	? (mob)	© MD
newhhon_20150611_3.m4a	novaehollandiae (E NSW)	? (mob)	© MD
newhhon_cp_20260621.m4a	longirostris (SW WA)	Contact call?	© CP
newhhon_cp_20260621_2.m4a	longirostris (SW WA)	Contact calls? (Q&A)	© CP
newhhon_cp_20260811.m4a	longirostris (SW WA)	Warning calls?	© CP
newhhon_cp_20260725.m4a	longirostris (SW WA)	?	© CP
newhhon_cp_20260811_2.m4a	longirostris (SW WA)	?	© CP
newhhon_me_20210927.m4a	canescens (TAS)	Contact calls? (Q&A)	© ME

More New Holland Honeyeater sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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