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Singing HoneyeaterAlternate name(s): "Black-face Honeyeater", "Dairy-bird", "Grape-eater", "Grey Peter", "Forrest's Honeyeater" ![]() Size: 18-22 cm Weight: 20-39 g |
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Similar |
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See Singing
Honeyeater at Wikipedia ![]() |
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Photos |
Race "virescens"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cockburn, WA, April 2019]
Frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cockburn, WA, April 2019]
Near-frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Shark Bay, WA, May 2018]
Near-lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Shark Bay, WA, May 2018]
Lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Cook, SA, June 2016]
Lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater taking nectar
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Dorsal view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Lake Herdsman, Perth, WA, October 2022]
Race "sonorus"
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ADULT |
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PAIR |
Pair of Singing Honeyeaters at a local bird bath
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2023]
Sex unknown |
Close-up frontal portrait of an adult Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]
Close-up frontal portrait of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2021]
Close-up frontal portrait of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2021]
Close-up frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
Close-up near-frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2007]
Near-frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater straight out of the bathtub
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2017]
Near-lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]
Near-lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater issuing its contact call (a short,
high-pitched trill)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2012]
Lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]
Lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater looking for insects on the
underside of leaves
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2007]
Close-up lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater looking away from
the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2023]
Near-dorsal view of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2013]
Near-dorsal view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Arid Lands Botanical Garden, Port Augusta, SA, June 2022]
Dorsal view of a Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2022]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Close-up frontal view of a juvenile Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]
Close-up near-frontal view of a juvenile Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]
Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2011]
Frontal/ventral view of a fledgling Singing Honeyeater
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2008]
Fledgling Singing Honeyeater as it ventured out of its nest for
the first time; minutes later it flew into a nearby tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2008]
Race "forresti"
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ADULT |
Frontal view of an adult Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Desert Wildlife Park, Alice Springs, NT, July 2018]
Close-up frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]
Close-up frontal view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]
Frontal/ventral view of a Singing Honeyeater in a
grevillea
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[The Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, June 2015]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Victoria Highway, NT, September 2020]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tablelands Highway, NT, September 2021]
Close-up near-lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]
Close-up lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a juvenile Singing Honeyeater
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]
Lateral view of a fledgling Singing Honeyeater, left, with one
of its parents on the right (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Jul - Feb | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: 14 days | Fledging age: ca. 15 days |
Given the right conditions, Singing Honeyeaters can breed any time of the year.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Suspended basket | Material: Grass, webs | Height above ground: 0.5 - 5 |
Singing Honeyeater nest in an oleander bush
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2008]
The same Singing Honeyeater nest as above, with two chicks on the point
of leaving; they were already practicing their wingbeat when this photo
was taken - the next morning they were gone
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2008]
View of an incubating Singing Honeyeater on its nest in a
Callistemon
(bottlebrush) tree, where nest and bird are extremely well hidden;
the bird stayed on the nest while an Australian Raven, having
notice the activities going on in the tree, was just 2 m away,
looking for the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
From the eggs shown below, two Singing Honeyeater chicks grew that,
at about one week old, were still downy, with their eyes closed and
completely silent
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
From the eggs shown below, two Singing Honeyeater chicks grew that,
at about one week old, were still downy, with their eyes closed and
completely silent
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
Like many other bird species, in particular those that are being
predated on, Singing Honeyeaters keep their nest clean; after
feeding a chick, the parent bird sticks around to see whether
a back side is being lifted...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
... and if so, the poo bag is being disposed of immediately
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
Singing Honeyeater nestling sitting on the edge of the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
Singing Honeyeater hatchlings in their nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]
Singing Honeyeater hatchlings in their nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2018]
We have noticed that Singing Honeyeaters, not only when the nestlings
are near fledging age, approach the nest from high above and bend far
down to feed the chicks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 23 x 16 mm | Colour: Creamy, with tiny light-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
View from above into a Singing Honeyeater nest in a
Callistemon
(bottlebrush) tree with two eggs in it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]
View from above into a Singing Honeyeater nest in a
Callistemon
(bottlebrush) tree with two eggs in it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2018]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair |
At the two places where we live(d), we observe(d) an anti-coincidence of Singing Honeyeaters and White-plumed Honeyeaters.
Very rare sight: A Singing Honeyeater looking for insects under the
roof of our patio;
note the beautiful display of a passerine foothold
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]
This immature Singing Honeyeater (one can still see its yellow gape)
was exploring its mirror image in a window
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]
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Food, Diet |
Adults: Nectar, insects | Dependents: Insects | Water intake: Daily |
Like many other honeyeaters, Singing Honeyeaters do not exclusively feed on nectar, but take insects too. While previously we had seen them looking for insects in trees and bushes only, the photo below shows a bird foraging on our lawn - behaviour we do not regularly observe from honeyeaters.
Singing Honeyeater feeding in a
bottlebrush tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]
Singing Honeyeater feeding in a bottlebrush tree, here seen
from a different angle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]
Singing Honeyeater feeding from a
Grevillea flower
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2007]
Singing Honeyeater taking nectar from
Mistletoe
[Near Mungindi, NSW, June 2013]
Singing Honeyeater at full stretch hunting for insects in the bark of a tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2009]
Singing Honeyeater searching for insects on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
It was surprising to find Singing Honeyeaters, amongst other
honeyeater species, taking the fruit of this Pittosporum(?) shrub
[Near Bugilbone, NSW, May 2017]
Singing Honeyeater scavenging food from humans
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Shark Bay, WA, May 2018]
Close-up lateral view of a Singing Honeyeater scooping up water
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]
Singing Honeyeater drinking water from a shallow puddle
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Currawinya NP,
QLD, October 2008]
Singing Honeyeater drinking from a waterhole together with a
Striped Honeyeater,
centre, and a
White-eared Honeyeater,
back right
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2019]
Singing Honeyeater having a drink at a bird bath
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2008]
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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.
singhon_20170831.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Contact calls | © MD | |
singhon_20170912.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Modified contact calls(?) | © MD | |
singhon_20140324.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Contact call | © MD | |
singhon_20140107.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Contact call(?) | © MD | |
singhon_20140324_2.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Q&A | © MD | |
singhon_20140220_3.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Answer call | © MD | |
singhon_20160105.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Territorial calls? | © MD | |
singhon_20160123.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Territorial calls? | © MD | |
singhon_20210117.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Territorial calls (break of dawn) | © MD | |
singhon_20210117_2.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Territorial calls (break of dawn; long sequence) | © MD | |
singhon_20191216.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Alarm calls (Grey Butcherbird) | © MD | |
singhon_20200302.m4a |
cyanotis (NW NSW) |
Alarm calls (goanna) | © MD | |
blufhon_20200302.m4a |
cyanotis (NW NSW) |
Alarm calls (goanna; with Blue-faced Honeyeater) | © MD | |
singhon_20140203.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Warning call | © MD | |
singhon_20140715_3.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Warning calls | © MD | |
singhon_20200731.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Family foraging | © MD | |
singhon_20170427.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Defending food source | © MD | |
singhon_20140310.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Fighting in-flight | © MD | |
willie_20200120.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Interacting with Willie Wagtail | © MD | |
singhon_20200107.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Begging calls (juvenile) | © MD | |
singhon_20180122_2.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Parent at nest + begging nestlings | © MD | |
singhon_20180122_3.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Begging calls (nestlings) | © MD | |
singhon_20200413.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Various (family of 4) | © MD | |
singhon_20140307.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Various | © MD | |
singhon_20140206.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
? | © MD | |
singhon_20200211.m4a |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
? | © MD |

Below a recording of three different species of honeyeaters competing for territorial supremacy: First to call is a Singing Honeyeater, with answers from a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater and then also a pair of Striped Honeyeaters.
singhon_20150911.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Competing territorial calls | © MD |
We have also recorded the wing beat of a Singing Honeyeater.
singhon_20140715_7.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Weaving | © MD | |
singhon_20140715_4.mp3 |
sonorus (NW NSW) |
Squabbling (food competition) | © MD |
More Singing Honeyeater sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.