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18

White-cheeked Honeyeater

(Phylidonyris nigra)
Alternate name(s): "Moustached Honey-eater"
Aboriginal name(s): "gouldii": "bandin*"

Size: 16-18 cm
Weight: 16-25 g

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See White-cheeked Honeyeater at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "nigra"

ADULT

Sex unknown

This full-frontal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater shows that the cheek tufts can be erected (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]

Near-frontal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater
[Sawtell, NSW, August 2015]

Near-frontal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Fraser Island, QLD, September 2018]

Near-frontal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Fleming)
[Arakoon NP, near South West Rocks, NSW, January 2021]

Near-frontal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, January 2011]

Near-lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, February 2010]

Lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, January 2011]

Lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Yamba, NSW, January 2021]

Lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral view showing a White-cheeked Honeyeater's sticky tongue
[Hat Head NP, NSW, September 2011]

Close inspection of this lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater reveals that they have a split tongue
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Saltwater NP, NSW, February 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Fraser Island, QLD, September 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Fleming)
[Arakoon NP, near South West Rocks, NSW, January 2021]

Near-frontal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Fraser Island, QLD, September 2018]

Dorsal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, January 2011]

Pair of White-cheeked Honeyeaters (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]

Pair of White-cheeked Honeyeaters (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]

Race "gouldii"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater on a banksia (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Koondoola Reserve, Perth, WA, July 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater on a banksia (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Koondoola Reserve, Perth, WA, July 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater on a banksia (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Perth, WA, March 2022]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

White-cheeked Honeyeater claiming its territory from its vantage point on a banksia flower (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Koondoola Reserve, Perth, WA, July 2016]

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater feeding on the nectar of a banksia flower (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Koondoola Reserve, Perth, WA, July 2016]

Lateral view of a White-cheeked Honeyeater feeding on a banksia flower
[Myall Lakes NP, NSW, June 2009]

White-cheeked Honeyeater feeding head down on a banksia flower (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]

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.

whchhon_20150327_2.mp3 nigra
(NE NSW)
Contact call? © MD
whchhon_20150327.m4a nigra
(NE NSW)
Contact calls? © MD
whchhon_20150326.m4a nigra
(NE NSW)
Annoyed calls? © MD
whchhon_20150327_5.m4a nigra
(NE NSW)
Fighting over food source (with Little Wattlebird) © MD
whchhon_20150327_6.m4a nigra
(NE NSW)
Fighting over food source (with Little Wattlebird) © MD
whchhon_20140525_3.mp3 nigra
(NE NSW)
Various © MD
whchhon_20140525_7.mp3 nigra
(NE NSW)
Various © MD
whchhon_20150327_4.m4a nigra
(NE NSW)
? © MD

More White-cheeked 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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.