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18

White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus) Alternate name(s): "Lunulated Honeyeater", "Blackcapped Honeyeater*", "Blackcap*" Aboriginal name(s): Race "chloropsis": "djiok*", "berilberil*", "djinki", "bongin" (WA) Size: 13-15 cm Weight: 11-20 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 White-naped Honeyeaters are very small nectar-eating birds. Their front, from the throat down to the undertail coverts, is all-white. Only on the shoulders there are black patches connecting to the black head and neck. They have a white band across the nape of the neck. Race "lunatus" has red skin patches above the eyes, while in race "chloropsis" these are white. The back is olive-green with a yellowish hue. The flight feathers are dark-grey, with a narrow olive leading edge. The irises are dark-brown. The slightly down-curved bill is black, while the legs and feet are the colour of skin. Juveniles have a more brownish crown.

Taxonomy, classification See White-naped Honeyeater at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information Some sources treat White-naped Honeyeaters, "Melithreptus lunatus chloropsis" as a separate species, named "Gilbert's Honeyeater" ("Melithreptus chloropsis").

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 White-naped Honeyeater is available HERE . White-naped Honeyeaters are endemic to Australia. There are two races of White-naped Honeyeaters. Nominate race "lunatus" occurs along the South and East coast and the Great Dividing Range of Australia, from Adelaide, SA, via southern VIC and eastern NSW, well into QLD. Occasionally they are also found in the Murray River catchment in VIC/NSW. In QLD White-naped Honeyeaters are not found on the coastline itself, but in the hills and tablelands of the Great Dividing Range, upt to about Atherton, QLD. Race "chloropsis" lives only on the tip of south-western WA, including Perth. White-naped Honeyeaters can be found in open forest and woodland. We have seen them in box gums and Swamp Mahogany, usually near watercourses.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "lunatus" White-naped Honeyeaters, race "lunatus", were first seen by us in the Nandewar Range near Barraba, NSW, in October 2006. Then they were also spotted in Warrumbungle NP, 30 km West of Coonabarabran, NSW, in November 2006. This is the farthest West White-naped Honeyeaters, race "lunatus", will extend their range. In May 2012 we spotted two White-naped Honeyeaters, race "lunatus", on the western fringe of Mt. Kaputar NP, 40 km East of Narrabri, NSW. Seen at the same location again in September 2013. In July 2009 we spotted White-naped Honeyeaters, race "lunatus", in Girraween NP, southern QLD, feeding on banksia flowers. We spotted White-naped Honeyeaters, race "lunatus", in Oxley Wild Rivers NP, NSW, in August 2015. More were spotted by us in June 2011 in various locations along the NSW Central Coast, including e.g. Munmorah SCA. In October 2016 we spotted White-naped Honeyeaters, race "lunatus", in Wollemi NP, NSW. M. Eaton reports finding White-naped Honeyeaters, race "lunatus", at Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, in August 2017. Another was found at Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, in May 2020. M. Mearns found White-naped Honeyeaters, race "lunatus", in a rural garden in Kingaroy, QLD, in January 2020. M. Windeyer found a White-naped Honeyeater, race "lunatus", in the Pilliga scrub in September 2020. Race "chloropsis" J. Greaves reports spotting a White-naped Honeyeater, race "chloropsis", at Albany, WA, in January 2015.

Photos

Race "lunatus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a White-naped Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill SF, near Anstead, QLD, August 2017]

Lateral view of a White-naped Honeyeater looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hillview Court Reserve, Dayboro, QLD, May 2020]

Lateral view of a White-naped Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, March 2018]

Lateral view of a White-naped Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

Lateral view of a wet White-naped Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill SF, near Anstead, QLD, August 2017]

Lateral view of a White-naped Honeyeater
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2011]

This photo shows clearly why White-naped Honeyeaters deserve their name
[Munmorah SCA, NSW, June 2011]

Note the comparatively short bill of White-naped Honeyeaters compared with other types of honeyeaters
[Girraween NP, QLD, July 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a White-naped Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

Soaking wet White-naped Honeyeater (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

White-naped Honeyeater drying its plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile White-naped Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2018]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile White-naped Honeyeater (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2018]

Race "chloropsis"

This race is also called "Gilbert's Honeyeater", "Swan River Honeyeater" or the "Western White-naped Honeyeater".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a White-naped Honeyeater; note the white eye-skin characterising the bird as race "chloropsis" (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

White-naped Honeyeater foraging for insects (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Jan

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 14 days

Fledging age: 14 - 16 days

White-naped Honeyeaters usually breed twice per season.

Nest

"bungobittah", "malunna" = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Suspended basket

Material: Bark fibres, grass stems, webs

Height above ground: 3 - 15 m

White-naped Honeyeater collecting nesting material; again the characteristic white nape is clearly visible
[Near Barraba, NSW, October 2006]

White-naped Honeyeater still tearing away...
[Near Barraba, NSW, October 2006]

... until it gets entangled in the stuff
[Near Barraba, NSW, October 2006]

Eggs

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

Size: 20 x 14 mm

Colour: Light-brown, with brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Food, Diet

Adults: Nectar, insects

Dependents: Insects

Water intake: Daily

White-naped Honeyeaters feed mostly on nectar, e.g. from Swamp Mahogany trees and various box gums. We have also seen them taking lerps.

This White-naped Honeyeater has found a fair-sized larva (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Albany, WA, January 2015]

Two White-naped Honeyeaters foraging for lerps in a eucalypt tree
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2012]

Close-up view of a White-naped Honeyeater foraging for lerps...
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2012]

... with success! White-naped Honeyeater with its catch
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2012]

This White-naped Honeyeater was hunting, probably for insects, in an eucalypt tree when its calls were recorded
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, April 2014]

The caterpillar tried to put up resistance, but the White-naped Honeyeater inevitably won the contest
[Oxley Wild Rivers NP, NSW, August 2015]

White-naped Honeyeater approaching a waterhole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Durikai SF, near Warwick, QLD, August 2017]

White-naped Honeyeater drinking at a waterhole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Moggill Forest Reserve, near Anstead, QLD, August 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.

wnaphon_20140402_5.mp3	lunatus (NW NSW)	Annoyed call	© MD
wnaphon_20140402.mp3	lunatus (NW NSW)	?	© MD

More White-naped 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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