Yellow-throated Honeyeater
(Photography by Dave Watts)Description
The endemic Yellow-throated Honeyeater is a common resident throughout Tasmania. It is a medium sized bird, up to 210mm, with olive-green colouring on the wings and back and speckled yellow-grey underparts. The dark grey crown and face contrasts with a rich yellow chin and throat.
Females are smaller than males.
Young birds are very similar to adults, but duller overall.
Habitat
Usually seen singly or in pairs, often foraging on
the trunks or foliage of large trees. Its preferred habitat is wet and dry eucalypt forest, alpine woodland and coastal heath. It is also commonly seen in gardens and parks.
Diet
The
Yellow-throated Honeyeater feeds mainly on seasonally available insects and nectar, and
occasionally on fruit and seeds. It feeds at all levels of the canopy,
foraging on foliage, bark and flowers for insects and nectar.
Breeding
Males hold territories year-round,
defending them against others of their own species as well as other
birds – particularly other honeyeaters. The species breeds from August to December, and lays two to three spotted pinkish eggs in a cup-shaped nest made from closely woven grass, bark and spider-web, and is
lined with fur or hair collected from live
animals - including humans! The nest, which is built by the female, is usually within a metre of the ground amongst dense shrubs. The male will feed nestlings if the female starts a second brood.
Call
Its call is a loud, metallic "tonk tonk tonk".
Distribution
Found in suitable habitat throughout Tasmania.