Birds in Backyards

Yellow-throated Miner [archival image]. Yellow-throated Miner [archival image].
Photo: CE Bryant © Australian Museum

Distribution map of Manorina flavigula Distribution map of Manorina flavigula
Map © Birds Australia Birdata

Did you know?

Flocks of Yellow-throated Miners utter a musical, pre-dawn song.

Facts and figures

Research Species: No
Minimum size: 12 cm
Maximum size: 14 cm
Average size: 13 cm
Average weight: 53 g
Breeding season: July to December
Clutch size: Three to four

Calls

A piping 'pwee-pwee-pwe', similar to Noisy Miners; also harsh calls and chatter.

Conservation status

Federal - Secure
NSW - Secure
NT - Secure
Qld - Secure
SA - Secure
Tas - Not present
Vic - Secure
WA - Secure

Status of Australian Birds

Yellow-throated Miner

Scientific name: Manorina flavigula
Family: Meliphagidae
Order: Passeriformes

Featured Bird Groups
Honeyeaters

What does it look like?

Description

The Yellow-throated Miner is a medium-sized honeyeater, grey above from the crown to the tail, pale grey below with light brown scalloping on the breast to the white rump, with a black face, distinctive yellow forehead and sides of throat. The bare eye skin, bill, legs and feet are also yellow. The wings and tail edges are washed yellow, and the tail tips are white. This species is noisy and sociable, and may be aggressive towards other birds.

Similar species

The Yellow-throated Miner is very similar to the Noisy Miner, M. melanocephala, but has a grey rather than black crown, a white rump, and a yellow forehead and throat. The rare and endangered Black-eared Miner, M. melanotis, is so similar that it is hard to distinguish in the field, but it is extremely restricted in its distribution, while the Yellow-throated Miner is widespread.

Where does it live?

Distribution

The Yellow-throated Miner is found across mainland Australia, with the exception of the east coast south of central Queensland, Arnhemland and western Gulf of Carpentia, Cape York or the most arid parts of the interior.

Habitat

The Yellow-throated Miner is found in dry forests and woodlands, especially mallee. It is also seen in parks, gardens and farmlands.

Seasonal movements

Sedentary.

What does it do?

Feeding

The Yellow-throated Miner feeds on insects, nectar, berries and fruit, foraging at all levels of the canopy and on the ground. It usually forages in noisy flocks.

Breeding

The Yellow-faced Miner breeds communally and breeding pairs are often assisted by other members of the group. The losse, cup-shaped nest is built in a tree fork about 3 m to 6 m from the ground and is constructed from twigs and grasses, lined with wool, fur or feathers.

References

Longmore, N.W. 1991. The Honeyeaters and their Allies of Australia. Angus and Robertson and The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.

Simpson, K and Day, N. 1999. Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th Edition. Penguin Books, Australia.

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