White-fronted Honeyeater
Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum
White-fronted Honeyeater.
Photo: B Ravich © B Ravich
Distribution map of Phylidonyris albifrons
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
White-fronted Honeyeater
Scientific name: Phylidonyris albifrons
Family: Meliphagidae
Order: Passeriformes
- Featured Bird Groups
- Honeyeaters
What does it look like?
Description
The White-fronted Honeyeater is a medium-sized honeyeater with a white face mask and 'moustache', a long, strong, curved bill and has a grey cheek patch. The throat and upper chest is black to brown, speckled white, the back is dark brown and the underparts are white, streaked black, with a reddish-brown streaked rump and brown grey undertail. There is a small pink-red eye spot behind the red-brown eye and the brown wings have yellow panels. Young birds resemble adults but are paler and lack the bold face markings.
Similar species
While adult White-fronted Honeyeaters are hard to confuse with other species, the young may be confused with female or young Crescent Honeyeaters, P. pyrrhoptera. However, they tend to be darker, with a prominent dark 'bib' and more streaking on the underbody, and have very different calls.
Where does it live?
Distribution
The endemic White-fronted Honeyeater is found throughout western New South Wales, western Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, mainly in the arid and semi-arid zones. It may also be found at scattered sites in the Northern Territory and is a rare visitor to the western arid zone of Queensland.
Habitat
The White-fronted Honeyeater is found in arid and semi-arid shrublands and woodlands, especially mallee and acacia scrubs. May be found in semi-arid coastal areas, such as the Great Australian Bight. Is occasionally found in dry open forests and woodlands, and may be found along roadsides and occasionally in gardens.
Seasonal movements
HIghly mobile and seasonal visitor to some areas, in association with flowering of food plants.
What does it do?
Feeding
The White-fronted Honeyeater feeds mainly on nectar, but also on insects and sometimes honeydew. It forages mainly at flowers in trees and shrubs, and may be seen feeding in mixed flocks with other honeyeaters e.g. Brown, Singing or Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters.
Breeding
The White-fronted Honeyeater may breed semi-colonially, with a large number of nesting pairs in same area. The female builds the cup-shaped nest low in a small shrub, on top of a stump or in a clump of spinifex. The nest is woven from grass, bark, stems, spider web and roots, and is lined with plant down, wool, grasses, fur, cotton threads or paper. The female incubates the eggs and brood the young, with both parents feeding them. Nest predators include the Western Brown Snake. Nests may be parasitised by Pallid Cuckoos or Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos.
References
Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. and Steele, W.K. (eds) 2001. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 5 (Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Morcombe, M. 2000. Field guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing.
Simpson, K and Day, N. 1999. Field guide to the birds of Australia, 6th Edition. Penguin Books, Australia.