The new holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) was the first bird to be scientifically described in Australia, and was initially named Certhia novaehollandiae (Latham 1781, 1790; for a general discussion, see Calaby 1999). The New Holland Honeyeater is found throughout southern Australia. It is around eighteen centimetres long, is mainly black, with a white iris, white facial tufts and yellow margins on its wing and tail feathers. It is a very active bird and it rarely sits long enough to give an extended view. When danger approaches a New Holland Honeyeater, such as a bird of prey, a group of Honeyeaters will form together and give a warning call. Sexes are similar in looks with the exception that females are, on average, slightly smaller. Younger Honeyeaters are mostly brown and have grey eyes.
The breeding behaviour of the New Holland Honeyeater has been relatively well documented. In southern and eastern Australia, breeding commonly occurs during autumn and spring, although certain coastal populations may breed at any time of the year given suitable conditions including sufficient food and absence of adverse weather. In Western Australia, New Holland Honeyeaters have been observed to breed once annually from July to November, when nectar is abundant (McFarland, 1985). They appear to be a socially monogamous bird with no sign of co-operative breeding, but this observation is yet to be examined genetically (McFarland, 1985). In breeding territories, males spend a large proportion of their time defending the nest and food resources, while the females invest a large proportion of their time in reproductive labour including nest construction, incubation, and a majority of the nestling care (McFarland, 1985; Clarke and Clarke, 1999). However, it is important to note that these roles are not completely strict (Lambert and Oorebeek, observation). It is also common for females to utilise food resources that are in close proximity to the nest, while males venture further afield, toward the outskirts of the territory. They primarily feed on nectar, although a large part of their diet may also consist of insects (Clarke and Clarke, 1999; Kleindorfer et al, 2006).
New Holland Honeyeaters obtain most of their carbohydrate requirements from the nectar of flowers. Subsequently, they are key pollinators of many flowering plant species, many of which are endemic to Australia such as Banksia, Hakea, Xanthorrhoea (Yacka), and Acacia. New Holland Honeyeaters may also consume honeydew, a sugary secretion produced by members of the family Psyllidae. Despite feeding primarily on nectar, New Holland Honeyeaters are not strictly nectarivorous. Nectar does not contain protein so New Holland Honeyeaters must supplement their diet with invertebrates such as spiders and crickets that are rich in protein. They sometimes feed alone but they usually gather in large groups.
There are currently 5 described subspecies of Phylidonyris novaehollandiae; novaehollandiae (South-eastern mainland Australia; Latham, 1790), canescens (Tasmania; Latham, 1790), Campbelli (Kangaroo Island, South Australia; Matthews, 1923), longirostris (Western Australia; Gould, 1846), and caudatus (Bass strait islands; Salomonsen, 1966).
Gallery
New Holland Honeyeater, 2005
New Holland Honeyeater, Lindisfarne, Tasmania
New Holland Honeyeater Nest & Eggs & Chicks, Western Australia
