New Holland honeyeater
The New Holland honeyeater is a honeyeater species found throughout southern Australia. It was among the first birds to be scientifically described in Australia, and was initially named Certhia novaehollandiae.
Taxonomy
The New Holland honeyeater was formally described in 1790 by the English ornithologist [John John Latham (ornithologist)|Latham (ornithologist)|John Latham]. He placed it with the tree creepers in the genus Certhia and coined the binomial name Certhia novaehollandiae. Latham based his account on the "New Holland Creeper" that had been described and illustrated by the Irish surgeon John White in his Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales. The New Holland honeyeater is now one of three species placed in the genus Phylidonyris that was introduced in 1830 by René Lesson.Five subspecies are recognised:P. n. novaehollandiae – southeast Queensland to southeast South Australia P. n. caudatus Salomonsen, 1966 – Bass Strait islands P. n. canescens – Tasmania P. n. campbelli – Kangaroo Island P. n. longirostris – southwest Western Australia
Description
The bird is around long and 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 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. Young New Holland honeyeaters have similar colouring but have grey eyes and a yellow gape and 'whiskers' near the nares. They appear to be a socially monogamous bird with no sign of co-operative breeding, but this observation is yet to be examined.Behaviour
Breeding
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.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. However, these roles are not completely strict. 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.