Bird Guide

New Holland Honeyeater vs White-cheeked Honeyeater

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

New Holland Honeyeater

Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

Small20 gShrubland

The bird is around 18 cm (7.1 in) 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 (<1 year old) have similar colouring but have grey eyes and a yellow gape and 'whiskers' near the nares.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Jinesh PS · CC0
White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris niger)

White-cheeked Honeyeater

Phylidonyris niger

Small18 gShrubland

The white-cheeked honeyeater is a medium-sized black and white honeyeater, with a long, sturdy bill that curves downwards. It has large bright-yellow tail and wing panels, with a large conspicuous white cheek-patch on a mainly black head. The eye is dark brown and it has a long, tapering, white brow-line. Young birds have a yellow gape and brow and the plumage is dusky or dull brownish. It is gregarious, active and noisy with swift, erratic flight. It is 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in) in length; males weigh 15.5–25 g (0.55–0.88 oz) and females 15.5–20 g (0.55–0.71 oz).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Stephen Barrell · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: New Holland Honeyeater and White-cheeked Honeyeater.