Bird guideWhite-plumed Honeyeater

The white-plumed honeyeater ( Ptilotula penicillata , formerly Lichenostomus penicillatus ) is a small passerine bird endemic to Australia .

⚠️Not listed
🌿Endemic to Australia

At a glance

FamilyHoneyeaters
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatFound in open woodlands as well as in parks and gardens, typically near water.
Best timeReported across most months in Victoria, with no narrow seasonal peak.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by Peter Boesman

Range map

Range map

8464visible hotspots
427294visible records
5states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Adults are primarily olive-gray with a yellow face. Breeding adults have an entirely black bill, whereas the bills of juveniles and nonbreeding adults have a yellow base. This species is widespread across mainland Australia but absent in the far north and the southwest.

Behavior

Found in open woodlands as well as in parks and gardens, typically near water. Females build a small, cup-shaped nest using grass and spider webs.

Regional timing

Western Australia
Peak: June to September8,853 records
New South Wales
Peak: September to November101,825 records
Queensland
Peak: May to September31,756 records
South Australia
Peak: July to November33,123 records
Northern Territory
Peak: June to October14,523 records
Victoria
Peak: January to December216,760 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: December to May19,997 records
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