The banded honeyeater is a species of honeyeater in the family Meliphagidae with a characteristic narrow black band across its white underparts. It is endemic to tropical northern Australia.
Region
Northern Australia
Typical Environment
Occurs across the monsoonal tropics from the Kimberley and Top End to the Gulf Country and occasionally Cape York Peninsula. Prefers open eucalypt and paperbark woodlands, riparian corridors, and tropical savanna with abundant flowering trees. Frequently visits Melaleuca and Eucalyptus during peak blossom and may use coastal mangroves and town parks with nectar sources. It shifts locally and seasonally following nectar availability. Nests are placed in lightly wooded areas near water or flowering stands.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small, striking honeyeater of tropical northern Australia, it is named for the narrow black band across its otherwise white underparts. It is highly mobile, moving locally to track flowering eucalypts and paperbarks. During good blossom years it can appear in numbers, then become scarce when flowers are few.
Temperament
active and mobile
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with agile sallying between flowering trees
Social Behavior
Often seen singly or in small, loose groups and readily joins mixed-species flocks at flowering trees. Breeding is timed to peak nectar periods; the nest is a small cup suspended from fine branches. Pairs defend a small area around rich nectar sources but are otherwise tolerant of conspecifics.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Calls are thin, piping, and slightly metallic, interspersed with soft chattering notes. Song bouts intensify around active flowering trees and during early morning.
Plumage
Clean white underparts with a narrow black breast band, contrasting darker upperparts, and a sleek, neat appearance typical of honeyeaters.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, and Grevillea, using its slender curved bill to probe flowers. Supplements its diet with small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught on short sallies. Will also take sugary exudates such as lerp and occasionally small fruits when available.
Preferred Environment
Most often forages in the canopy and upper midstory of flowering trees, especially along watercourses and woodland edges. It also visits gardens and parks where suitable nectar plants are present.
