The striped honeyeater is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae, found in Australia. It is a medium-sized honeyeater, about 23 cm (9.1 in) in length. Both sexes are a light greyish brown with dark brown centres to the feathers, which give the appearance of stripes. The stripes are particularly distinct on the head and back of the neck. While it is found mainly in inland eastern Australia where it inhabits the drier open forest, it is also found in coastal swamp forest from southeast Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales.
Region
Eastern and southeastern Australia
Typical Environment
Found across inland eastern Australia from southeastern Queensland through most of New South Wales into northern Victoria and eastern South Australia, with pockets along coastal lowlands. Prefers drier open forests and woodlands dominated by eucalypts, acacias, and casuarinas. Also occupies riparian stands and paperbark swamp forests, especially on the coastal plain of southeast Queensland to central New South Wales. It frequents edges, lightly wooded farmland, and larger parks with mature trees. Local movements track flowering and insect abundance.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The striped honeyeater is the sole member of its genus, Plectorhyncha. It primarily gleans insects from foliage and bark but also takes nectar from flowering eucalypts and paperbarks. Its finely striped head and nape make it distinctive at close range, yet its soft colors help it blend into open woodlands. Usually seen alone or in pairs, it can be overlooked due to its quiet, melodious calls.
Gleaning in a eucalypt
Feeding on berries
Sitting on the suspended nest
Temperament
quiet, active and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually alone or in pairs; small loose groups may form where food is abundant. Builds a neat, deep cup nest suspended in foliage or a forked branch using grasses, plant fibers, and spider silk. Both parents incubate and feed the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of soft, clear, melodious whistles, often descending and repeated in short phrases. Calls include gentle piping notes and soft churring contact calls, most frequent at dawn and early morning.
Plumage
Light grey-brown with dark brown centers to the feathers creating fine, lanceolate streaks; striping is strongest on the crown and nape. Underparts off-white to pale buff with subtle streaking on the breast. Wings and tail are grey-brown with slightly paler edges; throat clean whitish.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects and other small arthropods gleaned from leaves, bark, and twigs. Also takes nectar from flowering eucalypts, grevilleas, and paperbarks, and occasionally sips honeydew or lerp. Will opportunistically eat small fruits when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the mid- to upper canopy of open woodland and forest, especially in flowering trees. Readily uses riparian corridors, paperbark swamps, and edges, and sometimes visits large gardens with mature native plantings.
