The yellow-tinted honeyeater is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is found in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.
Region
Northern Australia and southern New Guinea
Typical Environment
Occurs across the tropical lowlands from the Kimberley and Top End through the Gulf Country to Cape York, and in southern Papua New Guinea. It favors open forests, woodlands, and edges with flowering eucalypts and paperbarks, as well as mangroves and riparian corridors. Also uses savanna with scattered trees and shrublands, particularly where nectar is abundant. It adapts to disturbed edges and occasionally visits parks or gardens near suitable habitat.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This honeyeater often follows the flowering of eucalypts and paperbarks, moving locally as nectar sources shift with seasonal rains. It plays a useful role in pollinating native trees and shrubs. Birds frequently join mixed-species feeding flocks with other honeyeaters and small insectivores.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically forages in pairs or small groups and often associates with other honeyeaters at flowering trees. Builds a small, neat cup nest suspended in foliage; both parents participate in care. Territorial around rich nectar sources but otherwise fairly tolerant of conspecifics.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A bright series of clear, ringing notes interspersed with chattering calls. Contact calls are sharp and metallic, while song phrases are more musical and repeated from exposed perches.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a soft yellow wash on the face and underparts; paler, slightly creamy throat. Subtle streaking on breast sides may be present, with cleaner yellowish belly. Flight feathers darker with pale edging, giving a slightly contrasty wing.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from eucalypts, melaleucas, grevilleas, and other flowering shrubs and trees. Supplements its diet with insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, and will hawk for flying insects in short sallies. Also takes lerp, honeydew, and occasionally soft fruits.
Preferred Environment
Most often feeds in canopy and mid-story of flowering trees along woodland edges, riparian zones, and mangroves. Will also forage in open savanna trees and flowering shrubs in disturbed habitats.
