Anthochaera phrygia
The Regent Honeyeater, *Anthochaera phrygia*, is a strikingly beautiful medium-sized honeyeater, instantly recognizable by its vivid black and yellow plumage. Adults measure approximately 20-24 cm in length with a wingspan of 30-34 cm and weigh between 35-50 grams. Key field marks include the extensive black head, chest, and back, contrasted by bright yellow patches on the wings and tail, along with a distinctive bare yellow patch of skin around each eye. Taxonomically, it belongs to the hone...
Found primarily in temperate eucalypt woodlands and forests, particularly Box-Ironbark and River Red Gum associations, often along riparian corridors or in areas with a high diversity of flowering trees.
Primarily nectar, particularly from various eucalypt species (e.g., Mugga Ironbark, Yellow Box, River Red Gum), supplemented by insects, lerps (psyllid exudates), and honeydew.
Regent Honeyeaters are diurnal and highly active foragers, often seen darting between flowering branches or hawking insects in flight. Their foraging strategy involves probing flowers for nectar with their brush-tipped tongues, stripping bark for sap, and gleaning insects from foliage or catching...
The historical range of the Regent Honeyeater once spanned a broad swathe of temperate south-eastern Australia, from south-east Queensland through New South Wales and Victoria, extending into South Australia. However, its current distribution is severely fragmented and drastically reduced, primar...
Critically Endangered
- The Regent Honeyeater is one of Australia's most critically endangered bird species, with an estimated wild population of fewer than 300 individuals. - Young male Regent Honeyeaters are sometimes observed learning the songs of other, more common bird species, likely because they rarely encounte...