Gliciphila melanops
The Tawny-crowned Honeyeater (Gliciphila melanops) is a small, energetic passerine native to southern Australia, easily recognized by its distinctive head pattern. Measuring 13-17 cm in length and weighing 9-18 grams, it features olive-brown upperparts and pale grey-white underparts, but its most striking characteristic is the black crown adorned with a prominent tawny-orange central stripe. A bold black eye-stripe extends from the bill to the ear coverts, accentuated by a crisp white superci...
Primarily inhabits heathlands, shrublands, dry sclerophyll forests, and mallee, often in coastal or near-coastal sandy plains. It typically occurs at low to moderate elevations.
Feeds predominantly on nectar, obtained by probing a wide variety of heathland flowers, and supplements its diet with insects such as spiders and small invertebrates, caught by gleaning or aerial hawking.
The Tawny-crowned Honeyeater is a highly active, diurnal species, constantly on the move, foraging and defending its territory. It employs a diverse foraging strategy, primarily probing flowers for nectar while often hovering like a hummingbird, but also gleans insects from foliage and the air. T...
The Tawny-crowned Honeyeater boasts a widespread but somewhat discontinuous distribution across southern Australia, maintaining a resident status throughout its range. It is found in southwestern Western Australia, extending eastward across South Australia, including the significant population on...
Least Concern
- The Tawny-crowned Honeyeater can hover in front of flowers much like a hummingbird, a rare feat for Australian passerines. - Its specialized brush-tipped tongue is perfectly adapted for extracting nectar from deep within flowers. - These birds are vital pollinators for many Australian heathland...