NATURE’S GEMS

White-streaked Honeyeater

Trichodere cockerelli

By Melissa Whitby

One of the most incredible places in Australia to go wildlife watching is Cape York Peninsula.

Over the years, I have been lucky enough to visit this incredible part of the country many times and see a number of wildlife species.

One bird species that had eluded me was the White-streaked Honeyeater.

In 2020, travelled with a friend and spent time in the vicinity where the birds were located.

The stronghold of the White-streaked Honeyeater is Cape York Peninsula and it cannot be found anywhere else in the country.

This bird is slightly smaller than a Lewin’s Honeyeater and has dis- tinctive markings which set it apart from other honeyeater species.

The White-streaked Honeyeater has a yellow ear tuft, yellow-gold on the wings and pale streaked feathering on its chin and breast.

These birds can be extremely busy and active when feeding. The birds I observed were feeding on a native grevillea species and did not appear to move far from their preferred feeding site.

They were very vocal and aggressive to other bird species that were feeding in the immediate area.

The habitat was a type of heathlands merged into eucalypt woodlands.

Trying to observe and photograph this bird was quite difficult as they are wary and quick to fly.

Knowing their call was critical to pinpointing their location.

This is a bird that requires patience and time for the birds to become aware of your presence and know you are not a threat.

For anyone wanting to see this bird, Iron Range

National Park is a great place to start.

Once you are familiar with the call and habitat, the birds should not be hard to find.

I recommend some prior research before embarking on finding this species.

I learned that several birds may be in an area and what plant species the birds preferred to feed on. Finding this bird on Cape York Peninsula is quite something and they are one of the many jewels you can find in the area, if you know where to look!

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Pre-Orders of 24 plants or more will be accepted up until noon on 21/04/2023

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