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Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
The New Holland Honeyeater is mostly black and white, with a large yellow wing patch and yellow sides on the tail. It has a small white ear patch, a thin white whisker at the base of the bill and a white eye.
Saw this particular one high up in one of the trees in my backyard this afternoon.
4 Comments
I should of mentioned that they are more common in Western Australia.
Over the years, a lot of the larger birds have moved into the Sydney basin area, and that has driven a lot of the smaller birds out. We used to get a lot of wrens and finches, but not for over 20 years now. Land clearing has a lot to do with it as well. I must have seen these honeyeaters at some stage, but I just don't recall. I'll be looking out for them next time.
I remember seeing them here fairly regularly as a teenager to young adult Neil before I moved into the city, but this was the first once since moving back here in early 2015 after my Mum passed away, and the first one in many years to be honest. I'm in a bird group on facebook and a lady has been getting photos of them quite a bit of late at Penrith in the far western suburbs of Sydney
Great spotting, James. I'm from Sydney, but I don't recall ever seeing one of these honeyeaters. Beautiful.