Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Yellow Honeyeater digs in


Yellow Honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavus) about to enjoy a juicy catch after much effort dragged fat prey out from its tightly curled leaf home at Tyto today. Honeyeaters are partial to insect prey, Yellows particularly so. Bill length and shape helps tell the story.



So no trouble seeing that a Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta) spends more time chasing nectar with its more delicate bill and tongue. 



Brown-backed Honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus) - in typical quizzical pose - will, with others of the species, take over flowering paperbarks and drive other honeyeaters away, but more usually enjoys a general diet.      



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12 comments:

  1. MosuraDecember 8, 2009 at 7:28 PM

    I prefer honey rather than insects myself and having eaten a few witchetty grubs in my day I can say that with conviction.

    Enjoyed the pics!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tyto TonyDecember 8, 2009 at 8:19 PM

    No insects, no honey. Kiwis like to boast of eating huhu (like witchetty.) As a vegetarian I'm above hairy chested survival stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 8, 2009 at 9:28 PM

    We have noticed that large numbers of BB Honeyeaters have indeed taken over much of our paperbark swamp. Paperbarks are not flowering now but BBs are foraging for insects and also starting to nest.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tyto TonyDecember 9, 2009 at 7:10 AM

    Hi Barbara: If Tyto pattern holds true, the BBs will dominate and next thing you know there'll be almost none to see for months.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Denis WilsonDecember 10, 2009 at 6:52 AM

    Hi Tony
    Lovely quality photos, esp of the Brown HE.
    Tongue protruding and the feathers are visible in clear detail.
    Well done.
    I have two small Melaleucas Paperbarks) flowering (see my blog - 9.12.09). But they are only attracting Beetles.
    Cheers
    Denis

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tyto TonyDecember 10, 2009 at 2:20 PM

    I'll check paperbarks for beetles, but can't recall seeing blossoms up here covered in them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Johnny NutcaseDecember 11, 2009 at 5:07 AM

    Great set of photos...I love pictures of birds eating! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Johnny NutcaseDecember 11, 2009 at 5:07 AM

    Great set of photos...I love pictures of birds eating! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. GouldiaeDecember 11, 2009 at 5:23 AM

    G'day Tony,
    Interesting set. I've always believed that 'honeyeaters' would need to get some protein from somewhere. An all nectar diet wouldn't be too good for cell building surely?
    Gouldiae.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Russell ConstableDecember 11, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    Sharp photos Tony. Whenever I see your pics I feel guilty re my own amateur efforts!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Russell ConstableDecember 11, 2009 at 10:11 AM

    Sharp photos Tony. Whenever I see your pics I feel guilty re my own amateur efforts!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tyto TonyDecember 11, 2009 at 2:06 PM

    Hi JN: Thanks. I see you've got some great feeding pix on your site.

    Hi Gouldiae: Seems to make sense. But then what about hummingbirds? Hard to see them taking in much protein as bycatch.

    Hi Russell: Too kind. You don't see the 99.9% that bites the dust.

    ReplyDelete

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