Pied Honeyeater - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Certhionyx variegatus

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 09 Jun 2022

Description

The male Pied Honeyeater is a distinctive small, black and white honeyeater with white wing-bar, rump and tail-panels, abdomen and a bluish-grey wattle below the eye. The female is greyish-brown with a white abdomen, with a strong pattern of pale edging to feathers on the wing. The bill is long and curved and males possess a bare eye patch that is pale blue in colour. Females and young males have a less conspicuous bare eye patch than mature males.

Distribution

Widespread throughout acacia, mallee and spinifex scrubs of arid and semi-arid Australia. Occasionally occurs further east, on the slopes and plains and the Hunter Valley, typically during periods of drought.

Habitat and ecology

Inhabits wattle shrub, primarily Mulga (Acacia aneura), mallee, spinifex and eucalypt woodlands, usually when shrubs are flowering; feeds on nectar, predominantly from various species of emu-bushes (Eremophila spp.); also from mistletoes and various other shrubs (e.g. Grevillea spp.); also eats saltbush fruit, berries, seed, flowers and insects.
Highly nomadic, following the erratic flowering of shrubs; can be locally common at times.
Constructs a relatively large cup-shaped nest, usually robust, although occasionally loose, constructed of grasses and fine twigs, bound with spider webs, in the fork of a shrub or tree up to 5 m above the ground.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

The clearing of nectar-producing shrubs (such as Eremophila and Grevillea spp.) reduces food supplies and may interrupt broadscale nomadic movements.
Grazing has a similar but less immediate impact compared to clearing, although many of the preferred food shrubs appear immune to grazing effects.
Infestation of habitat by boxthorn in some areas.
Loss of woodland habitat, including large old trees.
Fragmentation of woodland habitat.
Inappropriate fire regimes.
Aggressive exclusion from forest and woodland habitat by over abundant Noisy Miners.
Reduction in resources due to drought conditions, increasing due to climate change.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Reduce stock intensity of, or exclude grazing in, some areas to allow regeneration of vegetation for habitat.
Retain understorey shrubs and allow them to complete their life cycle (i.e. seed set, germination, establishment, growth to maturity).
Prevent clearing of habitat.
Report observations to DPE or the NSW BioNet Atlas.

Information sources

Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. (2008) Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria)
Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. and Steele, W.K. (eds) (2001) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 5: Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne)
Murray Catchment Management Authority and Office of Environment and Heritage (2012) New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment. (Murray CMA, Albury)
Shelly, D., Baun, R. and Kidd, S. (2008) The importance of Yapunyah Eucalyptus ochrophloia as a food source for the Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus in Far West New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 34(4): 561-3

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Mootwingee Downs	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Bulloo	Known	None
Channel Country	Bulloo Dunefields	Known	None
Channel Country	Central Depression	Known	None
Channel Country	Core Ranges	Known	None
Channel Country	Sturt Stony Desert	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Barnato Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Boorindal Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Nymagee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Great Darling Anabranch	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Pooncarie-Darling	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Wilcannia Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Cuttaburra-Paroo	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Kerribree Basin	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Nebine Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo-Darling Sands	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Urisino Sandplains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Sands	Known	None
Mulga Lands	West Warrego	Known	None
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Scroll Belt	Known	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None
Riverina	Robinvale Plains	Known	None
Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields	Strzelecki Desert	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Orange	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Known	None

Sounds

Images

Pied Honeyeater, male Image 1 of 3.
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