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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Meliphagidae
  4. ›
  5. Certhionyx
  6. ›
  7. Pied Honeyeater
Pied Honeyeater
Photo · (c) Tony Eales, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

BirdUp · Species

Pied Honeyeater

Certhionyx variegatusLesson, RP, 1830

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Certhionyx

At a glance

The Pied Honeyeater is a small bird, about 15–20 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
15–20 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Pied Honeyeater look like?

The Pied Honeyeater is a small bird, about 15–20 cm long and weighing 22–34 g.

The pied honeyeater is a species of bird in the family of honeyeaters Meliphagidae and the sole species in the genus Certhionyx. This species is also known as the black and white honeyeater or western pied honeyeater.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
15–20 cm
Weight
22–34 g
Wingspan
25 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Pied Honeyeater?

The Pied Honeyeater is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Pied Honeyeater eat?

The Pied Honeyeater feeds on fruit, nectar/pollen, seeds and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Pied Honeyeater live in Australia?

The Pied Honeyeater is endemic to Australia, recorded across 53 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingWs WA to south-west QLD and west-central NSW (central Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Vagrant
  • Passage

8 regions recorded