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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Meliphagidae
  4. ›
  5. Acanthagenys
  6. ›
  7. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Photo · (c) Lachlan Copeland, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

BirdUp · Species

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

Acanthagenys rufogularisGould, 1838

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Acanthagenys

At a glance

The Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater is a medium-sized bird, about 22–27 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
22–27 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater look like?

The Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater is a medium-sized bird, about 22–27 cm long and weighing 32–77 g.

The spiny-cheeked honeyeater is the only species in the genus Acanthagenys. It is large for a honeyeater, ranging from 22 to 27 centimeters tall and weighing around 52 grams. The birds are sociable, aggressive, and often observed foraging in large flocks.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
22–27 cm
Weight
32–77 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater?

The Spiny-cheeked 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

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Rosalie Lawrence · South Australia, AU

Call

Rosalie Lawrence · South Australia, AU

Call

Rosalie Lawrence · South Australia, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater eat?

The Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater feeds on fruit, nectar/pollen and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater live in Australia?

The Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater is endemic to Australia, recorded across 69 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingAustralia (except north and Tasmania)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident

7 regions recorded