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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Meliphagidae
  4. ›
  5. Melithreptus
  6. ›
  7. White-throated Honeyeater
White-throated Honeyeater
Photo · Gould, 1848

BirdUp · Species

White-throated Honeyeater

Melithreptus albogularisGould, 1848

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Melithreptus

At a glance

The White-throated Honeyeater is a tiny bird, about 12–15 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
12–15 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a White-throated Honeyeater look like?

The White-throated Honeyeater is a tiny bird, about 12–15 cm long and weighing 9–15 g.

The white-throated honeyeater is a bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to New Guinea and eastern and northern Australia. It is 11.5 to 14.5 cm long, olive-green above and white below, with a black head, a white or pale blue patch over the eye, and a white stripe across the nape.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
12–15 cm
Weight
9–15 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a White-throated Honeyeater?

The White-throated 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

Tim · Mareeba QLD 4880, Australia

Call

Tim · Mareeba QLD 4880, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a White-throated Honeyeater eat?

The White-throated Honeyeater feeds on nectar/pollen and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the White-throated Honeyeater live in Australia?

The White-throated Honeyeater is native to Australia, recorded across 41 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-central and south-east New Guinea and north and north-east Australia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Non-breeding

7 regions recorded