The Swamp Banksias in the Water Garden are proving to be a major hit with the some of the local honeyeater populations. Dozens of new flower spikes are appearing after the rains over the holiday season and there are large flocks of the bird in the photo down there all day.
But I realized I am not sure which species they are. The New Holland Honeyeater and the White Cheeked Honeyeater look identical to my untrained eye. Is there an easy way to differentiate them?
Yes, a few easy ways: At first glance the New Holland Honeyeater (pictured here)appears to have a basically black face whereas the White-cheeked looks largely white in the face. Getting up close or using binoculars shows the New Holland's stark staring white eye, which is brown in the White-cheeked and almost hidden in the black facial band.
ReplyDeleteAlso the second edition (2009) of "The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds" is out(New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd) (!) As well, Michael Morcombe's "Field Guide to Australian Birds" (Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd) is very helpfully detailed in its descriptions.