Blue-faced Honeyeater: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Birds of Asia, Africa and Australia · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. Its famous blue face takes time. Chicks leaving the nest have yellow skin there, which turns greenish, then fully blue by about 16 months.
2. In north Queensland it is called the banana-bird, as it feeds on banana flowers and fruit. Its dawn calls, before other birds, earn it 'morning-bird'.
3. Why build from scratch? It often moves into another bird's old nest, most often a grey-crowned babbler's, and fixes it up.
4. At Mackay, one bird was seen shooting 10 to 12 m above the trees, calling, while its flock followed and swirled around as if playing a game.
5. Curious and bold, it often raids campsites for fruit, insects and leftover jam or honey. Milk seems to be a real favourite.

The quiz

1. What colour is the face skin of a young bird just out of the nest?

• Red
• Yellow (correct)
• Pink
• White

Newly fledged birds have yellow face skin; it turns blue by about 16 months.

2. Why is it nicknamed the banana-bird?

• Its eggs are banana yellow
• Its adult face is banana yellow
• It builds its nest from banana peel
• It feeds on banana flowers and fruit (correct)

In north Queensland it feeds on the flowers and fruit of bananas.

3. What does this honeyeater often do instead of building a new nest?

• Fixes up another bird's old nest (correct)
• Digs a burrow in the ground
• Lays on bare rock
• Leaves its eggs for other birds to hatch

It often renovates old nests, most commonly those of grey-crowned babblers.

4. At Mackay, how high above the treetops did one playful bird fly?

• About 1 m
• About 1 km
• 10 to 12 m (correct)
• About 100 m

It flew up 10 or 12 m, calling, and the flock followed as if at play.

5. Which campsite treat does it seem to like most?

• Coffee
• Milk (correct)
• Salt
• Chilli peppers

Among campsite foods, milk is particularly favoured.

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