Foraging of Honeyeaters in an area of Tasmanian Sclerophyll Forest

Abstract

The foraging behaviour of four species of honeyeaters breeding in an area of sclerophyll forest near Hobart, Tasmania, was determined throughout the year. The Yellow-throated and Strong-billed Honeyeaters are mainly insectivorous, obtaining much of their food from bark. The Black-headed Honeyeater is mainly insectivorous, foraging mostly in the foliage. The Crescent Honeyeater is almost entirely insectivorous during the breeding season but takes much nectar during winter. A fifth species, the Eastern Spinebill, is a winter visitor to the area whose presence coincides with the flowering of the heath Epacris impressa. Foraging behaviour varies throughout the year and it is unjustified to extrapolate the results of short-term local determinations of foraging behaviour to whole populations.