Main Page
InfoEx Help Information
Consult the User's Guide for information on using the wiki software.
Getting started
- Configuration settings list
- MediaWiki FAQ
- MediaWiki release mailing list
- Localise MediaWiki for your language
Description
A large honeyeater ranging from 26 to 32 cm (9–13 in) and averaging 29.5 cm (11.6 in) in length, the adult Blue-faced Honeyeater has a wingspan of 44 cm (17 in) and weighs around 105 g (3.7 oz).<ref name=Hig598>Higgins, p. 598.</ref> In general shape, it has broad wings with rounded tips and a medium squarish tail. The sturdy slightly downcurved bill is shorter than the skull, and measures 3 to 3.5 cm (1.2–1.4 in) in length.<ref name=Hig607/> It is easily recognised by the bare blue skin around its eyes. The head and throat are otherwise predominantly blackish with a white stripe around the nape and another from the cheek. The upperparts, including mantle, back and wings, are a golden-olive colour, and the margins of the primary and secondary coverts a darker olive-brown, while the underparts are white. Juveniles that have just fledged have grey head, chin and central parts of their breasts, and brown upperparts, and otherwise white underparts. After their next moult, they more closely resemble adults and have similar plumage, but are distinguished by their facial patches.<ref name=Hig606/> The bare facial skin of birds just fledged is yellow, sometimes with a small patch of blue in front of the eyes, while the skin of birds six months and older has usually become more greenish, and turn darker blue beneath the eye, before assuming the adult blue facial patch by around 16 months of age.<ref name=Hig607/> The Blue-faced Honeyeater begins its moult in October or November, starting with its primary flight feathers, replacing them by February. It replaces its body feathers anywhere from December to June, and tail feathers between December and July.<ref name=Hig606>Higgins, p. 606.</ref> 422 Blue-faced Honeyeaters have been banded between 1953 and 1997 to monitor movements and longevity. Of these, 109 were eventually recovered, 107 of which were within 10 km (6 mi) of their point of banding.<ref name=Hig601/> The record for longevity was a bird banded in May 1990 in Kingaroy in central Queensland was found dead on a road after 8 years and 3.5 months at in September 1998, around 2 km (1.2 mi) away.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Blue-faced Honeyeater produces a variety of calls, including a piping call around half an hour before dawn, variously described as ki-owt,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> woik, queet, peet, or weet. Through the day, it makes squeaking noises while flying, and harsh squawks when mobbing. Its calls have been likened to those of the Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), but are deeper. Blue-faced Honeyeaters make a soft chirping around nestlings and family members.<ref name="Hig604"/>
A distinctive bird, the Blue-faced Honeyeater differs in coloration from the duller-plumaged friarbirds, miners and wattlebirds, and it is much larger than the similarly coloured Melithreptus honeyeaters. Subspecies albipennis with its white wing patch has been likened to a khaki-backed butcherbird in flight.<ref name=Hig598/>
