Regent Honeyeater

Recent genetic research suggests it is closely related to the wattlebirds.

Picture of the Regent Honeyeater has been licensed under a GFDL
Original source: Incandescent (talk) (Jessica Bonsell)
Author: Incandescent (talk) (Jessica Bonsell)
Permission: GNU Free Documentation License

The Regent Honeyeater is classified as Endangered (EN), considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Regent Honeyeater (Xanthomyza phrygia) is a medium sized bird of extraordinary beauty that has been driven almost to the brink of extinction by indiscriminate land clearing. It has no close relatives and is the only member of its genus. Traditionally thought to be related to highland Papuan honeyeaters of the genus Melidectes, on genetic evidence it is now believed to be closer to the familiar and common wattlebird group, genus Anthochaera. More

The Regent Honeyeater, Xanthomyza phrygia, is an endangered bird endemic to Australia. It feeds on nectar and insects within eucalyptus forests. Recent genetic research suggests it is closely related to the wattlebirds. More

The Regent Honeyeater is a striking and distinctive, medium-sized, black and yellow honeyeater with a sturdy, curved bill. Its head, neck, throat, upper breast and bill are black and the back and lower breast are pale lemon in colour with a black scalloped pattern. Its flight and tail feathers are edged with bright yellow. There is a characteristic patch of dark pink or cream-coloured facial-skin around the eye. More

The Regent Honeyeater Habitat Restoration Project is a landscape scale community effort to protect and restore all significant remnants of native woodland habitat in the agricultural district of the Lurg Hills, near Benalla, Victoria. While focus is placed on the Regent Honeyeater, many other declining birds and mammals also benefit from the restoration project. The most intact forest remnant in the Lurg Hills displays a rich diversity of ground flora. More

With no more than 1500 left in Australia, the Regent Honeyeater is now critically endangered. A national recovery project is rallying to save the bird, with some early success. Transcript: Alexandra de Blas:Another native bird that More

Colour-banding of Regent Honeyeaters in the Capertee Valley, west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Background The Capertee Valley is the most important remaining breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters. Relatively large numbers of Regent Honeyeaters arrive in the valley in late winter each year to breed. This presents an opportunity to capture and individually colour-band this species. More

Radio-tracking the elusive Regent Honeyeater in the Capertee Valley, NSW The primary purpose of this study, one that had been on the Recovery Team's books since 1997, was to monitor the movements of Regent Honeyeaters after breeding was completed, period when they generally disappear without trace. In late November and December of 2000 a total of 16 Regent Honeyeaters were fitted with tiny radio in the Glen Davis area. More

The Regent Honeyeater was once common in wooded areas of eastern Australia, especially along the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range. It once could be found as far west as Adelaide, but is now gone from South Australia and western Victoria. The population is now scattered, and the only breeding habitat is in north-eastern Victoria and the central coast of New South Wales. More

woodlands, the boldly-patterned regent honeyeater is an instantly recognisable species (4). The plumage is a striking yellow and white, and contrasts with the conspicuous black hood and neck, which fades to pale yellow on the chest, and cream on the belly. The black wings have three distinctive bold yellow panels, while the tail is black with yellow flanks and tips. More

On DisplayOur Amazing Regent Honeyeater(s) are currently on display Regent Honeyeater Diaries » Sweethearts of the rainforest aviary Our Honeyeaters » Regent Honeyeater » Lewin's Honeyeater - Visit our events page... More

re-sighted next to a wild bird - the first wild Regent Honeyeater in the park for 18 months! The Regent Honeyeater, with its brilliant flashes of yellow feathers, was once seen in flocks hundreds-strong. “Recent surveys have suggested that the species has declined dramatically during the past five years,” warned David Geering (National Regent Honeyeater Recovery project Co-ordinator). “There could be as few as 1,000 birds left in the wild. More

Regent Honeyeaters (Xanthomyza phrygia) were once seen as yellow and black flocks of over a hundred birds about 200 years ago from southeast Queensland to Central Victoria. However, today they are on the edge of extinction with an estimated population between 1000 and 1500 birds. The decline in numbers is partly due to the loss of habitat as well as the rise in the use of pesticides in Australia over the last 40 years. More

The Regent Honeyeater, with its brilliant flashes of yellow embroidery, was once seen overhead in flocks of hundreds. Today the Regent Honeyeater has become a 'flagship species' for conservation in the threatened box-ironbark forests of Victoria and NSW on which it depends. The Regent Honeyeater feeds mainly on nectar from a small number of eucalypt species, acting as a pollinator for many flowering plants. More

The call of the Regent Honeyeater is soft and bell-like; you may hear them calling most frequently during non-breeding season, from February to June. Adult Regent Honeyeaters weigh 35-50 grams and measure up to 24 cm long. It wingspan is around 30cm. Where does it live? - The Regent Honeyeater was once common in eastern Australia, especially on the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range. More

The Regent Honeyeater Project has established itself as one of the most active volunteer conservation projects in the nation. It has engaged a whole farming community in restoring remnant box-ironbark habitat for the endangered species still living in the district, and attracted ongoing support from a wide cross section of the community to help farmers with the on-ground works. More

ex-Zoo Regent Honeyeaters which may lead to mixed pairs forming this coming breeding season, hopefully leading to chicks. Read More Update From The Field 6 June 2008 Reports from the field, one month after release, have brought great news. Transmitters on 19 of the 28 birds released are still working and confirmed daily sightings of these birds have proved they are flourishing in their new home. More

The Regent Honeyeater was once common in wooded areas eastern Australia, especially along the inland slopes of the Great DividingEndangered bird in Australia making comeback by MICHAEL CASEY / AP NewsThe Regent Honeyeater was once common in wooded areas eastern Australia, especially along the inland slopes of the Great DividingThe Back Boot Project by Muirhead, Anna; Ballard, Su; Beevors, Michele; Bell, Victoria; Carran, Bekah; Eady, Scott; Morley, M / Junctures: The Journal for Thematic DialogueThese areas are important habitats for a More

National Regent Honeyeater Recovery Co-ordinator, David Geering, said the trial was being undertaken in an attempt to curb the species' serious decline. Mr Geering said "Recent surveys have suggested that the species has declined dramatically during the past five years. Across Australia there could be as few as 1000 birds in the wild, with about 100 of these remaining in Victoria. More

The Regent Honeyeater is beautifully patterned with black and yellow lacy scalloping on its breast and back. Regent Honeyeater Photo: National Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team The brilliant yellow patches on its wings and tail feathers are visible during flight. Each eye is surrounded with a large patch of bare, bumpy skin. The honeyeater is 200-225mm in size and the female is often much smaller than the male. More

Order : Passeriformes
Family : Meliphagidae
Genus : Xanthomyza
Species : phrygia
Authority : (Shaw, 1794)