Scientific name:Grantiella picta Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
Description
The Painted Honeyeater is small (16 cm) and distinctive, with a black head and back and white underparts with dark streaks on the flanks. The wings and tail are black with bright yellow edgings. The distinctive bill is pink with a dark tip. The female is greyer on the upperparts and has less streaking on the flanks.
Location and habitat
Distribution The Painted Honeyeater is nomadic and occurs at low densities throughout its range. The greatest concentrations of the bird and almost all breeding occurs on the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range in NSW, Victoria and southern Queensland. During the winter it is more likely to be found in the north of its distribution.
Habitat and ecology
Inhabits Boree, Brigalow and Box-Gum Woodlands and Box-Ironbark Forests.
A specialist feeder on the fruits of mistletoes growing on woodland eucalypts and acacias. Prefers mistletoes of the genus Amyema.
Insects and nectar from mistletoe or eucalypts are occasionally eaten.
Nest from spring to autumn in a small, delicate nest hanging within the outer canopy of drooping eucalypts, she-oak, paperbark or mistletoe branches.
Regional information This species is found in the following catchment management authority regions. Click on a region name to see more details about the distribution, vegetation types and habitat preference of the species in that region.
Removal of large, old trees with heavy mistletoe infestations.
Degradation of open forest and woodland remnants, including thinning of trees bearing mistletoe.
Heavy grazing of grassy woodlands.
Recovery strategies
Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Department of Environment and Conservation has identified 5 priority actions to help recover the Painted Honeyeater in New South Wales.
What needs to be done to recover this species?
Manage grazing on sites where Painted Honeyeater habitat occurs.
Encourage regeneration of habitat by fencing remnant stands and undertaking new plantings.
Protect remnant woodland and open forest throughout the range of the species.
Regenerate and replant local flora species to maintain breeding and foraging habitat.
Conduct further research to increase understanding of habitat selection and nomadic movements of the Painted Honeyeater.
References
Garnett, S. and Crowley, G. M. (2000) The Action Plan for Australian Birds. Published by Environment Australia. Canberra, ACT.
Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. and Steele, W.K. (eds.) (2001) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 5: Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats. Oxford University Press.
Oliver, D.L., Chambers, M.A. and Parker, D.G. (2003) Habitat and resource selection of the Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta on the northern floodplains of New South Wales. Emu 103, 171-176.
Oliver, D.L., Quin, B.R., Quin, D.G., Walpole, R.M. and Walpole, S.C. (1998) Observations of nectar and insect feeding by Painted Honeyeaters Grantiella picta. Australian Bird Watcher 17, 353-355.
Pizzey, G. and Knight, F. (2003) The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia 7th Edition. Menkhorst, P. (ed). HarperCollins.
Reid, J.R.W. (1999) Threatened and declining birds in the New South Wales Sheep-Wheat Belt I: Diagnosis, characteristics and management. Consultancy report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology, Canberra.
Robinson, D. and Traill, B.J. (1996) Conserving woodland birds in the wheat and sheep belts of southern Australia. RAOU Conservation Statement No. 10. Birds Australia, Melbourne.
Traill, B.J. and Duncan, S. (2000) Status of birds in the New South Wales Temperate woodlands region. Consultancy report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Australian Woodlands Conservancy, Chiltern, Victoria.
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