WHITE-EARED HONEYEATER Lichenostomos leucotis
There were a pair of White-eared Honeyeaters calling to each other along the train line at Kilmore East this afternoon. I watched this one as he called to his mate, a shrill call which I at first thought was a grey fantail. The pair continued to call as the evening trains went past just thirty metres away, quite undisturbed by the clatter and rush.
They are very beautiful birds with vivid olive plumage which glows yellow in the sunlight.
It was interesting to see this bird as it caught and ate a large spider. It is easy to assume that honey-eaters are fruit and nectar eaters. For the times when there are neither fruits or nectar, these birds can be seen peeling back the bark on old wattle trees, as they search for food.
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