Regent Honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia

Length 20.4–24.0 cm; wingspan c. 30 cm; weight male 45 g, female 39 g.

Although usually seen singly, in twos or in small groups, the Regent Honeyeater occasionally occurs in large flocks.  The species feeds mainly on nectar in the outer foliage of the canopy of eucalypts, though it also sometimes gleans and probes for invertebrates, manna, lerp and honeydew, or sallies for flying invertebrates.  When foraging, the species is often pugnacious, chasing one another or other nectar-feeding birds, including honeyeaters and lorikeets.  They fly swiftly from tree to tree, and congregate at water to drink and bathe; when bathing, they plunge into the water from nearby trees.

HABITAT
The species mostly occurs in dry sclerophyll woodlands and forests dominated by box–ironbark eucalypts, especially Mugga Ironbark, Silver-leaved Ironbark, Narrow-leaved Ironbark, Caley’s Ironbark, Yellow Box, White Box, Grey Box, Red Box, Blakely’s Red Gum, River Red Gum, Yellow Gum, and Rough-barked Apple.  It also occurs among similar species occurring as savanna woodland or remnant trees or patches in farmland.  It is also occasionally recorded in woodlands supporting box–gum and box–stringybark associations.  Very occasionally the species occurs in woodlands dominated by Swamp Mahogany, Spotted Gum, or Bangalay.  Regent Honeyeaters are also sometimes recorded in stands of cypress-pines or in riverine River Sheoak forest, usually infested by mistletoe, and sometimes mixed with eucalypts.  They sometimes occur in parks, gardens, reserves or undeveloped areas of cities and towns, especially those supporting mature or remnant eucalypts.  In South Australia, the species formerly inhabited dry sclerophyll forest and savanna woodlands supporting various combinations of Yellow Gum, Peppermint Box, Pink Gum, River Red Gum and cypress-pine.

DISTRIBUTION
Endemic to south-eastern mainland Australia, where it is widespread but very sparsely scattered, mostly on the inland slopes of the Great Divide.

STATUS

• Endangered in Queensland
• Endangered in New South Wales
• Threatened in Victoria
• Endangered in South Australia
• Endangered in EPBC Act

THREATS
Range and numbers have contracted greatly mainly as a result of loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat, which, in addition to directly causing adverse effects may have allowed populations of large aggressive honeyeaters, such as friarbirds and miners, to expand, resulting in likely excessive interference with Regent Honeyeaters at sources of food and nest-sites. Adversely affected by: clearance and fragmentation of high quality habitat for agricultural purposes; increased dieback and tree decline resulting in habitat degradation in pastoral areas; grazing by livestock and Rabbits, which prevents regeneration of eucalypts; silvicultural practices undertaken to promote dense, pole-stand regrowth of immature trees, resulting in removal of large spreading trees in box-ironbark woodlands; and by removal of ironbark trees for fence posts, firewood and timber supply.  Once recorded dead beneath powerlines; one killed by vehicle on road. Formerly, orchards much damaged during irruptions of Regent Honeyeaters.

MOVEMENTS
The movements of this species are complex, and are mainly governed by the seasonality of flowering activities by a small group of eucalypts.  Regent Honeyeaters probably combine regular seasonal movements between regions with local movements, giving the impression of nomadism or irruptive occurrences.

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