Common Name: Noisy Friarbird

Distribution: The Noisy Friarbird is found in eastern and south-eastern Australia, from north-eastern Queensland to north-eastern Victoria.

Ecological Notes: The Noisy Friarbird prefers dry eucalypt forests and woodlands, coastal scrub, heathlands and around wetlands and wet forests. It is also found in parks and gardens. It is found in most climate zones, extending into arid areas along rivers. The Noisy Friarbird is more common in the winter months, with southern birds migrating northwards and highland birds migrating to lower altitudes.

Additional Notes:The Noisy Friarbird is a large member of the honeyeater family. It has a distinctive naked black head and a strong bill with a prominent casque (bump) at the base. It is believed the naked skin holds pollen from flowers as the bird feeds, thus helping with cross-pollination. The Noisy Friarbird eats nectar, fruit, insects and other invertebrates and sometimes eggs or baby birds. They spend most of their time feeding on nectar high up in trees, often in noisy flocks.

References: Birding Australia archives at http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/birding-aus/2002-09/msg00076.html Accessed 01/01/2025.

Birds in Backyards at https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Philemon-corniculatus  Accessed 01/01/2025.