Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis Scientific name definitions

22–27 cm; male 39–77 g, female 34–57 g. Plumage is mostly olive-grey above, finely mottled blackish on crown and hindneck and streaked blackish on mantle, back and scapulars, with dirty-white patch on rump and uppertail-coverts, and blackish tail with obvious narrow white tip; facial pattern distinctive, vivid pink base of bill and gape continuous with vivid pink strip of bare skin extending beneath eye to just behind eye, bordered above by blackish eyestripe and below by bold white cheek­stripe of dense long spiny feathers, cheekstripe broadening down side of neck, where finely streaked blackish, dusky malar stripe with fine whitish streaking anteriorly and becoming broader and darker on side of lower throat; upperwing blackish, white fringes on tertials and median and greater secondary coverts (edges of outer greater coverts tinged yellow-green), fine pale grey edges of primaries, yellow-green edges of secondaries; chin to upper breast pinkish-buff to orange-buff; rest of underbody cream, bold dark brown streaks on lower breast grading finer below (vent unstreaked); undertail black-brown with broad white tip, underwing pinkish-buff to cream-buff with grey-black trailing edge and tip; iris light blue to blue-grey; bill black, base pink; legs black-brown to black. Sexes alike in plumage, male larger than female. Juvenile is similar to adult, but top of head browner, cheekstripe mainly yellow with less bristly texture, underbody slightly duller and with much finer dark streaking, fringes of upperwing-coverts pale buff, and iris brown; immature as adult, but cheekstripe softer and less spiny (often some adult-like feathers admixed), short streak of bright yellow just below and behind gape-line, iris light blue but often with brown inner ring.

Australia mainly S of c. 19–20° S (only scattered records in far SW, in S Victoria and E of Great Divide).

Arid and semi-arid shrublands and woodlands, mainly those dominated by Acacia, especially mulga (Acacia aneura), and often with emu-bush (Eremophila) and other shrubs in understorey and grassy ground layer. Also commonly in mallee eucalypt woodlands, shrublands and heathlands, and in mixed acacia-eucalypt associations, often with shrubs (especially Eremophila) in understorey; also dry open eucalypt woodlands and forests, especially riparian associations on plains around wetlands or watercourses, such as those dominated by river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) or black box (Eucalyptus largiflorens), with shrubby understorey including Acacia, paperbarks (Melaleuca), Myoporum, chenopods and lignum (Muehlenbeckia). Less often in other sclerophyllous habitats, including woodlands of banksias, paperbarks, casuarinas, especially belah (Casuarina cristata), or cypress-pine (Callitris) or mixed associations of these; or other arid and semi-arid shrublands or heathlands dominated by Eucalyptus, casuarinas, Hakea, Banksia, Grevillea, Dodonaea, Geijera, Leptospermum or Melaleuca, especially thickets of broombush (Melaleuca uncinata) in mallee. Sometimes in heathland; occasionally in wet sclerophyll or mangroves. Sometimes in parks and gardens, vineyards or agricultural land with scattered remnant vegetation.

Apparently mainly resident, or present throughout year, over much of range. Possibly partly migratory in some areas, with changes in numbers or occurrence through year, some of which appear seasonal; widely described as nomadic or dispersive in inland regions, although many such reports likely relate to changes associated with local movements. Patterns appear similar in N, C & S parts of range, with no constant differences between regions or latitudes. Some apparent seasonal movements described, e.g. at sites in CS Victoria small numbers regularly spend autumn to early spring away from breeding areas, and possibly undertake some movement to N of range (but also present all year in most such areas, and in some N parts appears to be more common in spring-summer than in winter). Some seasonal occurrence related to flowering, e.g. at one site in mallee heath numbers increased when nectar abundance greatest (Jul–Oct) and low when nectar production lowest (Feb–Jun). Vagrant or sporadic at edge of range; has reached Barrow I, 50 km off Western Australia coast; some vagrant records attributed to drought inland. Occasionally moves in large numbers: in Western Australia, estimated 150 individuals per hour once recorded at Eyre Bird Observatory as part of large movement of birds E along coast (with Purnella albifrons and Anthochaera carunculata), and 100 or more seen flying SE at Hamelin Pool.

Mainly fruit, nectar and arthropods (mainly insects, some spiders); also seeds; occasionally small vertebrates (including lizards and nestling birds). In one study, ratio of nectar to insects 50:50. Forages mainly in shrubs and trees, among branches and foliage, and on bark; frequently takes nectar and fruit of mistletoes (Loranthaceae) growing on diverse range of plants; sometimes forages on ground or aerially. Probes flowers for nectar, and gleans (plucks) fruits; arthropods obtained by gleaning and sallying, e.g. flying c. 2 m from perch to catch prey and usually returning to same perch. When feeding on fruit of the mistletoe Amyema preissii, pecks distal part of fruit to remove some skin, then pecks and swallows exposed fleshy seeds, leaving basal part of skin attached to stalk, and taking 2–5 seconds to eat single fruit; when feeding on the mistletoe Lysiana exocarpi, plucks and swallows fruit whole, taking less than 2 seconds. Usually singly, in twos (possibly pairs) and in small flocks of up to ten individuals; occasionally in larger parties, e.g. up to 100 birds feeding on fruit of Lysiana exocarpi. Sometimes associates with other species at food sources. Will defend feeding territories; one appeared to defend territory jointly with Anthochaera lunulata.

Recorded in all months, eggs in Jun–Mar (75% in late Aug to mid-Nov); in E of range (Queensland S to South Australia and Victoria) eggs Aug–Mar, whereas in W (Western Australia and Northern Territory) eggs mid-Jul to Dec; season possibly prolonged after good rains. Nest a neat, strong but delicate-looking cup, usually of pliant grass, leaves, plant stems and twigs, egg sacs of spiders, plant down and, occasionally, other soft material (e.g. rootlets, flowerheads, feathers), bound with spider web or sometimes wool, lined typically with wool, less often fur, plant down or hair, or other soft material, external diameter 8·9–14 cm, depth 5·1–13 cm, internal diameter 5·5–8·9 cm, depth 4·5–6·5 cm; suspended among branches or twigs 0·8–14 m (mean 2·7 m) above ground, often strongly attached, sometimes with foliage or twigs of nest plant woven into nest, and usually well concealed, generally in live tree or shrub, less often vines or mistletoe. Clutch 2–3 eggs, mean 2·22; role of sexes in incubation of eggs and brooding of young not known; incubation period 14–15 days; chicks fed by both adults, nestling period 14 days to c. 19 days (and recorded as leaving nest prematurely when at least 13 days old); fledglings fed by both adults for at least 12 days. Nests parasitized by Pallid Cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus). Throughout range 0·65 fledged young per nest; of 100 nests at which outcome known, 57 fledged at least one young and 43 failed.

Not globally threatened. Rather uncommon to locally common. Densities of up to 0·13 birds/ha in Big Desert (NW Victoria), and 0·07–1·15 birds/ha at Eyre Bird Observatory and 0·006–0·011 birds/ha at L Disappointment (both Western Australia). Claim that a 1883 specimen was from Friday I, in Torres Strait, considered improbable, and specimen thought more likely to have come from Karumba, in NW Queensland; has been suggested, however, that it may have represented an extinct, relict population. Species is adversely affected by clearing of habitat, and may have declined in Wheatbelt of SW Australia. Sometimes considered a pest in vineyards.