Regent Honeyeater
The Regent Honeyeater has been in decline since the 1940s, and its soft, metallic chiming call is rarely heard.
The few remaining honeyeaters live along the east coast of Australia. They are no longer found in south-western Victoria, and are probably extinct in South Australia.
This attractive little bird lives in dry, Box-Ironbark woodlands and forests and prefers the most fertile areas along river valleys and flats. The honeyeater feeds on the nectar of eucalypts and is capable of travelling long distances to follow the trees' seasonal flowering patterns.
The major threats
The loss of the Box-Ironbark forests is the major reason for the diminishing number of Regent Honeyeaters. The forests have been cut down for agriculture, suffer from dieback, and have been removed for their timber. Many large, spreading trees in the woodlands have been lost through forestry practices.
The plan for fighting extinction
Melbourne Zoo is breeding Regent Honeyeaters to help with the recovery of this species.
How you can help
- Raise community awareness and support for the Regent Honeyeater.
- Join the Regent Honeyeater Project and take part in tree planting days.
- Visit our zoos to support our work to fight extinction.
- And donate if you can. We are a not-for-profit organisation, so all donations go towards our conservation work.
- Discover more about local conservation events and join the growing number of wild activists taking action for local wildlife.
