Some Observations of Foraging and Social Behaviour of the Striped Honeyeater in South-western New South Wales

Observations were made of foraging and social behaviour of the Striped Honey eater Pl ecto rhyncha lanceolata in Black Oak and mallee woodland in the semi-arid south-west of New South Wales during July 1993 . Foraging took place almost entirely on the foliage, flowers and branches of six species of tree. These foraging observations provided no obvious explanation for the unusual bill of the species . A variety of social interactions was observed , belying reports of its solitary nature , and a group of at least ten and possibly fifteen birds was larger than any reported previou s ly.