The
white-plumed honeyeater (
Ptilotula penicillata) is a species of small
passerine bird
endemic to Australia. The species is common around water, and they are often seen in backyards and suburbs with vegetation cover. First
described by the English naturalist
John Gould in 1837, the specimen he examined came from the "interior of
New South Wales". The
specific epithet penicillata derives from the Latin word
penicillis, meaning 'brush tip', referring to the white plume across the side of the neck, its distinguishing characteristic. The rest of the bird is mainly olive-coloured. This white-plumed honeyeater was photographed in
Glen Davis, New South Wales.
Photograph credit: John Harrison