The New Holland Honey-eater is a small and agile bird that belongs to the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae, which includes other nectar-feeding birds such as wattlebirds, spinebills, and friarbirds. It is native to southern Australia, where it is found in a variety of habitats, such as forests, woodlands, heathlands, and gardens. It was among the first birds to be scientifically described in Australia, and was initially named Certhia novaehollandiae.

The New Holland Honey-eater has a black bill, a slender body, and a long tail. It measures about 18 cm (7.1 in) in length and weighs about 20 g (0.7 oz). It has a distinctive plumage, with a black head and upperparts, a white eye and ear patch, and yellow margins on its wings and tail. The throat and breast are white, with black streaks, and the belly is yellow. The male and female are similar in appearance, but the female may have a slightly smaller eye patch and a duller yellow belly.

The New Holland Honey-eater feeds mainly on nectar, which it obtains from a variety of flowers, such as banksias, hakeas, grevilleas, and eucalyptus. It also eats insects, seeds, fruits, and occasionally small vertebrates. It forages in the canopy and subcanopy of the vegetation, often in pairs or small groups, sometimes with mixed-species flocks. It is an active and noisy bird, and rarely sits still for long. It has a loud and harsh voice, and can produce a variety of sounds, including imitations of other birds, animals, and human noises. It has a distinctive chuckling call note, and a song that resembles a robin’s but is clearer and less nasal.

The New Holland Honey-eater breeds from August to March, depending on the location. It builds a cup-shaped nest of grass, bark, and spider webs, usually in a shrub or a tree. The female lays 2 to 4 eggs, which are white with red-brown spots. The male helps to incubate the eggs and feed the young. The chicks fledge after about 14 days, and stay with their parents for another 2 weeks.

The New Holland Honey-eater is a resident bird that does not migrate. It is not threatened by extinction, and has a large and stable population. However, it may face some threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, as well as from predators, parasites, and diseases. Therefore, it is important to protect and conserve its natural environment, and to appreciate its beauty and role in the ecosystem.