These are the smallest in the group of large Australian honeyeaters called friarbirds and are widespread in northern and eastern Australia from Broome, Western Australia across the Top End to Queensland and down the coast of New South Wales to northern Victoria, they are also found in New Guinea.
Their habitat is mainly in open forests and woodlands dominated by eucalypts and always near water, they are also found around wetlands, monsoon forests, mangroves and coastal heath lands. For most of the year they are very common here and have adapted well to our semi-urban environment being frequently seen in small but conspicuously noisy flocks around our gardens, streets and parks.
They feed almost entirely in trees and, like most honeyeaters, are rarely seen on the ground. Their diet is mainly nectar but includes flowers, fruit, seeds and invertebrates.
The sexes are indistinguishable and form monogamous pairs with both parents building the nest which is a large deep open cup, lined with fine grasses and other soft materials, and always near or overhanging water. The female alone incubates the eggs, but both parents feed the young; two broods may be raised in a good season.