Noisy Miner Feeding on Bottlebrush flowers, Brisbane Australia.   //   Noisy Miner - Meliphagidae: Manorina melanocephala. Length to 28cm, wingspan to 180cm, weight to 59g. Endemic to Australia in coastal eucalytpus woodland from Townsville, Queensland to Adelaide, South Australia, also Tasmania. Common in urban and suburban areas. Feeds mainly on nectar and pollen from eucalyptus flowers. Noisy, prominent in the dawn chorus, may be social in flocks of 20-30 birds. Characteristic 'hawk' calls alert other species to the presence of a bird of prey; other (different) calls alert birds to the presence of domestic cats. Frequently gathers in noisy groups near snakes or possums found during the daytime, attracting other species 'to have a look.' Aggressive - will harass larger birds such as Crows and eagles to drive them away from their territory, and quickly becomes the dominant species in many ecosystems. IUCN Status: Least Concern.  //  Bottlebrush - Myrtaceae: Callistemon sp. Height to 5m, DBH 30cm, canopy diameter to 5m. 34 species endemic to Australia, four species found in New Caledonia. Flowers in spring and summer - mostly red, others white, pale green, mauve. Most species prefer moist conditions, but some occur in arid areas. Favoured by honeyeaters and lorikeets - species with a brush-tipped tongue adapted to gathering nectar and pollen.    //Dr Eric Lindgren//