Animal Species:Noisy Miner
Despite their moderate size, Noisy Miners aggressively attack larger birds such as hawks and kookaburras. These attacks may be so vigorous that most other birds are excluded from an area occupied by Noisy Miners.
Noisy Miner in Tree by Nest
Norman Chaffer
© Australian Museum
Identification
The Noisy Miner is a bold and curious bird. It is identified by its mostly grey body and black crown and cheeks. The bill is yellow, as are the legs and the naked skin behind the eye. The name is well suited as the common calls are uttered repeatedly by the members of the colony.
The Common Myna is quite different in plumage (mostly dark brown) and, although it has similar facial markings, belongs to the starling family while the miners belong to the honeyeaters.
Size range
28 cm
Similar Species
Yellow-throated Miner, Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Distribution
Noisy Miners range from northern Queensland along the eastern coast to South Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Noisy Miners are found in woodlands and open forests. They have also become well adapted to suburban situations and are a common sight in parks and gardens.
Feeding and Diet
The Noisy Miner feeds on nectar, fruits and insects. Very occasionally they will eat small reptiles and amphibians. Food is either taken from trees or on the ground. In keeping with its highly social nature, the Noisy Miner usually feeds in large groups.
Communication
Loud 'pwee pwee pwee' and a piping 'pee pee pee'when alarmed.
Life cycle
Mating and reproduction
Noisy Miners breed in colonies and several broods may be reared in one season. The female constructs the nest and incubates the eggs alone, but both sexes will care for and feed the young birds. Additional 'helpers' also feed the young. Interestingly, these helpers are almost always male birds.
Breeding season: July to December
Economic/social impacts
Noisy Miners, Manorina melanocephala, can be annoying because of their constant vocalizations, but their main problem is the impact they have on other birds. Both problems arise from a dramatic increase in their abundance resulting from the creation of favourable habitat by humans.
Classification
- Species:
- melanocephala
- Genus:
- Manorina
- Family:
- Meliphagidae
- Order:
- Passeriformes
- Class:
- Aves
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Higgins, P.J., Peter, J.M. and Steele, W.K. (eds) 2001. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 5 (Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
- Longmore, N.W. 1991. The Honeyeaters and their Allies of Australia. Angus and Robertson and The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.
Ondine Evans
, Web Researcher/Editor
Last Updated:
Tags noisy, miner, Bird, Birds, flying, wings, tree, nest,
11 comments
Thanks for the update Ken, it's good to hear that the wattlebirds and smaller species are holding out against the miners! Your garden sounds like it's alive with birds - you must have a good variety of plant species in and around your place. Cheers, Jaynia
Hi Gina, that's a great tip re: the treacle! The Noisy Miners really are such cheeky and aggressive little terrors, but I've also seen Rainbow Lorikeets give them a good telling off. Cheers, Jaynia.
Hi Ken. It's not immediately apparent why the Noisy Miners may have left the area. They're generally quite sedentary and, as you have observed, aggressively defend their territory from other species. It could have something to do with Noisy Miners' highly organised social structure. The 'family' of miners that frequents your grevilleas is possibly a smaller subset (called either a coterie or a coalition, depending on the size and composition of the subgroup) of the main colony in your area. This subset may be currently frequenting different parts of their their territory, so that they appear to have gone. This is more likely at this time of year, when they are not yet breeding and are reasonably mobile within the territory. Alternatively, it may be that the resources in that area are no longer suitable for the miners, leaving the area free for other species to move in. Whatever the case, it's always interesting to hear about what's happening out there. Keep us posted - it would be interesting to hear about what happens to the other species when the miners come back! Best regards, Jaynia.
Hi Tatiana - I am not sure if you mean that the bird was still in the house? But if it were, leaving the window open and perhaps gently trying to encourage it towards the window might help - but if it were very scared I would just leave it alone until it calmed down. WIRES and other wildlife rescue organisations are in the phone book and can come to remove native animals for you.