Acanthagenys rufogularis
Silhouette: Rachael Joakim · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
The spiny-cheeked honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis) is the only species in the genus Acanthagenys. It is large for a honeyeater, ranging from 22 to 27 centimeters (8.7 to 10.6 inches) tall and weighing around 52 grams. The birds are sociable, aggressive, and often observed foraging in large flocks.
The spiny-cheeked honeyeater is mainly frugivorous, but will also eat nectar, blossoms, insects, reptiles, and young birds. Its habitat includes deserts, coastal scrubland, and dry woodlands. It is also found in mangroves and orchards. Its range includes most of Australia, except for Tasmania, northern tropical areas, and the southeastern coast.
The spiny-cheeked honeyeater's scientific name is Acanthagenys rufogularis. The generic name Acanthagenys derives from the Ancient Greek akantha 'spine, thorn' and genys 'cheek'; the specific epithet derives from Latin rufus 'red' and gula 'throat'.
The spiny-cheeked honeyeater, Acanthagenys rufogularis, is a medium-sized bird...
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Hattah-Kulkyne National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Flinders Ranges National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Pilliga National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Phillip Island Nature Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alice Springs Desert Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater sighting in Phillip Island Nature Park on a given day, based on 101 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 97th most-seen of the 149 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May–August and October
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater in Phillip Island Nature Park on a given day, against under 5% in September and November–April, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
5th of 7
Of the 7 parks where we can rate Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater sightings, Phillip Island Nature Park ranks 5th at under 5%. The best odds are in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Australia, about 70%), Hattah-Kulkyne National Park (Australia, about 60%) and Flinders Ranges National Park (Australia, about 50%). All parks ranked.
Same family: Meliphagidae
The closest relatives of the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater that you can see in Phillip Island Nature Park (family Meliphagidae, Honeyeaters) are Red Wattlebird (about 70%), Little Wattlebird (about 60%) and New Holland Honeyeater (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater is recorded against all the birds logged in Phillip Island Nature Park (101 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
