"Unlike many species of honeyeaters which will forage at almost any types of flowers, the Painted Honeyeater specialises in foraging at the flowers of the parasitic mistletoes that grow in trees. These mistletoe flowers are often quite exquisite, being delicate and brightly coloured, and they hang in profusion among the pendulous mistletoe foliage. Painted Honeyeaters probe the flowers with their deep-pink beaks, and they find them so alluring that their regular seasonal movements coincide with the times when different species of mistletoes are blooming.

The painted honeyeater can be found in the Cocoparra ranges, located just 25 km from Griffith, and like many other honeyeater species has Bold yellow and black plumage. Honeyeaters are a particular favourite of mine to paint as they are such striking birds that dart from tree to tree. Whenever I look for them all I get a flash of yellow and black but I still get really excited."