One of the most common bird calls heard along the waterways at present is that of the Little Friarbird, with its range of harsh, discordant chatter, single notes and musical song, they are common warm season breeding visitors to our region.

They are present from spring until mid-autumn, when they depart on northern migration to the top end of Australia and New Guinea.

The Little Friarbird is the smallest of the friarbirds, with a medium, curved bill with no bump, characteristic of the Noisy friarbird, and a squared off tail when spread.

It is brown-grey above, paler grey on neck and collar, with a distinctive bare blue-grey face patch, and pale greyish white below with fine white streaking on the breast.

Females are slightly smaller, but otherwise similar.

Young birds are browner above, with more yellowish colouring on their chin and throat. It is a conspicuous and noisy bird, often chasing other honeyeaters, especially when nesting.

The Little Friarbird is mostly found near water, mainly in open forests and woodlands dominated by eucalypts.

The trees along our local waterways are favoured haunts for this acrobatic honeyeater. In towns adjoining waterways they are also found in parks and gardens.

Rarely seen on the ground, Little Friarbirds may feed alone, in pairs or small flocks, often in trees and flowering native shrubs.

Their diet is mainly nectar and various insects, sometimes also eating flowers, fruit and seeds.

At times they are also observed feeding in mixed groups with other honeyeaters.

Little Friarbirds form monogamous pairs.

Both parents build the nest, a large deep open cup, often see-through, lined with fine grasses and other soft materials, mostly in redgum canopies which are near or overhanging water.

The female alone incubates the eggs, but both parents feed the young.

Two broods may be raised in a season.

During this period the adults will aggressively guard the nest using amazing acrobatic dives to deter other birds from their vicinity, to protect their young.

The single loud “clop” call of the Little Friarbird heard ringing along waterways and wetlands across north-east Victoria, is a regular sound of our summer.

If you take the opportunity to watch them on the wing you will marvel at how they are able to twist, dip and dive.