Bell Miner
Manorina melanophrys
Silhouette: Rachael Joakim · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMeliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
- GenusManorina (Australian Miners)
- SpeciesManorina melanophrys (Bell Miner)
About the Bell Miner
The bell miner or bellbird (Manorina melanophrys) is a colonial honeyeater, endemic to southeastern Australia. The common name refers to their bell-like call. "Miner" is an old alternative spelling of "myna", and is shared with other members of the genus Manorina. The birds feed almost exclusively on the dome-like coverings, referred to as lerps, of certain psyllid bugs.
Bell miners live in large, complex, social groups. Within each group, there are subgroups consisting of several breeding pairs, but also including a number of birds that are not currently breeding. The nonbreeders help in providing food for the young in all the nests within the subgroup, even though they are not necessarily closely related to them. The birds defend their colony area communally and aggressively, excluding most other passerine species. They do this in order to protect their territory from other insect-eating birds that would eat the bell lerps on which they feed. Whenever the local forests die back, due to increased lerp psyllid infestations, bell miners undergo a population boom.
The heritage listed mountain village of Bellbrook was named after the distinctive sound of local bellbirds in 1882. ��2�... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Bell Miner in Lamington National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Lamington National Park
Noisy Miner
Manorina melanocephala
Lewin's Honeyeater
Meliphaga lewinii
Eastern Spinebill
Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Caligavis chrysops
White-naped Honeyeater
Melithreptus lunatus
Scarlet Myzomela
Myzomela sanguinolenta
Noisy Friarbird
Philemon corniculatus
White-throated Honeyeater
Melithreptus albogularis
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Entomyzon cyanotis
Brown Honeyeater
Lichmera indistincta
Little Friarbird
Philemon citreogularis
Striped Honeyeater
Plectorhyncha lanceolata
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Bell Miner in Lamington National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Bell Miner sighting in Lamington National Park, based on 217 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Bell Miner in Lamington National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Bell Miner in Lamington National Park in our monthly data.