Macleay's Honeyeater (3/14)

PASSERIFORMES: Meliphagidae

Xanthotis macleayanus  

I watched this Macleay's Honeyeater spend several minutes raiding eggs from within this small ant nest in a creek-side bush.

The inset shows some of the eggs in its bill. At this rate it would have to be there a long time to get a decent feed from the nest. Maybe these are the equivalent of hors d'ouvres prior to a larger meal elsewhere.