White-plumed Honeyeaters are the characteristic small honeyeater of our riverine woodlands, in particular River Redgum lining our inland waterways. They also occur in forest and woodlands especially those near water such as swamps and waterholes and also in urban parks and gardens. They are widespread throughout NSW and Victoria continuing on through inland Australia to the Pilbara and NW Western Australia. Birds from the west and northwest of their range are much yellower than those from the south-east.

White-plumed Honeyeaters frequently form small communities which, along with their noisy and aggressive nature, allow them to congregate and gang up on would-be intruders, so possible predators such as crows or butcherbirds are quickly dealt with.