[5][6] The genus name Cissomela (Bonaparte, 1854)[7] means "honey magpie" from the Greek kissa for 'magpie', thus referring to the black and white colouring, and mela meaning 'honey' for its feeding habits.

The specific epithet pectoralis comes from the Latin pectoris for 'breast', referring to the distinctive banded breast of this bird.

[1][10] The banded honeyeater inhabits tropical grassy woodland, open forests, mangroves and Melaleuca swamps.

It feeds on the nectar of eucalypts and some other open flowers, such as Grevilleas, paperbarks and Bauhinias, plus insects.

It is a blossom nomad or can have seasonal movements in various parts of its range, which is restricted to tropical northern Australia.