Red Wattlebird

Red Wattlebird

Scientific name: Anthochaera carunculata
Family: Meliphagidae
Order: Passeriformes
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by Masami Iida

Title

Red Wattlebird

Artist

Masami Iida

Medium

Photograph

Description

Red Wattlebird

Scientific name: Anthochaera carunculata
Family: Meliphagidae
Order: Passeriformes
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What does it look like?

Description

The Red Wattlebird is a large, noisy honeyeater. The common name refers to the fleshy reddish wattle on the side of the neck. The plumage is grey-brown on the body, with prominent white streaks and yellow on the belly. The face is pale and the tail is long with a white-tip. Young Red Wattlebirds are duller than the adult and have a brown, rather than reddish, eye. The wattle is also very small and pale.

Similar species

The Red Wattlebird is among the largest of the Australian honeyeaters. In Tasmania it is replaced by the larger Yellow Wattlebird, Anthochaera paradoxa. This species is identified by its long, yellow wattle.

Where does it live?

Distribution

The Red Wattlebird's range extends throughout the southern areas of the Australian mainland.

Habitat

The Red Wattlebird occurs in forests, woodlands and gardens, where it aggressively protects food-bearing plants from other honeyeater species.

What does it do?

Feeding

The Red Wattlebird feeds on nectar, which it obtains by probing flowers with its thin curved bill. Some insects are also eaten, taken either from foliage or caught in mid-air. Berries and the honeydew produced by some insects add to the bird's diet.

Breeding

Red Wattlebirds raise one or two broods in a season. Both sexes have been recorded sharing incubation duties, but often the female will do this alone. Both parents feed the young.

Uploaded

January 26th, 2011