Red Wattlebirds, Anthochaera carunculata
Red Wattlebirds, Anthochaera carunculata
Red Wattlebirds, Anthochaera carunculata, are
large honeyeaters easily identified by their fleshy reddish wattle on the side
of the neck.
They live across southern Australia and are very
frequent visitors to gardens in urban areas. They eat mostly nectar but also
some insects and can be very aggressive towards other birds that have their eye
on the same flowers.
In winter Red Wattlebirds are more frequent visitors to
towns and suburbs, where you'll have a much easier time spotting them.
Red Wattlebirds migrate in search of winter food. They
love to drink the nectar from flowers in your local parks and gardens, as they
are part of the Honeyeater family. [1]
The Red Wattlebird is the second largest honeyeater in Australia (the Tasmanian Yellow Wattlebird is the largest). They can display domineering and often aggressive behaviour towards other birds intruding on their territory.
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.
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.
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.
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