Off With the Birds - Wattlebirds

This week's bird or birds are larger Honeyeaters, known as Wattlebirds. We have four wattlebirds in Australia, but only two here in South Australia. We are lucky enough to have them visit our garden on a regular basis. They are the largest of the honeyeaters and very aggressive towards the smaller varieties around food sources. 

Both species are nectar and insect eaters, inhabiting heathlands, shrubby forests, eucalypt forests, parks and gardens. Both are noisy with a variety of harsh calls. One of the Wattlebirds in our garden sounds like he is saying "woodpecker, woodpecker, wood", though my husband tells me I am imagining this.

Little Wattlebird - Anthochaera chrysoptera - is the one we see more of and is more aggressive and less shy than the other species we get. It has a dark brownish grey body streaked white and without 'wattles'. It does have a faint silvery cheek patch, pale blue-grey eyes and white tipped tail and wing feathers. Females are smaller, but similar.

Last year we watched in delight as a pair of lovers serenaded and danced on our balcony fence rail for several days.

Immature bird is paler and less streaked than the mature ones above.

The Red Wattlebird - Anthochaera caranculata is the largest mainland honeyeater.  It has large distinctive red wattles that lengthen and darken with age. It has a black head, silvery white face and yellow centre belly. They seem to be a lot shyer than the Little Wattlebird and we only see them very occasionally in the garden. The Red Wattlebird is common but nomadic, following the nectar flowers.

The only time I have ever seen a Red Wattlebird at the birdbath. He must have been very thirsty because he stayed a while.

Liz Needle  -  linking with "Saturday Critters", "Our World Tuesday", "Wild Bird Wednesday", "I'd Rather B Birdin", "Sharon's Souvenirs".