Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Red Wattlebird

Anthochaera carunculata

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

-37.894, 145.311

Field Notes

Description:

35 cm long grey-brown honeyeater with red eyes, red wattles on the neck, white streaks on the chest and belly, which reveals a bright yellow patch towards the tail, darker but streaky back. Makes a very distinctive range of cackling calls and threatening cracking noises when trying to intimidate other birds or animals.

Habitat:

Mostly open eucalyptus forests of south-eastern Australia.

Notes:

Photo #2 shows two juveniles, offspring of the adult in #1. They are all against Grevillea Robusta.

Reference Links:

Red Wattlebird

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
Mark Ridgway
That sounds like youngsters to me. They've had a fantastic season this year. We are watching 3 generations just this summer and I'm almost certain the first set of offspring were helping feed the second set for a while (which would be amazing if true). It's now getting to the 'let's all just fight' stage. So noisy.
Nups
I thought that myself, but there was no other signs pointing to them being immature. They were feeding themselves, being quiet and of adult size. I'll try get a photo next time.
Mark Ridgway
Are you sure they weren't just immature ones? They don't get their wattles for a while. (Like the babies in pic 2) And they spend most of their day making an incessant annoying noise to beg nearby parents (and maybe siblings?) for food.
Nups
We had 2 wattlebirds in the garden today, normally get this species but the ones today did not have the red marking. Couldn't get a picture :(

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Birds of the World
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 12, 2012

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies