Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday 67 - Red Wattlebird

The Red Wattlebird is a common enough garden bird in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne.  As a result it came as a bit of a shock to realise that I did not have any pictures of them.  That they are lovers of undergrowth and the middle of bushes may go some way to explain there absence from my catalogue!

The bird in these pictures was a little more accommodating than most, not only did it sit out in the open for a while it also sat still as well.  Thank you bird!

If you have a look at the images in larger view (ie click on them!) you should be able to see the red flap of skin that gives these birds their name - the red wattle.

These birds feed on the nectar of flowering plants, mainly gum trees.  It is this flower fetish that gives the bird part of its scientific name - Anthochaera carunculata.  This means (and I'm not making this up!)  "Flower fancier with little fleshy bits"!  I'm going to have difficulty finding a better snippet of taxonomic wisdom than that!

At 35 cm long these are one of the largest of the honeyeaters.  At best its voice could be described as harshly metallic, and it worst simply awful.  And loud!

The young birds are an older picture I took a year or so back.





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44 comments:

  1. TexWisGirl23 October 2013 at 02:05

    ha ha! i try to keep my 'fleshy bits' to a minimum! :)

    great shots of this bird!

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  2. EG CameraGirl23 October 2013 at 02:08

    Thank you for pointing out the wattle. The name totally makes sense, as does its scientific one.

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  3. theconstantwalker23 October 2013 at 02:08

    Thanks for the info Stewart it's another new species to me...
    Lovely images and it's not often I hear birdsong being called "awful".

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  4. Sylvia K23 October 2013 at 03:16

    I always learn something about birds when I visit your Wild Bird Wednesday, Stewart!! Wonderful captures as always!

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  5. Andrea @ From The Sol23 October 2013 at 03:24

    That little red spot is enough to name the bird after? When I think of wattle, I think of turkeys. He sure is a cranky looking bird and if his call is metalic he probably sounds cranky too. Love the translation of the scientific name ... someone must have been in a good mood when they chose it. So once again, you have introduced me to a bird I have never heard of. Soon I will know more about the birds in Australia than I do about our USA bird population ... must mean I should come down there to see them ... still on my bucket list :)

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  6. Nette Cecilia23 October 2013 at 03:32

    Very nice picture of that bird ,Nette

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  7. Unknown23 October 2013 at 03:36

    Sweet bird :)

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  8. Dave23 October 2013 at 03:46

    Actually a lovely looking species Stewart and a new one for my "must do Australia" list

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  9. Rohrerbot23 October 2013 at 03:48

    That happens to me as well:) When I'm organizing photos etc, I realize I overlook the very common birds:) I'd love to have that common bird over here:)

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  10. Kenneth Cole Schneider23 October 2013 at 04:05

    Interesting-looking birds, nicely photographed and described. The babies seem to have wattle-buds!

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  11. genie23 October 2013 at 04:20

    It sounds look you were in the luck when you decided to take theses shots. Coming out in the open and sitting still...that is a miracle. Beautiful captures. genie

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  12. Karen23 October 2013 at 04:26

    Nice captures Stewart. A handsome bird, and the babies are so cute!

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  13. Carletta23 October 2013 at 04:26

    In that first shot he appears to be looking as curious about you as you were about him. :)
    Wonderful shots Stewart! So glad he was willing to participate in your photo session.
    And because we don't always tend to think about it - thanks for hosting WBW!

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  14. Margaret Birding For Pleasure23 October 2013 at 04:43

    HI Stewart Love these shots and have seen these birds when I was in Sydney area. Never saw the young before so that was great. All wonderful shots. Will be posting (my) tomorrow.

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  15. Unknown23 October 2013 at 05:09

    It's a beautiful bird, but I'm kind of glad I don't have to listen to it sing!

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  16. Gemma Wiseman23 October 2013 at 06:14

    Always love seeing the little touch of yellow onm this textured bird. Lovely photos.

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  17. Amanda23 October 2013 at 06:42

    OMG the babies are so cute!!! we have lots of wattlebirds around Mildura too but they are hard to get pics of flitting around. Did you get that info from that new book on names? Having been thinking about getting that...

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  18. Karen @ Pieces of Contentment23 October 2013 at 07:11

    Wonderful photos, especially of the young. I've not seen Red Wattlebirds (although they don't appear to be red either) but they do look very nice.

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  19. Hootin Anni23 October 2013 at 07:19

    Gorgeous birds!!!! I love the duet especially.

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  20. Montanagirl23 October 2013 at 07:34

    What beautiful birds! I like their red wattle.

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  21. Carole M.23 October 2013 at 07:52

    Hi Stewart, this is one bird I can rely on seeing regularly here at home. I especially like seeing the two youngsters; I only see the koel babe' -- don't know how I get to miss out on the wattle bird young.

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  22. DIMI23 October 2013 at 08:00

    Beautiful Australian birds Stewart!!
    Great shots!!!Have a nice day!!
    Dimi...

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  23. Optimistic Existentialist23 October 2013 at 08:13

    A very beautiful bird indeed. I love the yellow!!

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  24. Heather Wilde23 October 2013 at 08:18

    Ey up lad, Finn's away at t'Grandma's so he has asked me to link him up. Love that bright bit of yellow belly. When are you coming to visit the homeland?

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  25. Christian Perrin23 October 2013 at 09:46

    Lovely photos of a bird with a big personality, no doubt! They are only found in a couple of spots in QLD, out west near Toowoomba and Girraween. I love seeing them when I visit Sydney though!

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  26. Brian King23 October 2013 at 10:33

    Magnificent photos, Andrew! This is a handsome bird.

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  27. mick23 October 2013 at 10:52

    Great photos of the Red Wattlebird and the two young ones are especially cute.

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  28. thewovenspoke23 October 2013 at 10:54

    Very interesting looking birds. you did a great job with your shots so the wattle is visible . I am always amazed at the information and wonderful photos you post. Thanks again stewart!

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  29. Gail Dixon23 October 2013 at 10:57

    A beautiful and interesting bird. So great that you were able to get so many different poses from him. Awesome job!

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  30. Grandma Barb's This and That23 October 2013 at 14:07

    Now I know why those birds are called Red Wattles!

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  31. Our photos23 October 2013 at 14:44

    You have make beautiful birds photos!
    Greetings, RW & SK

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  32. Pat Tillett23 October 2013 at 15:12

    Thanks for pointing the "wattle" out.
    Nice photos of good looking birds!

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  33. Arija23 October 2013 at 19:04

    There zou are at 5 in the morning, half awake, listening to the dulcet tones of a blackbird, when the wattle birds start their gawawking, cutting like a chainsaw through your sleep.
    We have suffered an absolute population explosion of these noisy birds that rip banksias to shreds and chase the other honey-eaters out of the grevilleas.

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  34. Jo23 October 2013 at 19:12

    That's the teeniest bit of red [wattle] to name a bird with! Great shots though! I'm glad I found you again and could link up. Greetings, Jo

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  35. LindyLouMac23 October 2013 at 22:18

    So pleased this handsome fellow posed for you, great captures. By the way I have answered your question on my photo post. :)

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  36. Kerri Farley23 October 2013 at 22:58

    Oh how lovely!!! what a beautiful bird!

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  37. Anonymous24 October 2013 at 00:52

    Stewart, these are wonderful captures of this beautiful bird.

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  38. Phil Slade24 October 2013 at 05:01

    Very smart looking birds Stewart. That last pose is a cracker, nice work.

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  39. manntravel24 October 2013 at 17:19

    thanks for sharing it, your article is too good,


    Travel Agent India

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  40. grammie g25 October 2013 at 01:21

    Hi Stewart... Great bird , but it makes me wonder why some birds get names that are in reference to some small spot on them !! : )

    Thanks for hosting !

    Grace

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  41. Wally Jones25 October 2013 at 08:16

    Not only great photos, this is really interesting information!
    Some taxonomist (is that a word?) really got specific when naming this one.

    Great post, Stewart!

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  42. Anonymous26 October 2013 at 03:12

    What a pretty bird even if it is a bit noisy.

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  43. Liz26 October 2013 at 15:56

    Gorgeous images, Stewart! I've only ever managed to capture 2 shots of these birds; one in my parent's garden in Mount Martha back in 2011 & the second while on holidays in Port Macquarie in September! You did well to captures so many.
    I'm sorry I've been absent from posting to WBW. I'm trying to complete my holiday series... I should be back in the next week or so!

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  44. Sallie (FullTime-Life)28 October 2013 at 04:50

    He's a very lovely bird! And certainly very appropriately named - whether officially or commonly! Glad he posed for you. Your common birds are of course not so for me.

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