Red Wattlebird

1. Pinkish-red wattles on the neck and bright red eyes

2. Bold white streaks on grey-brown plumage with a bright yellow belly patch

3. Loud, harsh cackling and “chock” calls

Red Wattlebirds feed mainly on nectar, using their brush-tipped tongues to extract it from flowers, but also consume insects, lerps, fruit, and berries. They are highly territorial and aggressive, frequently chasing away other birds from their feeding and nesting sites.

Breeding generally occurs from July to December, but can extend outside these months if conditions are favourable. The nest is a rough cup of twigs and grass, usually hidden in the canopy of a tree. Females lay 2–3 creamy pink eggs speckled with red and purple. Both parents share incubation (16–21 days) and feeding duties, with chicks fledging after 15–2 days. Parents continue to feed young for up to three weeks after fledging, and occasionally older siblings help at the nest.

Red Wattlebirds are widespread across southern Australia, from southeastern Queensland to southwestern Western Australia, inhabiting eucalypt forests, woodlands, coastal heaths, parks, and gardens. They are especially common in urban areas with flowering native trees and shrubs, often dominating feeding territories and defending them vigorously from other birds.