Western Wattlebird

1. Streaked grey-brown plumage with no facial wattles

2. Rufous wing patch and white tail tips visible in flight

3. Red eyes and long, slender black bill

Western Wattlebirds feed primarily on nectar from native flowers, especially Banksia and Eucalyptus, using their brush-tipped tongues to extract nectar efficiently. They also eat insects, particularly during the breeding season. These birds are agile and can hang upside down to reach deep flowers, and are known for their aggressive territorial behaviour, often chasing other birds away from prime feeding spots. Breeding occurs from July to January. Nests are cup-shaped and built high in trees or shrubs. Females lay 2–3 pale pink eggs with reddish-brown spots, and incubation lasts about 16 days, mainly by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after about 2 days and continue to be cared for by adults for several weeks.

Endemic to southwestern Australia, the Western Wattlebird is found from Carnarvon to east of Esperance, and inland to the Stirling Range, Lake Grace, and Northam. It inhabits eucalyptus forests, coastal heathlands, woodlands, and is also common in urban areas with native vegetation. The species is especially active in areas with flowering Banksia and Eucalyptus, and may be seen in parks, gardens, and remt bushland.