red wattlebird

Posted on January 24, 2016 Updated on January 24, 2016

Wattlebirds are amoung the largest honeyeaters, named for the little bit of skin around ears… not apparent on all types. This Red Wattlebird was spotted on a walk at Long Reef, in Sydney, an extinct volcano that is now a public reserve with headland walking tracks populated with banksia, she oaks and native grasses. There is a well known golf course on top which is quite a spectacular location to swing a few balls (makes a nice green photo background). The Red Wattlebird sits around mid-range at 31-39 cms. Early explorers in Australia documented they didn’t like the honeyeaters song, being so different to the more familiar sweeter sounding song birds of the Northern Hemisphere, but I adore their long melodious chuckles and interesting sounds.