The red wattlebird has a fleshy, red neck wattle, grey brown body and white streaks and long tail. The juvenile bird does not have the red wattle, but can be distinguished from the little wattlebird by its yellow belly.

Where

The harsh yakauyak call will help you locate this large honeyeater. Red wattlebirds are noisy, aggressive birds, constantly moving and often found in groups.

At Booderee you’ll see large numbers of red wattlebirds in autumn and winter when birds migrate from higher country to feed on the flowering heath. The various headland walks offer good opportunities to see them.

Feeding

Like other honeyeaters, red wattlebirds feed mainly on nectar, usually on heath plants with tubular red or pink flowers such as the grevillea. They also eat insects and berries.

Breeding

Nests are a weak construction of bark, twigs and grass, built in bushes or tree forks. Red wattlebirds raise one or two broods in a season, with the female often incubating alone but both parents feeding the young.

Sounds

A harsh yakauyak.