Anthochaera carunculata

Red Wattlebird at Throsby, ACT

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Identification history

	Anthochaera carunculata	5 Dec 2020	Liam.m
	Anthochaera chrysoptera	5 Dec 2020	davobj

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2 comments

davobj wrote:

5 Dec 2020

Liam.m This bird does not have the red cheeks like a previous sighting close by. Is it the female or young bird? Another sight (iNaturalist Aust) confirmed the bird as a Little Wattle Bird.

Thanks

natureguy wrote:

6 Dec 2020

This bird is a juvenile Red Wattlebird. Little Wattlebirds are rare vagrants to the ACT, mainly occurring along the coast.. The main distinguishing features in your bird are the reddish legs (black in Little Wattlebird), the hint of yellow on the belly (absent in Little) and the dark line around the paler face (absent in Little). The fleshy gape is a good indicator of a juvenile. Little Wattlebirds also have rufous on the wings in flight, a good distinguishing feature compared to the grey wings of Red Wattlebirds. If you're familiar with the "chock" call of the Red Wattlebird, the Little Wattlebird's call is very different and more musical, and this can help in distinguishing as well. I doubt you would encounter a Little in the ACT, if so it would be a very significant sighting.

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