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Little WattlebirdAlternative names: "Brush Wattlebird", "Mock Gillbird", "Mocker", "Mock Wattlebird", "Cookay-cock" Size: 27-31 cm Weight: 62 g (average) |
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Similar species |
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SUBSECTIONS:
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Little Wattlebird
at Wikipedia
.
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
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Sightings |
We first spotted Little Wattlebirds, race "chrysoptera", feeding on banksias at Bundjalung NP on the NSW north coast in 2005.
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Photos |
Race "chrysoptera"
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here
.
Near-frontal view of a Little Wattlebird; photo courtesy of C.
Kellenberg
[Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek NE, NSW, February 2009]
Frontal view of a Little Wattlebird with a bill dusted with pollen
(photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Melbourne Botanical Gardens, VIC, July 2012]
Little Wattlebird feasting on the flowers of a grevillea
[Hat Head, NSW, January 2011]
Little Wattlebird checking whether all is safe! First to the right...
[Hat Head, NSW, January 2011]
... then to the left
[Hat Head, NSW, January 2011]
Lateral view of a Little Wattlebird feeding on a coastal banksia
[NSW central coast, NSW, June 2011]
Lateral view of a Little Wattlebird
[Bouddi NP,
NSW, June 2009]
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial/ communal | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair/flock |
Little Wattlebirds are territorial, but can feed in areas with flowering trees in large numbers.
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Food, Diet |
Like many other honeyeaters, Little Wattlebirds do not exclusively feed on nectar, but use their sticky tongue to take insects too. Also known to take fruit. For gathering nectar, they have a preference for banksia flowers.
















