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Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera) Alternate name(s): "Brush Wattlebird", "Mock Gillbird", "Mocker", "Mock Wattlebird", "Cookay-cock", "Biddyquock" Size: 27-31 cm Body mass: 45-85 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Little Wattlebirds are large nectar-eating birds. The general appearance of their plumage is dark grey-brown, with prominent white streaking, which is most obvious in the spines on the cheeks and chest. The back is darker overall than the front, where the streaking is boldest on belly and vent. The flight feathers have olive-green leading edges. The undertail coverts are barred. The grey tail is very long, with feathers that have different, tapered lengths, each having a white end. Little Wattlebirds do not have wattles. The irises are blueish-grey, the long, curved bill is dark-grey, while the legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have more brownish plumage than adult Little Wattlebirds, with dull-blue irises, a yellow gape and less prominent striation. Twitcher's tip Compared with Western Wattlebirds, Little Wattlebirds have less silver-grey cheeks.

Taxonomy, classification See Little Wattlebird at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Little Wattlebird is available HERE . Little Wattlebirds are endemic to Australia. They live in a narrow coastal margin along the South and East coast of Australia, from about Adelaide, SA, to Gladstone, QLD. This range is occupied by nominate race "chrysoptera". Race "tasmanica" is found only in Tasmania, on the eastern side and along the North coast of the island. Race "halmaturina" occurs only on Kangaroo Island, SA. Little Wattlebirds are prominent in coastal woodland, heath or low scrub, with a strong preference for banksias. They adapt to the presence of humans quite well and will also enter urban parks and gardens. Where to look? How to find this species? In nature, Little Wattlebirds are most easily found in coastal banksias. Those with flowering shrubs or trees in their gardens or visiting urban parks along the eastern Australian seaboard do not need to go even that far to find the species.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "chrysoptera" We first spotted Little Wattlebirds, race "chrysoptera", feeding on the nectar of coastal banksias at Bundjalung NP, NSW, in 2005. Since then, many have been found by us, and also been reported to us by various contributors, in many different locations along the East coast of Australia. I. Duncan reports spotting Little Wattlebirds, race "chrysoptera", in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, VIC, in July 2012. R. Plumtree reports spotting Little Wattlebirds, race "chrysoptera", at Metung, near Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, in November 2019. M. Eaton reports finding Little Wattlebirds, race "chrysoptera", at the Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, in April 2022. Race "tasmanica" B. Hensen reports spotting Little Wattlebirds, race "tasmanica", at Peter Murrell Reserve near Kingston, TAS, in March 2016. Race "halmaturina" J. Greaves reports spotting Little Wattlebirds, race "halmaturina", on Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016.

Photos

Race "chrysoptera"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Little Wattlebird
[Hat Head, NSW, January 2011]

Frontal view of a Little Wattlebird looking sideways
[Hat Head, NSW, January 2011]

Frontal view of a Little Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]

Frontal view of a Little Wattlebird having a stretch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, July 2017]

Close-up frontal portrait of a Little Wattlebird looking sideways
[Urunga board walk, Urunga Heads, NSW, August 2015]

Frontal portrait of a Little Wattlebird looking sideways
[Cape Byron, NSW, May 2014]

Near-frontal view of a Little Wattlebird with its bill dusted with pollen (photo courtesy of I. Duncan)
[Melbourne Botanical Gardens, VIC, July 2012]

Near-frontal view of a Little Wattlebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
[Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek, NSW, February 2009]

Near-lateral view of a Little Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Little Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Yamba, NSW, January 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Little Wattlebird looking backwards (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Yamba, NSW, January 2021]

Close-up lateral view of a Little Wattlebird in a coastal banksia
[Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a Little Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Garden, Melbourne, VIC, April 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Little Wattlebird looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dundowran Beach, Hervey Bay, QLD, May 2018]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Little Wattlebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[South West Rocks, NSW, July 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a Little Wattlebird; the remnant yellow gape and brown hues indicate that this bird is still sub-adult (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Noosa, QLD, December 2017]

Race "tasmanica"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Little Wattlebird (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Race "halmaturina"

No photos of this race are available yet. However, see below for sound recordings.

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial/communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/flock

Little Wattlebirds are territorial, but can feed in large numbers in areas with flowering trees.

Food, Diet

Like many other honeyeaters, Little Wattlebirds do not exclusively feed on nectar, but use their sticky tongue to take insects too. They are also known to take fruit. For gathering nectar, especially in (near-)coastal regions, they have a preference for banksia flowers.

Close-up view of a Little Wattlebird bending sideways to feast on the flowers of a grevillea
[Hat Head, NSW, January 2011]

Close-up lateral view of a Little Wattlebird feeding on the nectar of a coastal banksia
[Point Plomer, Limeburners Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a Little Wattlebird feeding on the nectar of a Grevillea robusta (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Metung, near Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, VIC, November 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

litwatt_20140526.mp3	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	Contact call?	© MD
litwatt_20150818.m4a	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	Contact calls?	© MD
litwatt_20150327_3.m4a	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	Territorial call?	© MD
whchhon_20150327_5.m4a	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	Fighting over food source (with White-cheeked Honeyeater)	© MD
whchhon_20150327_6.m4a	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	Fighting over food source (with White-cheeked Honeyeater)	© MD
litwatt_20150327.m4a	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	Various	© MD
litwatt_20150327_2.m4a	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	?	© MD
litwatt_20150327_4.m4a	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	?	© MD
litwatt_20150327_5.m4a	chrysoptera (NE NSW)	?	© MD
litwatt_jg_20160325.mp3	halmaturina (Kangaroo Island)	Territorial call?	© JG
litwatt_me_20240923.m4a	tasmanica (TAS)	Contact call?	© ME

More Little Wattlebird sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.