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Western Wattlebird
(Anthochaera lunulata)
: "Lunulated Wattlebird", "Mock Wattlebird"
Aboriginal name(s): "djoongong"
Size: 29-33 cm (male), 27-31 cm (female); wing span: 33-38 cm
Weight: 48-78 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Western Wattlebirds are large nectar-eating birds. The general appearance
of their plumage is
dark grey-brown, with prominent white to silver-grey streaking.
The forehead is almost black, while below the eyes there are prominent
silver-grey cheek patches. Both front and back are striated. The
front has a lot more silver-grey streaking than the back, which
appears mostly dark grey-brown.
The wings, rather than being striated, are dark-grey,
with light-grey edge lining. The undertail coverts are barred. The
grey tail is very long, with feathers that have different, tapered
lengths, each having a white end. Females are smaller than males.
The irises are dark-brown. The long, curved bill, the legs and the
feet are all dark-grey.
Juveniles
have less striation than adults.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared with Little
Wattlebirds, Western Wattlebirds have more silver-grey cheeks.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Western
Wattlebird at Wikipedia .
Click here for classification information
Western Wattlebirds have now been given species status and are
not any longer considered to be a race of the Little Wattlebird.
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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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
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The global distribution of the Western Wattlebird is available
HERE
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Western Wattlebirds are endemic to south-western Australia.
They are found only in south-western WA, up to about Geraldton
in the North, through the hills to the East of Perth, and from
there up to Cape Arid NP on the WA South coast.
Western Wattlebirds have a preference for heath and coastal woodland, but they can also
be found in scrub
and gardens.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
J. Greaves reports spotting Western Wattlebirds at Bungendore Park,
near Perth, WA, in June 2015.
M. Eaton reports finding Western Wattlebirds at Triandra Reserve,
Cockburn, WA, in April 2019.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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Near-lateral view of a Western Wattlebird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bungendore Park, near Perth, WA, June 2015]
Lateral view of a Western Wattlebird from below (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bungendore Park, near Perth, WA, June 2015]
Near-dorsal view of a Western Wattlebird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bungendore Park, near Perth, WA, June 2015]
Ventral view of a Western Wattlebird (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Bungendore Park, near Perth, WA, June 2015]
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Western Wattlebird sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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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.