Pelicans

It is larger than the Little Wattlebird.

They are approx 31-35cm in length

They sometimes swoop and clack their beaks on passer-bys when they have chicks.

Photographed in captivity

Calls

They have a variety of calls and can clack their beaks when they are threatening a rival.

In captivity these birds learn quickly where you move a food dish too, they recognise different people, become tame very easily, are territorial, hate the camera pointed at them they must see it as a large eye, and eat most of the day except for mid day when they rest. When I give them a new coloured or different species of flower they haven't seen before they cautiously try to eat it then taste it. Its very important they get to see a lot of different native flowers while they are growing in captivity.

This photograph was taken at the Western Australian Museum and the skull was 5.5cmL x 2cmw

A previously released Red Wattle in my yard

What do they eat?

As a young chick they eat insects. Later when they are adults they drink mostly nectar such as the grevillia's and the eat insects which they either catch on the wing, pick of trees or even come and get the spiders out from under house eaves and windows.

They make a nest of twigs, grasses and bits of bark sometimes lined with wool in a tree several metres from the ground.

Go here to see the Red Wattlebirds egg http://www.amonline.net.au/birds/gallery/eggs.htm

This is the Red Wattlebird chick, I have several each year that come into my care as a wildlife carer in Perth city and they are an absolute delight to rear to adulthood.

At this age they cheep all day long until sunset. (As you can see they don't lack any food).