Editing Red wattlebird (section)

==Behaviour==
A loud and active bird, the red wattlebird is found in pairs, in a small family group, or alone during the breeding season, and gathers in larger groups of up to several hundred birds over winter. It flies straight or with a slightly undulating pattern, alternating between gliding and flapping its wings with quick shallow beats, at or slightly above the level of the tree canopy.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=463-64}} The red wattlebird moves on the ground by hopping, cocking its tail upwards slightly.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=463}}

Aggressive and territorial, the red wattlebird defends its nest and sources of food against other birds. It either calls at, snaps at the tails of, or flies at other birds, sometimes scuffling with members of the same species or other large honeyeaters in the air.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=471-72}} ''Displacement'' is a dominant display in which a red wattlebird will land on a perch that has been immediately vacated by another bird. A smaller red wattlebird adopts a horizontal ''appeasement posture'' side-on to the aggressor in which it lowers its head, flutters its wings and edges closer to the other bird.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=472}}  
 
As well as smaller bird species, red wattlebirds can mob and chase larger species, such as the [[Australian magpie]] (''Gymnorhina tibicen''), [[butcherbird]]s, [[currawong]]s, the [[black-faced cuckooshrike]] (''Coracina novaehollandiae''), the [[olive-backed oriole]] (''Oriolus sagittatus''), crows, ravens, the [[laughing kookaburra]] (''Dacelo novaeguineae''), and even small raptors like the [[collared sparrowhawk]] (''Accipiter cirrocephalus'').{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=472-73}}

===Breeding===
[[File:Red Wattlebird chick.jpg|thumb|right|Chick, Victoria|alt=A baby bird on a branch]]
The red wattlebird breeds throughout its range, with nesting taking place between July and December, though occasionally outside these months, if conditions are favourable. One or two broods are laid each year.{{sfn|Beruldsen|2003|pp=319–20}}

Red wattlebirds generally nest as solitary pairs.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=474}} The nest is a cup-shaped structure formed from sticks and leaves, lined with bark, grass, and hair,{{sfn|Beruldsen|2003|pp=319–20}} between {{convert|2|and|16|m|ft|sigfig=1}} above ground, usually in the forked branches of a tree—generally a eucalypt.{{sfn|Beruldsen|2003|pp=319–20}} The nest is usually located centrally rather than on the periphery of a tree.<ref name=ford99>{{cite journal | title=Nest site selection and breeding success in large Australian honeyeaters: Are there benefits from being different? | last=Ford | first=Hugh A. |journal=Emu |year= 1999 |volume=99|issue=2| pages=91–99 | doi=10.1071/MU99012 | bibcode=1999EmuAO..99...91F }}</ref> A study in Eastwood State Forest, near [[Armidale, New South Wales|Armidale]] in New South Wales, found that red wattlebirds preferred to nest in manna gum (''[[Eucalyptus viminalis]]'') and apple box (''[[Eucalyptus bridgesiana|E. bridgesiana]]'').<ref name=ford99/>

A clutch of two or three pale brown- and lavender-spotted pinkish eggs are normally laid. They measure {{convert|33|x|22|mm|in|abbr=on|frac=8}}, and are a tapered oval in shape.{{sfn|Beruldsen|2003|pp=319–20}} The eggs are normally incubated by both parents, but sometimes just by the female. They hatch after 16–21 days.<ref name=hbwalive/> The chicks are born almost naked, with a small amount of grey down on their head and body.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|pp=475–76}} They are mostly brooded by the female, but sometimes the male will also brood. The nestlings are fed by both parents, and occasionally immature birds will contribute. Their eyes open at around 7 days.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=475}} They fledge 15–20 days after hatching, and both parents continue to feed them for a further 2–3 weeks.<ref name=hbwalive/> Young are given manna (crystallised plant [[sap]]) and insects, such as beetles, bugs, and flies.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=470}}

===Feeding===
{| style="float:right;"
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|[[File:Bibralake gnangarra-102.JPG| thumb|right|Subspecies ''woodwardii'' feeding on eucalypt in Perth|alt=A bird feeding on flowers in a tree]]
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|[[File:Red Wattlebird Nov09.jpg|thumb|right|Subspecies ''carunculata'' feeding on exotic flowers in Melbourne|alt=A bird feeding on flowers on a branch]]
|}

The red wattlebird is predominantly a nectar-feeder,{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=467}} foraging mostly in trees; in particular, climbing along branches (rather than the trunk) and probing flower-heads with its bill.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=468}} One study in Bondi State Forest in southern New South Wales revealed that the species foraged at a height of {{convert|5.9 ± 5.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal| last1=Recher | first1=H.F. | last2=Holmes | first2= R.T. | last3=Schulz | first3=M. | last4=Shields | first4=J. | last5=Kavanagh | first5=R. | year=1985 | title=Foraging patterns of breeding birds in eucalypt forest and woodland of southeastern Australia|journal=Australian Journal of Ecology|volume=10|issue=4|pages=399–419 | issn=0307-692X | doi=10.1111/j.1442-9993.1985.tb00902.x}}</ref> They seldom look for food on the ground, though do so to feed on shrubs such as the cats paw (''[[Anigozanthos humilis]]'').<ref name=hopper78>{{ cite journal | last1=Hopper | first1=Stephen D. | last2=Burbidge | first2=Allan H. | year=1978 | title=Assortative pollination by Red Wattlebirds in a hybrid population of ''Anigozanthos'' Labill | journal=Australian Journal of Botany | volume=26 | issue=3 | pages=335–50 | doi=10.1071/BT9780335 }}</ref> The red wattlebird prioritises visiting flowers that produce a lot of nectar, such as those of eucalypts, banksias, grasstrees (''[[Xanthorrhoea]]''), and emu bushes (''[[Eremophila (plant)|Eremophila]]'').{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=468}} It often prefers plants with easy access to nectar, rather than those with tubular flowers (and thus difficult-to-access nectar).<ref name=paton77/> The red wattlebird seeks out yellow flower-heads of holly-leaved banksia (''[[Banksia ilicifolia]]''), which have much higher nectar content than the more mature red flower-heads.<ref>{{cite journal| last1=Lamont| first1=Byron B.| last2=Collins | first2=Brian G. | year=1988|title=Flower colour change in ''Banksia ilicifolia'': a signal for pollinators|journal=Austral Ecology|volume=13|issue=2|pages=129–35|doi=10.1111/j.1442-9993.1988.tb00962.x}}</ref> The species forages much more often in native than [[Introduced species|exotic]] plants,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Green|first=Ronda J.|date=1984|title=Native and exotic birds in a suburban habitat|journal=Australian Wildlife Research|volume=11|issue=1|pages=181–90|doi=10.1071/WR9840181}}</ref> though the introduced coral tree (''[[Erythrina]]'') is popular.<ref name="Keast 1968a"/> In addition to nectar, it takes insects and other small creatures, usually by [[hawking (birds)|hawking]], and it also feeds on [[berry|berries]] and other fruit.<ref name=hbwalive/> A field study in the Mount Lofty Ranges found that it spent twice as much time feeding on nectar compared to insects.<ref name="Ford and Paton 77">{{cite journal|last1=Ford|first1=Hugh A.|last2=Paton|first2=David C.|title=The comparative ecology of ten species of honeyeaters in South Australia|journal=Australian Journal of Ecology|date=1977|volume=4|issue=2|pages=399–407|doi=10.1111/j.1442-9993.1977.tb01155.x|bibcode=1977AusEc...2..399F }}</ref>

One field study found that red wattlebirds foraged for longer periods when nectar concentrations in flowers were low, and consumed fewer insects at this time. However, this could have been because the temperature was lower and hence insects were less active.<ref name="McFarland 1986">{{cite journal|last=McFarland|first=David C.|date=1986|title=The organization of a honeyeater community in an unpredictable environment|journal=Australian Journal of Ecology|volume=11|issue=2|pages=107–20|doi=10.1111/j.1442-9993.1986.tb01382.x}}</ref> In [[Gingin, Western Australia]], 97% of red wattlebirds at a site of two mixed kangaroo paw species were observed feeding on a single species at its peak flowering: cats paw in August and red-and-green kangaroo paw (''[[Anigozanthos manglesii|A. manglesii]]'') in September, with very few visits to the other species or hybrids.<ref name=hopper78/>

In central New South Wales, the red wattlebird forages more often on the foliage of the grey gum (''[[Eucalyptus punctata]]'') over other trees, though it does also show some preference for narrow-leaved ironbark (''[[Eucalyptus crebra|E. crebra]]''), if grey gum is not present. Red wattlebirds tend to oust [[noisy friarbird]]s (''Philemon corniculatus'') where both species are present.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Selective foliage foraging by Red Wattlebirds, ''Anthochaera carunculata'', and Noisy Friarbirds, ''Philemon corniculatus''  | last1=Saunders | first1=Anthony S. J. | last2=Burgin | first2=Shelley | journal=Emu |year= 2001 |volume=101|issue=2|pages=163–66 | doi=10.1071/MU00007| bibcode=2001EmuAO.101..163S | s2cid=82157738 }}</ref> The red wattlebird often forages alongside the [[New Holland honeyeater]] (''Phylidonyris novaehollandiae''), [[little friarbird]] (''P. citreogularis''), western and little wattlebirds, [[rainbow lorikeet]] (''Trichoglossus moluccanus''), [[purple-crowned lorikeet]] (''Glossopsitta porphyrocephala''), [[satin bowerbird]] (''Ptilonorhynchus violaceus''), [[pied currawong]] (''Strepera graculina''), and [[crimson rosella]] (''Platycercus elegans''), though they generally chase other nectar-feeding birds away from a horde of eucalypt flowers.{{sfn|Higgins|2001|p=467}}

A field study, conducted in winter 1978 on Kangaroo Island, found red wattlebirds to be territorial around a rich source of nectar, namely a large cup gum (''[[Eucalyptus cosmophylla]]''), driving off smaller honeyeaters. This indicated that the species would exclude other species, if food was scarce.<ref name="Ford and Paton 76">{{cite journal|last1=Ford|first1=Hugh A.|last2=Paton|first2=David C.|title=Resource partitioning and competition in honeyeaters of the genus ''Meliphaga''|journal=Australian Journal of Ecology|date=1976|volume=1|issue=4|pages=281–87|doi=10.1111/j.1442-9993.1976.tb01118.x|bibcode=1976AusEc...1..281F }}</ref> In New England National Park, red wattlebirds would be more aggressive when there were moderate amounts of nectar in groves of flowering banksias, but were less so at lean or abundant times.<ref name="McFarland 1986"/>

The red wattlebird has a brush-tipped tongue, with a  {{convert|17|mm|in|abbr=on|frac=8}} long segment bearing around 120 individual bristles. It feeds by placing the bill in a flower and inserting the tongue into its nectar chamber, drawing the nectar up by capillary action. The bristles increase the surface area of the tongue available for the uptake of nectar.<ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Paton | first1=D.C. | last2=Collins | first2=B.G. | year=1989 | title=Bills and tongues of nectar-feeding birds: A review of morphology, function and performance, with intercontinental comparisons | journal=Australian Journal of Ecology | volume=14 | issue=4 | pages=473–506 | doi=10.1111/j.1442-9993.1989.tb01457.x }}</ref>