Bedraggled!

As you can see from the bedraggled photo of this poor Red Wattlebird, it has been one of the worst days this week and probably for this winter.

On a warmer note, I last blipped a Red Wattlebird back on 6th March. On that day it was very hot!

More bedraggled!

The Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata) is a large, noisy honeyeater and is among the largest of the Australian honeyeaters.

The common name refers to the fleshy reddish wattle on the side of the neck. The plumage is grey-brown on the body, with prominent white streaks and yellow on the belly.
The face is pale and the tail is long with a white-tip. Young Red Wattlebirds are duller than the adult and have a brown, rather than reddish, eye.

The Red Wattlebird feeds on nectar, which it obtains by probing flowers with its thin curved bill. Some insects are also eaten, taken either from foliage or caught in mid-air. Berries and the honeydew produced by some insects add to the bird's diet. They will also eat meat when hungry, as they are right now!