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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Meliphagidae
  4. ›
  5. Anthochaera
  6. ›
  7. Little Wattlebird
Little Wattlebird
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Little Wattlebird

Anthochaera chrysoptera(Latham, 1801)

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Endemic
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Anthochaera

At a glance

The Little Wattlebird is a medium-sized bird, about 27–35 cm long, listed as Least Concern and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
27–35 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Little Wattlebird look like?

The Little Wattlebird is a medium-sized bird, about 27–35 cm long and weighing 44–98 g.

The little wattlebird, also known as the brush wattlebird, is a passerine bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It is found in coastal and sub-coastal south-eastern Australia.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
27–35 cm
Weight
44–97.7 g
Wingspan
36 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • This species is highly active and restless, frequently flicking its tail and wings while perched or moving between branches.

flight

  • Watch for a prominent flash of bright rufous or cinnamon in the wing feathers that is highly visible in flight but hidden when at rest.

plumage

  • Look for dense, fine white streaking over a dark grey-brown body and a distinctive blue-grey eye in adult birds.

size_and_shape

  • Notice the clean face and neck profile; this species lacks fleshy neck wattles and features a long tail with a sharply down-curved bill.

voice

  • Listen for a series of loud, raucous, and mechanical calls, often phonetically described as a guttural 'cookay-cok' or 'fetch the gun'.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Little Wattlebird?

The Little Wattlebird is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Mark Richman · Edna Ave, Springwood, NSW, AU

Call

John Cull · Eastlink Trl, Ringwood, VIC, AU

Call

Rosie Steinberg · Anne Findlay Pl after Bias Ave, Bateau Bay NSW 2261, Australia

Call

jstarspots · Launceston TAS, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Little Wattlebird eat?

The Little Wattlebird feeds on fruit, nectar/pollen and terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Little Wattlebird live in Australia?

The Little Wattlebird is endemic to Australia, recorded across 42 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning east and south-east Australia and Tasmania.

BreedingEast and south-east Australia and Tasmania

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded