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Little wattlebird
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Meliphagidae
Genus:	Anthochaera
Species:	A. chrysoptera
Binomial name
	Anthochaera chrysoptera; (Latham, 1801)

The little wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), 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.

Taxonomy

The little wattlebird was formally described by ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name Merops chrysoptera.^[2] The species is now placed in the genus Anthochaera that was introduced by Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield in 1827.^[3]^[4] The generic name Anthochaera derives from the Ancient Greek anthos 'flower, bloom' and khairō 'enjoy'; the specific epithet chrysoptera derives from Ancient Greek khrysos 'gold' and pteron 'wing'.^[5]

The International Ornithologists' Union recognise three subspecies:^[4]

A. c. chrysoptera (Latham, 1801) – eastern and southeastern Australia
A. c. halmaturina (Mathews, 1912) – Kangaroo Island (South Australia)
A. c. tasmanica (Mathews, 1912) – Tasmania

The western wattlebird (A. lunulata) was at one time considered as the subspecies A. c. lunulata.^[6]

Description

The little wattlebird is a medium to large honeyeater, but the smallest wattlebird.^[7] The appearance is similar to the yellow wattlebird and the red wattlebird.^[8] The little wattlebird lacks the wattles, which characterise other members of the genus. Juveniles are duller with less streaking and have a browner eye.^[7]

Calls include a strident cookay-cok, a raucous fetch the gun, a mellow guttural yekkop, yekkop and many squeaky, musical lilting notes. The alarm call is a kwock or shnairt!.^[8]

Distribution and habitat

The little wattlebird is found in banksia/eucalypt woodlands, heathlands, tea-tree scrub, sandplain-heaths, lantana thickets, wild tobacco, parks and gardens.^[8]

Behaviour

Breeding

Breeding takes place from June to December.^[8] The female wattlebird generally constructs the nest,^[7] which is a loose, untidy cup of twigs, lined with shredded bark, and placed from 1 to 10 m high in the fork of a banksia, tea-tree or eucalypt sapling.^[8] 1-2 eggs are laid and may be spotted red-brown, purplish-red or salmon-pink in colour.^[8] The female incubates the eggs alone but both parents care for the young chicks.^[7]

Feeding

Little wattlebirds feed on nectar obtained with a long, brush-tipped tongue, adapted for probing deep into flowers.^[7] They also feed on insects, berries, and some seeds.^[7] Most feeding is done perched, but some insects are caught in mid-air. Birds may feed alone or in groups.^[7]