Red wattlebird

The red wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata) is a passerine bird native to southern Australia. At 33 to 37 centimetres (13 to 14+12 in) in length, it is the second-largest species of Australian honeyeater. The species is found in open forest and woodland, and is a common visitor to urban gardens and parks. Loud and conspicuous, the red wattlebird is generally found in trees, where it gets most of its food; occasionally it forages on the ground. It is one of the largest nectarivorous birds in the world, feeding from a wide variety of flowering plants, though insects also comprise part of its diet. It is territorial and at times aggressive towards birds of other species, often defending rich sources of nectar. Although it has declined in places from land clearing, it is classified as a least-concern species on the IUCN Red List.

Pictures of the day are chosen from the pool of featured pictures on the English Wikipedia. Editors may vote on featured picture candidates here.Photograph credit: Andreas Trepte