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Little WattleBird


Little WattleBird
Photo Information
Copyright: Stuart Smyth (stuart83) Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 55] (150)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400 D, 100-400 4.5-5.6L Ø77, HOYA 77.0 mm UV
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-07-22 0:58
Viewed: 809
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This was taken in our backyard today.

Description
The Little Wattlebird is a medium to large honeyeater, but is the smallest of the wattlebirds. It is mostly dark grey-brown above, with faint white shafts on each of the feathers. The underparts are grey and are heavily streaked with white. The streaks are finer around the throat, becoming more blotched on the sides of the belly. In flight, there is a large rufous patch in the wings. The eye is blue-grey. Birds of Western Australia have a red eye and a silver patch on the side of the throat; these are sometimes regarded as a different species. The sexes are similar. Young Little Wattlebirds resemble the adults, but are duller, have less streaking and a have a browner eye.
Similar species
The larger Red Wattlebird, Anthochaera carunculata, has a yellow belly patch, red wattles on its cheeks and lacks rufous in the wings. Only one other wattlebird species is found in Australia, the Yellow Wattlebird, A. paradoxa, of Tasmania. It is the largest of the three wattlebirds, and indeed the largest of Australia's honeyeaters. It has large yellow wattles hanging from the cheeks.
Distribution
Little Wattlebirds are found throughout south-eastern and south-western Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Little Wattlebirds prefer the drier and often scrubby, habitats, such as banksia heaths, forests, woodlands and urban parks and gardens.
Feeding
As with other honeyeaters, Little Wattlebirds feed on nectar, which is obtained using a long, brush-tipped tongue, specially adapted to probing deep into flowers. Other food includes insects, flowers, berries and some seeds. Most feeding is done while perched, but some insects are caught in mid-air. Birds may feed alone or in small to large groups.
Breeding
If conditions are suitable as many as three broods may be raised in a year. The female Little Wattlebird normally constructs the nest, which is a large cup of twigs and grass, lined with soft materials, such as feathers and wool. The nest may be placed in a range of places from the ground up to about 15m. The female also incubates the eggs alone. Both sexes care for the young chicks.

Original RAW image processed in Digital Photo Professional
Postwork in psp8
slight crop, resize & sharpen
Noise reduction
Neat Image
Necipp, jaycee, kjpweb, deblink, Kathleen has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2007-07-22 1:15]

Hello Stuart,
Welcome to TN!
When my wife and I were in NSW nearly two years ago we saw anumber of Little Wattlebirds and took some photos but none as close and as good as this. This is nice and sharp and looks good with the bottle-brush type flower in the BG. Nice pose too.
Thanks for sharing this one. Look forward to many shots from you!
Best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2007-07-22 1:33]

Hello Stuart,
Very good photo of this Wattlebird. Great pose, POV and sharpness. Lovely details. Fantastic composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Stuart a fine pose captured lovely details and nice colourfull background, it's well composed and well taken shot overall wellcome here tfs rgds necip.

Hi Stuart
Lovely picture. Although the image is a bit closed in front of the head, the compo is well working with the flower in the upper left corner.
Nice bird and nice work
Tfs
TOM

Great setting for this interesting bird. Excellent DOF and exposure.

  • Great 
  • kjpweb Gold Star Critiquer [C: 332 W: 86 N: 1084] (4788)
  • [2007-07-22 15:44]

Wow - that's a good one! Never saw this kind of bird before! Nice compo, great colors, detail and pose! Kudos, Stuart!
Cheers, Klaus

Hi Stuart,
A very warm belated welcome to TN. I have captured an image of a Red Wattlebird before and it was a hard task, they move fast, this one probably does too. Nice image; great POV, DOF and its surroundings are just superb. The quality of your image is great, nice and sharp, we can see all the birds details well.

I hope you got some close up images of the, what appears to be a Grevillea in the background.

Cheers,
Debbie

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2007-07-23 0:29]

Hi Stuart,
Wonderful shot of the Wattlebird and what an expression you have freezed. Lovely natural colours and sharp details and textures on its plumage. The natural setting and habitat looks superb and you have got an admirable POV and DOF. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Stuart.
Great composition getting this pose, singing was he. Colour and detail are wonderful with the environment around him.
Excellent

Kathleen
New Zealand

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-07-23 7:17]

Hi Stuart,

Wonderful capture of this bird I have not seen before. Magnificent colors and details. The plummage is beautiful and you show it perfectly. Wonderful pose showing off the lovely face, eye and slightly opened beak. The setting is amazing. Welcome to TN - looking forward to more posts from you.


Jane

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