Red Wattlebird (Antochaera carunculata); largest honeyeater species on KI; sombre grey-brown plumage with red wattles (dangling skin) on side of head; I photographed this bird as it was dust-bathing/anting; this behaviour involved shuffling vigorously about on ground to create airborne dust which it then preened into its plumage with bill; strangely, dust acts as a cleansing agent in ridding feathers/skin of unwanted impurities; this bird was also settled down amongst an army of small black ants that proceeded to infiltrate its plumage-exactly what the wattlebird intended-the ants were rubbed against the feathers and skin with bill, thus squashing them and releasing formic acid, believed to be a natural insecticide that kills external parasites in the birds plumage.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 11:06:13 +0000
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