AUSTRALIAN BIRDS

Australia is home to over 700 species of birds. When you include Australia’s offshore islands and territories the number increases to around 900 species; of these about 350 are endemic (found only in Australia). The parrot and pigeon families may have originated in Australia and are well represented today. Also dominant are the songbirds that began their worldwide conquest in Australia and now make up half of the world’s 10,000 bird species. Families such as the honeyeaters proliferated to make use of the plentiful nectar from eucalypt and paperbark trees.

Lyrebirds have inhabited Australia for over 15 million years. They are one of the largest of the songbirds, renowned for their mimicry of other birds and sounds.

In this tree the Scarlet Honeyeater competes with two other honeyeater family rivals for nectar; the Little Wattlebird and the Brown Honeyeater.

Self introduced birds to Australia include swallows and raptors. These have been joined by human introduction of starlings, sparrows, the Common Myna and other species. There are migratory shorebirds that breed in northern Asia and Alaska and arrive to feed over the Australian summer before returning. Offshore over 200 of the world’s 350 species of seabird can be seen in Australian waters.

AUSTRALIAN BIRD FAMILIES

Families - Click on the photos to learn more

Water Birds Black Swan


AUSTRALIAN BIRD PLACES

Australia provides a very wide range of habitats for birds and animals; the tropical northern rain-forests of the east coast blend into temperate forests further south and then the mountains of the Snowy and Tasmania. Further inland broad woodlands become progressively drier toward the central deserts, then back to the grasslands and bush of the west coast. Marine habitats range from the tropical Coral Sea in the north to southern oceans that reach towards Antarctica. The offshore islands provide some unique marine habitats.

The White-faced Storm-Petrel is only 20 cm in length but has mastered the world’s oceans. It flutters above the water, feeding on plankton crustaceans it picks from the surface.

In the north, Australian birds overlap with New Guinea birds and are generally different to the Asian birds living on the other side of the famous Wallace line, which divides Bali from Lombok. Many New Zealand birds derive from vagrants blown from Australia across the Tasman sea.


Places - Click on the photos to learn more

New South Wales Birds Eastern Rosella

Northern Territory Birds Comb-crested Jacana

Western Australia Birds Black-necked Stork (Jabiru)

Sydney Birds Azure Kingfisher

Sri Lankan Birds Ceylon Junglefowl


NEWS

Many Australian bird species are threatened by loss of habit from land clearing, and by the introduction of new predators - especially cats. Climate change is affecting many species; as temperature increases change the availability of food sources, the number of high temperature days increases affecting breeding success, and the range available for alpine birds decreases as mountain temperature gradients change.

This Jacky Winter, enjoys a cool 25 degrees Celsius. As temperatures rise they fluff feathers to make the most of any breeze, then raise wings to cool beneath. Over 40 degrees they pant to keep cool but when temperatures exceed 45 degrees both young and old birds start to fail. Link to “Australian Birds and Climate Change”.

Current conservation efforts include regeneration of bush and support for threatened species, but this needs to be on a much larger scale, and to be supported by much stronger regulations if we are to reverse decreasing bird numbers and the loss of endangered species.

News - Click on the photos to learn more

Birds in the City Laughing Kookaburra

Birds at the Beach Australian Pelicans

Birds in the Bush Australian Magpie

AUSTRALIAN BIRD LOCATIONS

There is unique habitat and there are interesting birds wherever you travel in Australia. Local bird watchers or councils interested in bird tourism publish bird watching maps which are often easy to find on the internet. The Birdlife Australia website is an excellent source of information.

Locations - Click on the photos to learn more

Albany, Western Australia Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo

Brisbane, Queensland Pale-headed Rosella

Broome, Western Australia Migrant shore-birds at Roebuck Bay

Grenfell, New South Wales Grey-crowned Babblers

Kimberly, Western Australia Red-winged Parrot

Leeton and Griffith Australian Spotted Crake

Mid North Coast New South Wales Australian Brush-turkey

Perth, Western Australia Great Crested Grebe

“Look out for these amazing birds. They are living with us and all around us. Help them out when you can and they will reward you with cheerful songs and beautiful colours”