Wildlife around Australia is unique, varied and thriving – and the birds are no different!
Australia is a birdwatcher’s paradise! Australia is home to over 800 species of birds, and many of them are native only to Australia. Like most wildlife in Australia, you won’t find them anywhere else in the world. With their bright coloured feathers and unique birdcalls, Australian birdlife is one-of-a-kind.
They’re all unique in their appearance, characteristics and environment. Take a hike through the bush, or even through a suburban park, and you’ll probably spot at least one of these avian species.
1. Rainbow Lorikeets
These colourful stunners are true show-offs of the Aussie bird world!
They have a beautiful display of vivid plumage, ranging from bright mustardy yellows to dark royal blue. These adventurous birds are a species of parrot that is more commonly found along the East Coast of Australia or in Queensland.
They are chatty, vocal and social. They have quite a fussier diet than most: They don’t eat seeds, their diet is solely fruit and nectars. They are highly adventurous birds who love to swing, forage, and explore their environment. Walk around the bush, and you’ll probably see them exploring in pairs.
They’re highly communicative birds, often laughing and ‘kooaa’-ing across the forests. These groups are highly cohesive, and they form strong bonds within their larger groups.
They are highly social creatures and tend to live in large family groups. Take a hike around the national parks of New South Wales or Queensland, and you’ll likely spot these stunning creatures!
2. Australian Magpies
Australian magpies are known for their territorial behaviour. Highly protective of their nesting spots, these large Aussie natives go to great lengths to defend their babies, home and resources. If they feel threatened, they’ll swoop downwards to attack a potential threat. You might have spotted cyclists wearing helmets with cable ties on…that’s to protect their heads from the male magpies when they swoop!
You’ll often find magpies pretty much anywhere in Australia, and they’re easily identifiable thanks to their black and white plumage and large size. Magpies are intelligent, complex creatures. They often fight each other for territory; however they’ll form very tight bonds with their families, to create a strong, secure defence around their nesting spots.
They’re bigger than other types of magpies across the world, and they’re not intimidated by humans.
3. Galahs
An iconic species of cockatoo, galahs are found all over Australia. You’ll find them in every state! These charming creatures are playful and chatty birds, and they’re incredibly intelligent.
They’re easily identifiable thanks to their bright pink head and neck. These charismatic Aussie natives love company and often are found in large groups (called a pandemonium). Galahs love to socialise, so you’ll often see them chatting to each other in trees or nibbling seeds from the ground in big groups.
They’re known for being vocal and even a little bit mischievous.
Like all species of cockatoo, galahs form strong bonds with one single partner and mate for life – they’ll only choose another partner if their mate dies. Galahs have adapted well to urbanisation, so you’ll often find them in city parks as well as rural spots.
4. Southern Cassowary
Wander around the Daintree rainforest at dawn, and you might be lucky enough to spot this mysterious creature. One of the closest living things to a velociraptor, this incredible bird shows off its bright blue plumage as it wanders around the thickets of forest in the Daintree. These fantastic birds also wander freely around many different spots along the top of the Queensland coast.
A stunning spectacle of Far North Queensland, the cassowary is one of nature’s marvels. The Daintree pulses with life, and it is home to some of the most unique and interesting wildlife in Australia. Tree kangaroos, forest dragons and ulysses butterflies inhabit this ancient rainforest, alongside the cassowary.
It’s estimated that there are only 4000 cassowaries left in Queensland, so if you spot one, it’s very rare!
You’ll only ever find the cassowary in Far North Queensland or Papua New Guinea. These fascinating birds are crucial to the survival of the Daintree Rainforest. Cassowaries and the Daintree Rainforest are symbiotic (they rely on each other to survive and thrive). That’s because cassowaries eat the grey milkwood fruit that drops on the floor. Cassowaries eat the seed, digest it, and poop it out. This germinates the seed, so that when it’s pooped out, a tree will grow!
5. Kookaburra
A type of kingfisher, the iconic Kookaburra is found in Victoria, East Australia and the top of Queensland. Although they’re not native to Tasmania or South Australia, they have been introduced to these regions to bump up populations.
These birds are often found in bushy settings. They love open forests, gum trees and eucalypts! They’re unique in how they socialise, and their ‘laugh’ calls out to their other family members. They live with their families until they are old enough to be independent.
They’re good at camouflage, with their brown and white feathers blending in well with their environments to protect them from predators. They are carnivores, but instead of hunting their prey, they’ll hide and wait for their food to appear. This method of hunting involves waiting for their prey to appear before swooping down to catch it. They’re not fussy eaters, and they’ll enjoy a varied diet of anything from snakes, fish, rodents and insects!
You’ll hear their laughter during the early hours of the morning to welcome the day ahead. In Dreamtime cultures, seeing a kookaburra is a sign of good luck.
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