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Grey Butcherbird
(Cracticus torquatus) also
Pied Butcherbird
(Cracticus nigrogularis)
Both species are best known as
one of Australia's superior
songsters. Breed during July to
January. Feeds on varied diet - insects, mice, lizards, fruit and
grass seeds. Butcherbirds
are easily enticed to return to residential gardens by offerings of
small pieces of raw meat or marble sized balls of minced meat.
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Satin Bowerbird
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)
The adult male Satin Bowerbird is
large, shiny blue-black whose sheen changes as the bird
moves. Both the female and immature birds are a greenish speckled
colour. The bower is built by the adult male bird and consists of
an up-turned arch of grasses and twigs. A fetish for all things
blue results in the entrance to the bower being decorated by collected
blue coloured objects. These are often pieces of blue plastic
pegs, pen tops, bottle caps and drinking straws.
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| Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
Mainly black with just a flash of white at the bottom of the tail and also on the wing edges. It's predominant feature is it's remarkably bright yellow eyes. Pied Currawong move stealthily about the garden seeking insects and in spring, preying on smaller nesting birds and their hatchlings. Their young are fed mostly on such nestlings. Currawong's nests consist of a cup of roughly arranged sticks.
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| Sulphur-crested
Cockatoo
(Cacatura galerita)
Appearing an almost white bird, they are in fact flushed with a subtle
yellow coloured feathers. Cockatoo's often travel in large flocks
although gardens are often visited by small groups or individuals.
Noisy birds with a very penetrating screechy call. They have a marked
fondness for Sunflower seed and most other grain seed. They nest
mainly in tre hollows.
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| Galah
(Cacatua roseicapilla)
A noisy bird when travelling in large flocks. Enjoys free food from
garden feeding stations. They pair for life and once their fledglings
are taught the basic rudiments of survival they are sternly encouraged
to make their own way in life. They are cheeky birds but are extremely
patient when confronted with competition at a feeding station. Often
they are seen feeding on the ground for grass seeds and other grains.
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| Kookaburra
(Dacelo novaeguineae)
The unmistakable laugh of the Kookaburra can be heard often in early
morning. A family breeding pair will often be accompanied by their young
of earlier broods and other orphaned birds. The
"collective" woks together to raise the current young and
strenuously defend their territory from interlopers. The laughing
call is often sung in unison with other's in the collective. Nests are
usually high-up in a tree hollow. They can be attracted into gardens
with the offering of fresh meat titbits.
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King
Parrot
(Alisterus scapularis)
Despite the extremely bright colouring of the King Parrot, it remains an
effective camouflage in dense bush. They are shyer than most other
parrots and will take flight easily when disturbed. Food is
consists mainly of fruit and seeds. Often arrive in the
garden unheralded and feed quietly. Nests are usually in the hollow of a
tree.
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| Superb
Lyrebird
(Menura novaehollandiae)
The adult male bird has the more spectacular plumage. Superb
Lyrebirds are suitably camouflaged and are reputed to be a shy bird and
often difficult to find. They have large, strong feet for scratching
around in the bush leaf litter. The call of the Lyrebird is often mixed
with other sounds and is well known for it's mimicry. They breed
during winter and their nest is a mound of sticks and plant matter. On
occasions they will create their nest in the top of a low tree stump.
Lyrebirds feed mainly on leaf litter insects and earthworms.
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| Rainbow
Lorikeet
(Trichoglossus haematodus)
Rainbow Lorikeets travel in a flock of many birds, screeching loudly as
they move about. They nest in a hollow limb. Probably, the most
common of the colourful coastal birds to be encountered in the
garden. They are strongly independent and self assured. They are
nectar feeding birds but are attracted to feeding station where seed is
supplied.
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| Scaly-breasted
Lorikeet
(Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus)
The Scalypbreasted Lorikeet is very similar to the Rainbow
Lorikeet. Often confused with being an immature
Rainbow. Both species are often encountered in one another's
company. They feed on nectar and berries, fruit seeds and pollen. Nests
are usually in tree hollows breeding usually from July to February.
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Similar to the Rainbow Lorikeet
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| Australian
Magpie
(Gymnorhina tibicen)
Magpies produce a musical caroling call running up and down a scale.
Their distinctive black and white markings make them a widely known
bird. Not to be confused with the Pied Currawong, Magpies have a white
beak. During breeding time they become most aggressive and will
defend their territory by "dive-bombing" those who stray too
close. They feed mainly upon small rodents and reptiles but are not
averse to small offerings of fresh meat. Nests are usually an
untidy affair of sticks and twigs located high-up in tall gum or other
tree.
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| Noisy
Miner
(Manorina melanocephala)
The colourful yellow eye patch makes this otherwise, dull grey bird,
distinctive. They live-up to their name because of the raucous manner in
flocks. Their intimidating approach often drives other species
from the area and they are well known for dominating feeding stations.
Noisy Miners have a varied call of whistles and lilting songs.
Nest are a small cup of grasses, other fine plant detritus and
leaves. They are curious birds, at times brash and cheeky.
Feeds mainly on nectar of native flowers and insects.
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| Magpie-lark
(Peewit or Peewee)
(Grallina cyanoleuca)
An attractively marked medium size bird appears to some as a small
version of the Australian Magpie. Far from being the truth, they
are, in the main, quiet birds. Their repeated call is what gives rise to
them usually being referred to as Peewee's. They feed on small
insects, grubs and earthworms which the forage for in gardens and
lawns. Nest consists of a well constructed mud cup adhered to a
tree branch.
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| Common
Myna (Indian Myna)
(Acridotheres tristis)
An attractive bird with a bright yellow eye patch, beak and legs.
Their body is mainly brown with white round markings under each
wing. These are easily visible as they fly overhead. Myna's
are aggressive birds and display no obvious fear of even the larger
native birds. Further, they have no fear of humans. Calls are
varied as they tend, like other Myna birds, to mimic the call of other
birds. Mynahs will feed on most anything and make their untidy
home of grasses and twigs in the eaves of an unsuspecting
householder. They appear to survive in areas where other similar
hardy birds do not.
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| Crested
Pigeon
(Ocyphaps lophotes)
This pump grey bird has a long tail with a greenish-bronze sheen to it's
wings. The black erect crest or topknot on it's head distinguishes it
from the similar overall appearance of the Turtle Dove. Their call
is a softly produced "cooing" sound. Often feed on
lawns, mostly in pairs or small flocks. When disturbed they rise
quickly into the air, their wings marking an odd fluttering sound.
They are quiet, alert-appearing birds who often fall prey to roaming
domestic cats. Nest is a disorganised heap of loose twigs that defies
belief it can hold anything, let alone one or two eggs and
the sitting parent. Feeds mostly upon grass seeds and grains.
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| Australian
Raven (Crow)
(Corvus coronoides)
A strong, glossy back plumed bird with a powerful beak. It's
throat feathers extend when it calls. Ravens have a piercing white
eye. Highly intelligent birds, able to adapt to most environments
and attempt to avoid human contact whenever possible. Adept at
scavenging through open-topped trash cans for discarded food remnants.
Will eat most edible foods. Call is a mournful sound with
baby-like cries.
Nest at top of very tall trees using a heaped pile of sticks and twigs.
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| Crimson
Rosella
(Platycercus elegans)
Often known as the Mountain or Crimson Lory. Adult birds display a dense
crimson colour with blue throat, tail and wings. hey feed mainly upon
berries, fruits and seeds. Nests in a hollow tree.
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 | Eastern
Rosella
(Platycercus eximius)
Pretty bird with a red head and white cheeks; underbody is yellow but
the wings and tail are blue. The rump is a lightish green color.
They tend to feed on the ground for seeds and insects. Other food
consists of fruit and blossoms. When disturbed they rise quickly screeching
loudly. This bird is best known for it's image being associated as
the trade mark of an Australian food purveyor. Builds it's nest in a
fence post, fallen log or tree hollow.
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| Australian Brush Turkey
(Alectura lathami)
Resembles a small turkey hence it's apt name. This bird has a red
bald head and neck with a brilliant yellow wattle at the throat; the
rest of the bird is black. They have thick strong legs and feet.
Brush Turkey's spend considerable time scratching for food on the
forest floor or in the tended gardens of hapless householders. Food is
insects, some seeds and fruits. Nest is a built-up mound of
rotting forest vegetation. The mound produces heat from the
decaying matter and it is in this that the female birds deposits eggs
for incubation. Their call is a series of grunts and groans.
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| Willie
Wagtail (Willy Wagtail)
(Rhipidura leucophrys)
It's fan-shaped tail (as long as it's body) is the most obvious thing
with the Willie Wagtail. It's shiny black head, throat and body
feathers contrast dramatically with the bird's vivid white chest and
underbody. They are a seemingly fearless garden bird who spend most of
their time, jumping from place to place, swishing the tail back and
forwards whilst foraging the ground for insects. Willie Wagtails
enjoy "teasing" cats, other domestic animals and birds by
flying low over their head or "bombing" them. Can be seen in
meadows, standing high on the rump of a horse or cow. Builds a neat cup
of bark, grasses and spider's web in the fork of a tree. Highly
protective of their nest and young.
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| Eastern
Whipbird
(Psophodes olivaceus)
A medium sized dark brown. grey-olive bird with white cheeks and under
it's black throat. It's head is dominated by a short tufted crest.
Next to the Kookaburra, it is the next most well known forest bird call.
The male Eastern Whipbird issues the unmistakable whip-like
"crack" commencing with a long sustained whistle, rising in
tone to break in the whip-crack sound followed by a singular toot. The
female bird issues a two-toot reply. They feed mostly on insects and
grubs. Nests are well camouflaged, often quite close to the ground and
is a course cup of twigs and grass.
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