One of the most immediate and obvious differences upon arrival to Australia is the distinctively different bird life. Most obvious is the variety parrot species; followed closely by just larger birds overall. The Below is a selection of all the unique birds we were able to identify and photograph during our time in Australia.
Credit to Kaitlin for most of the photography and the bird identifying here, and thanks to our hosts for letting us use the “Birds of Australia” guidebook.
Fun fact: In Australia, bird-watchers are called “Twitchers” so it seems that’s what we’ve become!
Black Cockatoo
Eastern Rosella
Superb Lyrebird
(He’s hiding back there)
Nankeen Kestrel
Gang Gang Cockatoo
Satin Bowerbird
Bin Chicken
Okay to be technical, this is a Straw-Necked Ibis
Rainbow Lorakeet
Australian Pelican
Galah
Sooty Oystercatcher
Crested Cockatoo
Crimson Rosella
Masked Flover
King Parrot
This one’s a bit far away, but trust us!
Kookaburra
Willie Wagtail
Magpie / Magpie Lark
Bonus – you can train wild ones to eat from your hand!
Emu
Maybe cheating, this was on a farm
Next up a few (of many) from a backyard Aviary
Thanks for showing us around Uncle Bill!
And finally, 4 different birds in one picture!
Can you identify them all?
Note – Like seemingly everywhere else in the world Australia also has Crows, Sparrows, Sea Gulls, and Pigeons; not included on this list.
I grew up knowing a little song about the kookaburra “sitting in the old gum tree eating all the gumdrops it could see” but never knew what kind of bird that was. Now I know! This is so cool to see and love that you’re “twitchers”. The colors are beautiful in the photos and can only imagine the in person experience.
Thanks Diane! Fitting you know of the Kookaburra from a song…they definitely sing very loud themselves!