Australia has several islands and territories, each with unique habitats and environments. Naturally, this attracts many birds to the country, including shorebirds, seabirds, babblers, robins, and crows. Many of the native avian species are similar to those found in countries in the Northern Hemisphere. However, this is an example of convergent evolution as these birds have evolved independently over time to resemble each other and have different ancestry.
While Australia does not have an official national bird, the emu unofficially holds the title. These large flightless birds are even displayed on the national coat of arms. Besides the emu, some common birds seen include the Rainbow Lorikeet, the Galah, and the Silver Gull. Australia is also home to several species of cassowary, which are widely regarded as the most dangerous birds in the world.
List of Birds Found in Australia
Birds of Prey
- Australian Hobby
- Black-shouldered Kite
- Brown Falcon
- Nankeen Kestrel
- Spotted Harrier
- Wedge-tailed Eagle
Water Birds
- Australasian Darter
- Australasian Grebe
- Australian Pelican
- Australian White Ibis
- Black Swan
- Chestnut Teal
- Glossy Ibis
- Little Pied Cormorant
- Sacred Kingfisher
- White-faced Heron
- White-necked Heron
Backyard Birds
- Australian King Parrot
- Australian Magpie
- Australian Magpie-lark
- Australian Raven
- Australian Reed Warbler
- Blue-winged Kookaburra
- Brush Cuckoo
- Crimson Rosella
- Eastern Rosella
- Galah
- Grey Butcherbird
- Grey Fantail
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Little Corella
- Pied Currawong
- Rainbow Lorikeet
- Regent Parrot
- Silvereye
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
- Superb Fairywren
- Torresian Crow
Ground Nesting Birds
- Australasian Pipit
- Australian Bustard
- Brown Quail
- Buff-banded Rail
- Eastern Quail
- Little Grassbird
- Little Penguin
- Tasmanian Nativehen
Night Birds
- Australian Owlet-nightjar
- Barking Owl
- Masked Owl
- Southern Boobook
- Tawny Frogmouth
- White-throated Nightjar
Shore Birds
- Australian Brush Turkey
- Eastern Wattlebird
- Little Wattlebird
- Masked Lapwing
- Noisy Miner
- Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
- White-breasted Woodswallow
Flightless Birds
- Emu
- Northern Cassowary
- Southern Cassowary
Songbirds
- Australasian Figbird
- Bar-shouldered Dove
- Black-faced Cuckooshrike
- Brown Thornbill
- Common Myna
- Diamond Firetail
- Eastern Koel
- Eastern Spinebill
- Eastern Whipbird
- Eastern Yellow Robin
- Fan-tailed Cuckoo
- Flame Robin
- Golden-headed Cisticola
- Grey Shrike-thrush
- Red-browed Finch
- Red-rumped Parrot
- Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
- Rock Dove
- Rufous Fantail
- Rufous Whistler
- Shining Bronze-cuckoo
- Spotted Pardalote
- Striated Pardalote
- Variegated Fairywren
- White-bellied Cuckooshrike
- White-browed Babbler
- White-browed Scrubwren
- White-fronted Chat
- White-throated Gerygone
- White-throated Needletail
- White-throated Treecreeper
- White-winged Chough
- White-winged Triller
- Yellow Honeyeater
- Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
- Zebra Finch
Migratory Birds That Visit Australia
Australia is a major destination for several migratory birds thanks to the rich variety of habitats in the country.
- Arctic Tern
- Oriental Pratincole
- Gray-tailed Tattler
- Sanderling
- Broad-billed Sandpiper
- Arctic Jaeger
- Eastern Yellow Wagtail
- Eurasian Curlew
- Little Tern
- Black-faced Spoonbill
Birds Commonly Associated with each State in Australia
While none of the states and territories in Australia have an official state bird, these species are commonly associated with them.
- New South Wales: Laughing Kookaburra
- Victoria: Helmeted Honeyeater
- Queensland: Brolga
- Western Australia: Black Swan
- South Australia: Piping Shrike
- Tasmania: Yellow Wattlebird
- Northern Territory: Wedge-tailed Eagle
- Australian Capital Territory: Gang-gang Cockatoo
Common Australian Birds by Color
Black Birds
- Australian Raven
- Black Swan
- Pied Currawong
- Common Blackbird
- Black Currawong
White Birds
- Australian White Ibis
- White-bellied Sea Eagle
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
- Western Corella
- Little Corella
Gray Birds
- Gray Shrikethrush
- Gray Butcherbird
- Red Wattlebird
- Gray Currawong
- Gray-tailed Tattler
Brown Birds
- Brown Honeyeater
- Brown Goshawk
- Brown Falcon
- Brown Quail
- Brown Treecreeper
Blue Birds
- Splendid Fairywren
- Azure Kingfisher
Green Birds
- Green Catbird
- Green Rosella
- Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Red Birds
- Australian King Parrot
- Crimson Rosella
Yellow Birds
- Yellow Thornbill
- Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
Australia is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with enthusiasts visiting the nation year-round to see them. Popular sites include Lord Howe’s Island, Sydney’s Centennial Parklands, Cairns’ Daintree Rainforest, and Perth’s Ningaloo Reef.
Tallest Birds: Emu, Southern Cassowary, Brolga
Smallest Birds: Weebill, Western Gerygone, Brown Thornbill
FAQs
1. Which birds in Australia are known for swooping on people? The Australian Magpie swoops on people if they come too close to its nest. However, while it is the most common bird to display such behavior, other birds like the Australian Magpie-lark, the Gray Butcherbird, and the Masked Lapwing also swoop on people.
2. Which birds are the most colorful birds in Australia? Australia’s most colorful birds include the Rainbow Lorikeet, the Eastern Rosella, and the Galah Cockatoo.
3. Which are the most endangered birds in Australia? The Barking Owl, the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, and the Regent Parrot are among the many birds that are at risk in Australia.
4. Which are the rarest birds living in Australia today? Birds like the Mukarrthippi Grasswren, the Norfolk Island Morepork, and the Orange-bellied Parrot are so rare that they are seldom seen and are close to extinction.
5. Which birds have become pests in Australia? The Common Myna, the House Sparrow, and the European Starling are among the many pest birds in Australia.
