Australian Backyard Birds

This page contains details and photos of butcherbirds, ibis, kookaburras, magpies, miners, pigeons, wrens and other native birds that visit our backyard at Lake Macquarie, New South Wales.

Click on thumbnail image to see a larger, higher resolution photo.

Superb Fairy-wren male

A small, insect eating bird that grows from between 100 to 150mm long. They can be found almost all around South-Eastern Australia.

The male has a black bill, nape, breast and lower back. It has a bright blue crown, upper back and ear coverts, and a dark blue tail.

Straw-necked Ibis

A cousin to the common white Ibis, this variety has a straw like plumage on its neck resembling a beard. It also has a black back and wings with a metalic sheen that reflects sunlight.

Straw-necked Ibis grow from about 600 to 700 mm. They can sometimes be seen soaring in thermals or flying in formation.

They hunt in freshwater wetlands, open grassed areas and pastures where there are plenty of leaf eating insects and grubs to be found.

Spotted Turtle Dove

Distributed along the whole East coast from Townsville to Adelaide. One of the most common birds found in residential back yards in coastal areas. Their constant 'coo-ing' is quite loud and can be heard up to five houses away.

Spotted Turtle Doves grow from 300 to 330 mm long and nest about 3m above ground level in dense shrubs, vines, buildings and even hanging basket plants.

Noisy Miner

A smallish grey-green bird with a bright yellow bill found throughout Eastern Australia. They grow from about 170 to 200 mm long, but are aggressive and will defend their territory against other, much larger birds of prey.

Noisy miners feed on a variety of seeds, nectar and insects. They become accustomed to living near people and will search for food on plants around you.

Magpie Lark (Pee Wee)

The male bird (above photo) has a black face and bib.

Commonly known as a Pee Wee after their call or Mud Larks because of their mud nests. Magpie-larks grow to 250 mm long and are very agile. They can catch grass hoppers and insects in flight.

Pied Butcherbird

Larger than the grey variety, Pied Butcherbirds have a black hood and bib with white below. They also have a wide white collar and narrow black back.

Other distinguishing features include a white bar on a black wing and white corner tips on a black tail. They grow from 320 to 350 mm long and are about the same size as common Magpies.

Magpie

Magpies become very tame and wild birds can be coaxed to take food from a person's hand. Neighborhood Magpies like this one stand close by while we dig in the garden. As soon as a worm appears, the bird will dart between our legs to grab the wriggler before it gets covered again.

Magpies are very adept at catching mice and will beat a cat any day. They are a nuisance at nesting time and dive bomb anyone coming within 50 meters of their tree.

Australian Raven

Commonly called a Crow, the Raven is the largest of the Australian corvids. Other than their white eyes, their feathers, legs and beak are all glossy black.

Australian Ravens grow from 500 to 520 mm long. They have a unique, far reaching call that sounds like a crying child before ending with a drawn-out finish. Eats fruit, eggs, live or dead meat and carrion, and is considered a pest by sheep graziers.

Kookaburra

Kookaburra grow from about 400 to 450 mm long. They are regular visitors and sit on top of our fence or clothes hoist to investigate the garden. If an unsuspecting mouse, frog or lizard make a wrong move, it will end up being fresh meat for dinner.

Kookaburras have several unique habits. Other than their loud, long chuckling call, they thrash live food against tree branches until it is pulverized enough to swallow whole. Kookaburras are also family oriented and older unmated birds will help feed their younger brothers and sisters.

Superb Fairy-wren female

The female Fairy-wren is similar size to the male, but is plain brown in colour. She is just as fast and can catch flying insects.

Male and female Fairy-wrens are usually seen in family groups hunting on the ground in gardens, rainforests and open forest areas.

White Ibis

A large, soaring bird with a white body and wings and a black head with a long, curved beak.

They prefer to roost in trees near water, bullrush beds or mangroves. The above photo was taken of a breeding colony located in the Toronto Wetlands.

Adults grow from around 650 to 750 mm long. They can be found in all Eastern states and Northern Australia.

Crested Pigeon

Crested pigeons grow from 300 to 350 mm long. I always know the lawn needs mowing when the pigeons start feeding in my backyard.

This species has two unique characteristics that make them different from other pigeons. They have a prominent crest on their head and both wings make a loud whistling sound when taking off.

Other related species include Topknot pigeons that live in rain-forests.

Little Friarbird

Little Friarbirds can be found in Eastern and Northern Australian forests and woodlands.

They grow from about 250 to 280 mm and are sometimes mistaken for honeyeaters.

Their voice is musical and easily distinguished. They habit native flowering trees and are quite adapt at gathering nectar.

Magpie Lark (Pee Wee)

The female bird (above photo) has a white face and throat.

Pee Wees usually travel in pairs and sound an alarm if a cat or reptile ventures into their territory. They are frequently seen attacking their own reflection in glass doors and motor car windows.

Butcherbird

Looking like a small magpie at first, butcherbirds have a greyer back and distinct hooked beak. They have a rich musical voice and will learn to sing for scraps of food.

Butcherbirds grow from about 280 to 320 mm long. They get their name from their eating habits. If a worm or piece of meat is too large to swallow, the bird hangs it in the fork of a small branch and disects the food using its strong beak.

Willie Wagtail

A very common bird found all over Australia. An aggressive flycatcher that hunts insects in forests, fields, lawns, shrubs and buildings. Often seen on the back of grazing animals in paddocks.

Willie Wagtails grow from 190 to 220 mm long, with glossy black feathers and white underparts. They make a chattering sound similar to someone rattling a box of matches. They rarely stay still and continously wag their long tail.

Pied Currawong

A migratory bird that moves between the East Coast and Great Divide with the seasons. They are all black with a white flash on the wing and tail that distinguishes them from crows and ravens.

Currawongs grow from 400 to 500 mm long, have a strong black beak and bright yellow eyes. Their voice is unique and loud and more than often heard long before being seen. They will steal pet food, strawberries and other small fruits if given the chance.

Brush Turkey

Rarely found in backyards, but can be seen in parks and gardens and nearby bushland. Brush Turkeys prefer to use dense scrub and forests to breed in large mound nests.

They are easily identified with their black bodies, wings and tail, and red head and neck.

Adults grow from around 600 to 700 mm long. Their natural habitat is dry bushland along the Australian North Eastern coast and ranges.