From raucous honeyeaters to top predators, Australia’s birds are vital to nature.
Articles on Australian birds
Displaying 1 - 20 of 21 articles
Understanding this migration is crucial. New developments proposed in Bass Strait, particularly offshore wind farms, may introduce challenges for migrating birds.
There is growing interest in the use of First Peoples’ words to name plant and animal species. But we must proceed with both caution and respect.
New fossils reveal Australia was once home to a much greater diversity of huge eagles and vultures, which died off alongside ‘giant wombats’ and ‘marsupial lions’.
Our birds are tough. They went through some mean climatic conditions to make Australia home.
A wonky skull. Enlarged ear chambers. Asymetrical ears. It looks like the elusive night parrot has traded off vision for excellent hearing
Why are Australian black swans so quick to die from bird flu? A new genome study comparing them to their bird brethren helps to unravel the mystery.
Our study found it wasn’t cafes with access to sugar-rich food that led to more miner aggression. In fact, gardens were where we recorded the highest amount of aggressive behaviour.
These iconic honeyeaters once ruled the flowering gum trees in massive numbers. But habitat loss means they’re on the edge of extinction.
The hidden social lives of fairy-wrens are just as complex as those of animals with much larger brains, including monkeys, whales and even humans.
The heaviest bird nest ever discovered weighed more than 2,000kg. It was built by bald eagles. The tiniest nest, built by a bee hummingbird, was just over 2cm wide.
It’s still not known exactly how female birds produce such colourful and intricately-patterned eggs. But we do have some theories about the survival advantage this provides.
The internet exploded after a musk duck was recorded saying “you bloody fool” , and a lyrebird cried like a human baby. So what’s the fuss all about?
Spring is rapidly approaching and many birds are hunting for the best nesting sites. Competition is fierce — especially for species that nest in tree hollows.
Breeding pairs spend a great deal of time roosting together and the male often gently strokes the female with his beak.
Scientists and bureaucrats moved logistical mountains to rescue the eastern bristlebird from bushfires this year. As climate change worsens, wildlife evacuations will become more common.
Weather radar archives hold decades of data about the movements of birds and other flying animals.
New research has shown how to measure conservation progress for Australia’s 238 endangered bird species
When is a galah not a galah? That depends on which scientific name is attached to the Australian bird. There’s been some confusion over this, which DNA testing has finally solved.
Sparrows are one of the commonest birds seen in Australian cities. But the first ones didn’t come from England.
Top contributors
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Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
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Professor of Animal Behaviour, University of New England
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PhD Candidate, Wildlife Biologist, Macquarie University
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Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University
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Professor, Southern Cross University
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Professor in Conservation Science, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland
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Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University
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Ecologist, Charles Darwin University
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Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
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Professor, Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland
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Emeritus Professor in Animal Behaviour, University of New England
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Lecturer in Conservation, The University of Queensland
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Deputy Director and ARC Future Fellow, Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, Adelaide University
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Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University
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Geospatial Scientist, Charles Darwin University