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Smallest member of the pigeon family, the diamond Dove is essentially a bird of the arid zone of Australia. They feed on the ground almost entirely on very small seeds from a wide variety of drought evading ephemeral plants, mostly herbs and grasses.

Peaceful Dove Geoprlia striata 

Plentiful in the northern parts of Australia, relatives of the 
Peaceful Dove and the Bar Shouldered Dove, they are not in 
direct competition to one another. Eats seeds of a wide variety 
of grasses, herbs and shrubs, shows a decided preference for 
feeding at roadsides, in dusty places, and in areas that have 
been burnt. They live in pairs or small groups.

Central and North Australia and west coast. Breeds through the year, and are permanent residents of the arid spinifex grasslands.  They must have access to water. After the rains, when the ground is covered with quick growing plants, the pigeons breed and their numbers increase. They are usually seen in small groups of up to 15 birds. They live on the ground and can walk long distances.  Pic. Courtesy Robin Hill.©

Bush stone curlews are scattered throughout Australia. Their favourite habitat is grassy woodland but in rainforests and bare deserts they are absent or rare.  They are ground living birds and gather for food - such as invertebrates and beetles, from the ground. They have a strange, wailing call common during the night. They breed between August and January, usually on a small scrape on bare ground, generally near a bush or fallen dead limb     Pic R Dotter

The cock scrub turkey builds a large mound, trampling and compacting raked grasses etc into this mound. In damp, warm habitat it rapidly ferments, building up then falling and remaining about 30C for two or three months. Eggs are laid at intervals of two or three days, the female digging a niche in the mound, laying the eggs, then covering with materials. The average clutch is 18-24.   Incubation takes about 50 days,  when the chick struggles out and into the bush to begin a solitary and independent life. They live up the east coast of Australia.        Pic H Dutra

This large, flightless bird is a nomadic wanderer in most parts of Australia.  They eat a variety of leaves, grasses, fruits and flowers of native plants. Emus form pairs in December to January, and remain together for five months.  The male incubates the eggs for 8 weeks, leaving the eggs rarely and eating little. In a bad year many may die, but they live around waterholes and soon build up the population again. Emus can run at fast speeds of up to 50km/h. They are included on the Australian Coat of Arms.      Pic H Dutra.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 

This large, raucous cockatoo is in plentiful numbers in Aus-
tralia. They fly in flocks and each flock has its own roosting 
place. Few Australian birds are as well known as the Sul-
phur Crested Cockatoo. Until midmorning the cockatoos 
usually feed on seeds on the ground, and during the hottest 
part of the day they sit in trees, idly stripping the leaves and 
bark. They love the seeds and herbaceous plants, grain, 
bulbous roots, berries, nuts and leaf buds. Worms and 
grubs are picked  from the dead logs and bark, including 
insects and their larvae. They make popular pets.   Pic D Bell

Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus

This picture of the Palm Cockatoo was taken with 
the Bird Breeder at the Kansas City Zoo and is a 
favourite pet. Palm Cockatoos are confined to the 
Cape York Peninsula and roost singly on the tops 
of tall trees and return to their roosts just before 
sunset. Their diet is seeds, nuts, fruit and leaf buds 
including berries. Palm cockatoos look heavy in 
flight but often glide on down turned wings. The 
female incubates the single egg from 30 - 35 days 
and the chick stays in the nest and after leaving, is 
fed by the parents for another 6 weeks     Pic R Bell

The yellow-tailed black, although closely related to the white-tailed black, are sufficiently different to be classified as a different species. Yellow-tails prefer the forested areas of the range, and nest in tree hollows high above the ground. They feed extensively on the lava of wood boring insects which occur in eucalypts, banksia (see pic) acacias and green trees. They also eat the seeds of pine trees and hakeas. 

White-Tailed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhyncus baudinii

A west Australian Cockatoo, found in heavy forest country 
between Perth and Albany. These large seemingly slow 
flying cockatoos has adapted well to the change environ-
ment and is in no danger of becoming rare. They feed on 
the ground readily on wild geraniums, fallen marri nuts or 
pine cones, seeds shed by burning trees after bushfires.

Gang Gangs live in heavily forested areas of south eastern Australia, and return each day to the same tree until the food there is exhausted. They breed in mountain forests and come down to lower valleys for winter. During the hottest parts of the day they sit for hours among the branches, sidling up to each other for intensive mutual-preening sessions. Breed October-January.

These beautiful cockatoos are often called Major Mitchells, after the explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell (1772-1855) and this bird never fails to impress.  They spend most of the day feeding, on the ground and among the branches of trees.  They eat seeds, nuts, fruits and roots and specially like cypress pine and acacia seeds. The flight of pink cockatoos consists of flapping wing-beats alternating with gliding for brief periods. They breed August- December, with incubation lasting 30 days. Chicks leave nest 6 weeks after hatching and stay with parents.

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Parrots

Superbs are usually seen alone, and eat pollen, nectar and fruits and often eat wheat and oats from farms. The courtship display of the male is lively, bowing and puffing out his feathers. The young leave the nest four to five weeks after hatching.  When about six months old, the male shows yellow on his face, and red on the front of his neck. They gradually acquire adult plumage over the next six to nine months. Pic H. Zerafa
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The budgerygah is without doubt, the most widely known of all parrots, and is popular as a cage bird throughout the world. It leaves in the interior of Australia and is a hardy bird. It can live for 120 days without water. They congregate in very large flocks and are legendary in some areas as the sky has been darkened by myriads of these small parrots. They feed entirely on the seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants. In captivity  they are excellent show birds.    They make good pets and breed easily.
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During the day northern Rosellas sit quietly among the topmost branches of the trees.  These inconspicuous quiet birds seldom congregate in large flocks and generally seen in pairs.  They live in north west and northern Australia from Napier, Broome Bay to Nicholson River. Towards the start of breeding season northern Rosellas squabble, chatter and shake their tails.  The average number of eggs is five, but they can lay as many as 7.
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These rosellas are closely related to the green rosella of Tasmania which they resemble in all aspects of behaviour. The seeds of wattles and eucalypts art prominent in their diet, but they also visit orchards to feed on cultivated fruit. Breeds September-January.
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This mop budgie had a genetic problem with its feathers. They grow to some length and often cover the eyes and beak making it difficult to feed and see. These birds never live very long.
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These beautiful birds are usually seen in pairs or family parties, although flock of up to 20 birds may be seen during the non-breeding season. They feed on blossoms, nectar, fruit and nuts and seeds, as well as insects and their larvae. They spend most of the day in the tree-tops and come to ground only to drink and feed. Breeds October-January and their habitat is up and down the east coast of Australia.  They also love wild tobacco berries.    Pic H Dutra

During the early 1960's large numbers of scarlets - a species always regarded as rare - invaded country just north of the Murray River between Morgan SA and the Victorian-South Australia border.  Such extreme nomadism leads us to suspect that it is not so rare. They are very unobtrusive birds spending most of their time on the ground.   Usually seen in isolated pairs, or in groups of not more than ten. Breeds August-January and can have up to 6 chicks. Extremely nomadic, few records.   Pic D Bell©

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Same as above.   Pic D Bell©

The zebra finch is found all over Australia except in the rainforest areas. During drought times, the birds from the inland head to the coastal areas in search of water. They nest in just about anything and are good breeders.   There is the normal grey or native form and in captivity there are several mutations. They lay 3-6 eggs and incubate for 14 days. They fledge at 21 days.  Pic D Bell

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Bluefaced parrot finches are limited to the east of the Cape York peninsula. They are usually not polygamous, and have been known to hybridise with other species of the parrot finch family and with gouldian finches. They prefer open flight aviaries and feed on banana, paw paw, and other soft fruits. Seeds are usually the larger variety - white french, canary and hulled oats.  Most forms of live food are taken particularly when feeding young.   The cock bird mercilessly pursues the hen in the breeding season.  Birds should be spelled after three clutches. The life expectancy of the parrot finch is approximately 7 years.

Crimson or blood finches come from across the top of Northern Territory and the east coast of Cape York. Their nest is bulky with no entrance tube. They are not partial to fruit and should be fed a seed mix, their favourite food being half ripe seed heads. The hen plays the major role in nest building and prefer moist, warm weather.  Aviaries should be protected from draughts and cold winter winds. Pic D Bell ©

Habitat arid areas of north west Australia through the Northern Territory into Queensland. The nest is usually built in spinifex with no entrance tunnel. They often make a platform of pieces of charcoal, some saying this is to aerate the nest.   Pannicum, jap millet and canary are the main foods, and they love feeding on the ground.    In the wild they eat spinifex. They love live food such as white ants/termites. Incubation is shared and is for 14 days. Parents dispose of shells but they don't remove droppings from the nest. Pic D Bell ©

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Sometimes called the "Owl Finch" this neat black and white bird is not polygamous and is found in eastern N.S.W. and Queensland. Also north of latitude 20 degrees in Qld. NT and W.A. The Double Bars enjoy a variety of seeds and love picking over white ants nests. Special mixes are fed one month prior to breeding for best results.    Double-bars prefer whitish grasses for nest building instead of green couch.  Natural or tank water helps fertility. Not normally aggressive but will protect its nesting area.

The Lady Gouldian finch was named in honour of Elizabeth Gould, wife of the famous John Gould - and she was responsible for all the drawings of birds which he discovered in the wild. She died of typhoid when quite young.  This beautiful finch is a joy to have in aviaries and provided they are cared for properly are prolific breeders.    They come for the Northern Territory but their numbers are declining in the wild. Not so in aviaries tho. Their numbers are increasing there. Colony breeding of gouldians is a must and no other species should be included with them.  Please refer to breeding gouldians   Pic D Bell ©

The normal zebra finch in the wild  (see above)

VARIOUS OTHER BIRDS
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Perhaps the best known honey eater in Eastern Australia, the noisy miner is noted for its raucous and frequent crying and scolding calls. They also eat insects and small invertebrates. Only the female builds the next but the male occasionally helps. In a single nesting period one female may be helped by as many as 24 males, and feeding visits to the nest are frequent, often exceeding 50 an hour.

The Australian Magpie has been studied more intensely than any other Australian bird, chiefly because it lives in groups and is easier to study.   Distribution is throughout Australia and has been introduced into New Zealand.   They are slow to mature sexually.  The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs alone, for 20 days.  Carolling to advertise and defend territory - harsh aggressive calls during fights - thin short note when young is disturbed.

LORIKEETS
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