Illawarra birds

Birds are a group (class) of animals that have a skin covered with feathers, are warm blooded and lay eggs. For the purpose of this review I exclude exotics, marine pelagic, shorebirds and so called ‘blow ins’ (vagrants). Birds are some of the most appealing animals because they are mostly active during the day, brightly coloured and call to proclaim territories. 

The table below lists the 239 species of birds that occur in the region, ranging from ducks, pigeons, parrots and honeyeaters to ravens. Many are specialists living in just a few of the various habitat types. These species are unlikely to occur in urban areas but some may be found nearby in urban parks and reserves. Some key general points to consider are:
  • Different types of birds have different food preferences. Some plants are great for nectar-eating birds, while others attract insect-eaters (e.g. thornbills, robins, pardalotes, gerygones and wrens) or seed-eaters (e.g., finches, parrots and cockatoos). Providing a range of flowering and fruiting plants, preferably all local natives, will encourage local birds.
  • Grevilleas and other lush flowering natives can attract aggressive bird species such as Noisy Miners that will scare away other species. The combination of a flat lawn with occasional trees or shrubs creates habitat ideal for the invasive Indian Myna. Planting a range of local grasses, small plants, shrubs and trees, creates habitat more likely to bring in local birds.
  • Bird baths can attract a wide range of birds, but need to be accessible and safe. Some dense or prickly shrubs planted to one side can provide a safe escape route if small birds feel threatened. Adding a few rocks or sticks that run to the bird bath’s edge will allow smaller birds to get in and out of the water more easily.

King Parrots will visit bird baths, but are happiest if they have a perch not too far away from which to reach it. Image by Garry Daly ©

Satin Bowerbirds are confident garden visitors, and enjoy access to bird baths and messy areas with shrubs and leaf litter. They often appear in mixed groups of females and immature birds, collectively known as 'green birds' because of their similar coloration. Mature males are usually solitary. Image by Peter Butler. All rights reserved.


Native birds of the Illawarra (excluding marine and shorebirds) 

Note: Those shown with * are listed on the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016)
Family
Species
Common name
Megapodiidae
Alectura lathami
Scrub Turkey
Phasianidae
Coturnix ypsilophora
Brown Quail

Coturnix pectoralis
Stubble Quail

Coturnix chinensis
King Quail
Anatidae
Dendrocygna eytoni
Plumed Whistling Duck

Oxyura australis
Blue-billed Duck*

Biziura lobata
Musk Duck

Stictonetta naevosa
Freckled Duck*

Cygnus atratus
Black Swan

Tadorna variegata
Australian Shelduck

Chenonetta jubata
Australian Wood Duck

Anas platyrhynchos
Mallard

Anas superciliosa
Black Duck

Anas gracilis
Grey Teal

Anas castanea
Chestnut Teal

Anas rhynchotis
Australasian Shoveler

Malacorhynchus membranaceus
Pink-eared Duck*

Aythya australis
Hardhead
Podicipedidae
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Australasian Grebe

Tachybaptus poliocephalus
Hoary-headed Grebe
Anhingidae
Anhinga melanogaster
Darter
Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Little Pied Cormorant

Phalacrocorax varius
Pied Cormorant

Phalacrocorax  sulcirostris
Little Black Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo
Great Cormorant
Pelicanidae
Pelecanus conspicillatus
Australian Pelican
Ardeidae
Egretta novaehollandiae
White Faced Heron

Egretta garzetta
Little Egret

Egretta sacra
Eastern Reef Heron

Ardea pacifica
Pacific Heron

Ardea alba
Great Egret

Ardea intermedia
Intermediate Egret

Ardea ibis
Cattle Egret

Butorides striatus
Striated Heron

Nycticorax coledonicus
Nankeen Night Heron

Ixobrychus minutus
Little Bittern

Ixobrychus flavicollis
Black Bittern*

Botaurus poiciloptilus
Australasian Bittern*
Threskiornithidae
Plegadis falcinellus
Glossy Ibis

Threskiornis molucca
Australian White Ibis

Threskiornis spinicollis
Straw-necked Ibis

Platalea flavipes
Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Platalea regia
Royal Spoonbill
Accipitridae
Pandion haliaetus
Osprey*

Elanus axillaris
Black-shouldered Kite

Lophoictinia isura
Square-tailed Kite*

Milvus migrans
Black Kite

Aviceda subcristata
Pacific Baza

Haliastur sphenurus
Whistling Kite

Haliaeetus leucogaster
White-bellied Sea-eagle*

Circus approximans
Swamp Harrier

Circus assimilis
Spotted Harrier*

Accipiter fasciatus
Brown Goshawk

Accipiter novaehollandiae
Grey Goshawk

Accipiter cirrhocephalus
Collared Sparrowhawk

Aquila audax
Wedge-tailed Eagle

Hieraaetus morphnoides
Little Eagle*
Falconidae
Falco berigora
Brown Falcon

Falco longipennis
Australian Hobby

Falco subniger
Black Falcon

Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon

Falco cenchroides
Nankeen Kestrel
Rallidae
Gallirallus phillippensis
Buff-banded Rail

Rallus pectoralis
Lewin's Rail

Porzana pusilla
Baillon's Crake

Porzana fluminea
Australian Spotless Crake

Porzana tabuensis
Spotless Crake

Porphyrio porphyrio
Purple Swamphen

Gallinula tenebrosa
Dusky Moorhen

Fulica atra
Eurasian Coot
Turnicidae
Turnix varia
Painted Button-quail
Scolopacidae
Gallingo hardwickii
Latham's Snipe*
Burhinidae
Burhinus grallarius
Bush-stone Curlew*
Recurvirostridae
Himantopus himantopus
Black-winged Stilt

Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
Red-necked Avocet
Rostratulidae
Rostratula australis
Australian Painted Snipe
Charadriidae
Vanellus miles
Masked Lapwing
Columbidae
Columba leucomela
White-headed Pigeon

Macropygia amboinensis
Brown Cuckoo-dove

Chalcophaps indica
Emerald Dove

Phaps chalcoptera
Common Bronzewing

Phaps elegans
Brush Bronzewing

Ocyphaps lophotes
Crested Pigeon

Geopelia cuneata
Diamond Dove

Geopelia striata
Peaceful Dove

Geopelia humeralis
Bar-shouldered Dove

Leucosarcia melanoleuca
Wonga Pigeon

Ptilinopus magnificus
Wompoo Fruit-dove

Ptilinopus superbus
Superb Fruit-dove

Lopholaimus antarcticus
Topnot Pigeon
Cacatuidae
Calyptorhynchus lathami
Glossy Black Cockatoo*

Calyptorhynchus funereus
Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo

Callocephalon fimbriatum
Gang-gang Cockatoo*

Eolophus roseicapillus
Galah

Cacatua tenuirostris
Long-billed Corella

Cacatua sanguinea
Little Corella

Cacatua galerita
Sulfur-crested Cockatoo
Psittacidae
Trichoglossus haematodus
Rainbow Lorikeet

Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

Glossopsitta concinna
Musk Lorikeet

Glossopsitta pusilla
Little Lorikeet*

Alisterus scapularis
Australian King Parrot

Platycercus elegans
Crimson Rosella

Platycercus eximius
Eastern Rosella

Lathamus discolor
Swift Parrot*

Psephotus haematonotus
Red-rumped Parrot

Neophema pulchella
Turquoise Parrot*

Pezoporus wallicus
Ground Parrot*
Cuculidae
Cuculus saturatus
Oriental Cuckoo

Cuculus pallidus
Pallid Cuckoo

Cacomantis variolosus
Brush Cuckoo

Cacomantis flabelliformis
Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Chrysococcys basalis
Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo

Chrysococcys lucidus
Shining Bronze Cuckoo

Eudynamys orientalis
Eastern Koel

Scythrops novaehollandiae
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Centropodidae
Centropus phasianinus
Pheasant Coucal
Strigidae
Ninox strenua
Powerful Owl*

Ninox connivens
Barking Owl*

Ninox novaeseelandiae
Southern Boobook
Tytonidae
Tyto tenebricosa
Sooty Owl*

Tyto novaehollandiae
Masked Owl*

Tyto alba
Barn Owl
Podargidae
Podargus strigoides
Tawny Frogmouth
Caprimulgidae
Eurostopodus mystacalis
White-throated Nightjar
Aegothelidae
Aegothehes cristatus
Australian Owlet Nightjar
Apodidae
Hirundapus caudacutus
White-throated Needletail

Apus pacificicus
Fork-tailed Swift
Alcedinidae
Alcedo azurea
Azure Kingfisher
Halcyonidae
Dacelo novaeguineae
Laughing Kookaburra

Todiramphus sanctus
Sacred Kingfisher
Meropidae
Merops ornatus
Rainbow Bee-eater
Coraciidae
Eurystomus orientalis
Dollarbird
Pittidae
Pitta versicolor
Noisy Pitta
Menuridae
Menura novaehollandiae
Superb Lyrebird
Climacteridae
Cormobates leucophaea
White-throated Treecreeper

Climacteris picumnus victoriae
Brown Treecreeper*

Climacteris erythrops
Red-browed Treecreeper
Maluridae
Malurus cyaneus
Superb Fairy-wren

Malurus lamberti
Variegated Wren

Stipiturus malachurus
Southern Emuwren
Pardalotidae
Pardalotus punctatus
Spotted Pardalote

Pardalotus striatus
Striated Pardalote

Dasyornis brachypterus
Eastern Bristlebird*

Pycnoptilus floccosus
Pilot Bird

Origma solitaria
Rock Warbler

Sericornis citreogularis
Yellow-throated Scrubwren

Sericornis frontalis
White-browed Scrubwren

Sericornis magnirostris
Large-billed Scrubwren

Hylacola pyrrhopygia
Chestnut-rumped Hylacola

Calamanthus fuliginosus
Striated Fieldwren

Chthonicola sagittata
Speckled Warbler

Smicrornis brevirostris
Weebill

Gerygone mouki
Brown Gerygone

Gerygone olivacea
White-throated Gerygone

Acanthiza pusilla
Brown Thornbill

Acanthiza reguloides
Buff-rumped Thornbill

Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Yellow-rumped Thornbill

Acanthiza  nana
Yellow Thornbill

Acanthiza lineata
Striated Thornbill

Aphelocephala leucopsis
Southern Whiteface
Meliphagidae
Anthochaera carunculata
Red Wattlebird

Anthochaera chrysoptera
Little Wattlebird

Philemon corniculatus
Noisy Friarbird

Xanthomyza phrygia
Regent Honeyeater*

Manorina melanocephala
Noisy Miner

Meliphaga lewinii
Lewin's Honeyeater

Caligavis chrysops
Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Lichenostomus leucotis
White-eared Honeyeater

Lichenostomus melanops
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater

Lichenostomus fuscus
Fuscus Honeyeater

Lichenostomus penicillayus
White-plumed Honeyeater

Melithreptus lunatus
White-naped Honeyeater

Melithreptus brevirostris
Brown-headed Honeyeater

Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera
Crescent Honeyeater

Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
New Holland Honeyeater

Phylidonyris niger
White-cheeked Honeyeater

Phylidonyris melanops
Tawny Crowned Honeyeater

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Eastern Spinebill

Myzomela sanguinolenta
Scarlet Honeyeater

Epthianura albifrons
White-fronted Chat
Petroicidae
Microeca leucophaea
Jacky Winter

Petroica boodang
Scarlet Robin*

Petroica phoenicea
Flame Robin

Petroica rosea
Rose Robin

Petroica rodinogaster
Pink Robin*

Melanodryas cucullata
Hooded Robin

Eopsaltria australis
Eastern Yellow Robin
Orthonychidae
Orthonyx temminckii
Southern Logrunner
Cinclosomatidae
Psophodes olivaceus
Eastern Whipbird

Cinclosoma punctatum
Spotted Quail-thrush
Neosittidae
Daphoenositta chrysoptera
Varied Sittella*
Pachycephalidae
Falcunculus frontatus
Crested Shrike-tit

Pachycephala olivacea
Olive Whistler*

Pachycephala pectoralis
Golden Whistler

Pachycephala rufiventris
Rufous Whistler

Colluricincla harmonica
Grey Shrike-thrush
Dicruridae
Monarcha melanopsis
Black-faced Monarch

Monarcha trivirgatus
Spectacled Monarch

Monarcha cyanoleuca
Satin Flycatcher

Myiagra rubecula
Leaden Flycatcher

Myiagra inquieta
Restless Flycatcher

Grallina cyanoleuca
Magpie Lark

Rhipidura rufifrons
Rufous Fantail

Rhipidura fuliginosa
Grey Fantail

Rhipidura leucophrys
Willie Wagtail

Dicrurus bracteatus
Spangled Drongo
Campephagidae
Coracina novaehollandiae
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Coracina papuensis
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike

Coracina tenuirostris
Cicadabird

Lalage sueurii
White-winged Triller
Oriolidae
Oriolus sagittatus
Olive-backed Oriole

Sphecotheres viridis
Figbird
Artamidae
Artamus leucorynchus
White-breasted Woodswallow

Artamus personatus
Masked Woodswallow

Artamus superciliosus
White-browed Woodswallow

Artamus cyanopterus
Dusky Woodswallow

Cracticus torquatus
Grey Butcherbird

Cracticus tibicen
Australian Magpie

Strepera graculina
Pied Currawong

Strepera visicolor
Grey Currawong
Corvidae
Corvus coronoides
Australian Raven

Corvus mellori
Little Raven
Corcoracidae
Corcorax melanorhamphos
White-winged Chough
Ptilonorhynchidae
Ailuroedus crassirostris
Green Catbird

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
Satin Bowerbird
Alaudiea
Mirafra javanica
Singing Bushlark
Motacillidae
Anthus novaeseelandiae
Richard's Pipit
Passeridae
Taeniopygia guttata
Zebra Finch

Taeniopygia bichenovii
Double-barred Finch

Neochmia temporalis
Red-browed Firetail

Stagonopleura guttata
Diamond Firetail

Stagonopleura bella
Beautiful Firetail

Lonchura castaneothorax
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Dicaeidae
Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Mistletoebird
Hirundinidae
Hirundo neoxena
Welcome Swallow

Hirundo nigricans
Tree Martin

Hirundo aeriel
Fairy Martin
Sylviidae
Acrocepephalus stentoreus
Clamorous Reed-warbler

Megalurus timoriensis
Tawny Grassbird

Megalurus gramineus
Little Grassbird

Cincloramphus mathewsi
Rufous Songlark

Cincloramphus cruralis
Brown Songlark

Cisticola exilis
Golden-headed Cisticola
Zosteropidae
Zosterops lateralis
Silvereye
Muscicapidae
Zoothera lunulata
Bassian Thrush

Urban native birds 

Since the 1970s there has been a revolution in Australian gardens with the use of native plants. The result is that urban areas have been colonised or recolonised by a swag of birds, namely honeyeaters and parrots. Sparrows and Indian Turtle Doves have given way to flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets, Corellas, Wattlebirds, Crested Pigeons and Noisy Miners. The planting of nectar-producing plants in particular Grevilleas and Bottlebrush species (most of which do not grow naturally in the region) have driven this change by providing a ready source of food - nectar. However there have been more changes in the Illawarra local bird populations. 


The Rainbow Lorikeet is one of the bird species that have become common in urban areas of the Illawarra due to extensive planting of nectar-producing plants like Grevilleas. Image by Garry Daly © 

In the 1940s birdoes (those of us who have a bent for our feathered friends) used to camp in Royal National Park at a place called the Shack. At that time it was a big “tick” (birdo term for seeing a bird) to see a Sulfur Crested Cockatoo. Corellas, Figbirds and Crested Pigeons did not occur on the coast at that time and Rainbow Lorikeets were heard and seen as specks in the sky as they flew south from the Sunshine coast to Nowra when the Spotted Gum were in flower. What has driven these massive changes? 

Notes on the birds some 5km west of Cambewarra Mountain (Tapitallee) by avid bird-watcher Aubrey Elliott clearly indicate that in the 1930s and early 1940s people shot birds for food and to reduce attacks on vegetables, fruit and poultry. Species such as Red Wattlebird, Wonga Pigeon and no doubt Top-knot Pigeon were shot for food whereas Goshawks were shot because they might take a chicken. You also have to consider that most of the bush in the area is regrowth from the Great War and not favourable to many species of bird. On our place there is a layer of fine wire along one boundary fence, when I asked a neighbour about this he said that in the old days the government fenced peoples’ properties if they had a commitment to eradicating feral Rabbits. They built the fence, with the fine wire, if the owner had at least two hunting dogs to drive rabbits into a fence corner so they could be clubbed. This piece of physical evidence and the rock walls in the rainforest in Foxground and Kiama are tell-tale signs of extensive clearing in the region for farming. 


Top-knot Pigeons, with their distinctive grey and brown crests, feed on figs and other rainforest fruits, and then distribute the seeds. Image by Garry Daly ©.

The Illawarra escarpment was initially logged of Red Cedar (Toona ciliata) soon after settlement. Then came agriculture especially after the World War I soldier resettlement scheme, and finally pit props were cut for coal mining. Bigger more mature trees have proportionally more flower than smaller ones and so as the forest matures there is a greater abundance of nectar and nesting sites for birds and other fauna. So natural revegetation has led to more species of bird being in urban areas. 

The pet trade has contributed to the rise in the Illawarra’s bird diversity. In the early 1980s I recall there were a large number of baby Corellas available in pet shops. These wild caught birds flooded the shops and some escaped and established wild populations. I first observed Short-billed Corella in Nowra in 1985 and Long-billed in 1986. Currently mixed flocks of 5-10,000 live in the city and they are common along the Illawarra coast. 

Other species have made their own way down the coast. The Figbird has moved down the coastal strip from up north and recorded as scarce and nesting at Shellharbour in 1956 (Gibson 1989), Rainbow Lorikeets decided not to fly back to Queensland as there was a ready supply of nectar from our native gardens. Summer-breeding migrants such as the Channel-billed Cuckoo and Common Koel have become more abundant in the region since the 1970s and are expanding their range to south-eastern NSW. A list of the birds in the Illawarra excluding marine species is given in the table below. 

Birds have shown the greatest change in our native fauna since the idea of planting native gardens spread from the few to be widespread. Being able to fly means they can cross all sorts of obstacles that animals that lack wings have to contend with. The debate has changed from attracting native birds to your garden to providing habitat for the smaller birds that have been driven away by the aggressive ones like the Wattlebirds and Noisy Miners.

The Superb Fairy Wren is a small bird that needs shelter near a bird bath or water feature to feel safe enough to use it. Image by Garry Daly ©.


Rural native birds

Rural native birds In rural areas or larger blocks there is a huge scope to provide habitat for birds. The planting of a variety of native Eucalypts will provide nectar over an extended period for many species of honeyeaters and Silvereyes. I have a particular preference for Swamp Mahogany and Forest Red Gum that flower in winter on a regular basis as it is during this time of the year that food for native animals is at a minimum. Local Governments in the Illawarra should be encouraged to plant these two species (plus the Coastal Banksia) in parks and gardens along the coast for this reason.

If regenerating degraded land along the Illawarra escarpment there are a number of pioneer species that can be planted that provide food resources for birds. This included Native Peach (Trema tomentosa var. aspera) and Pencil Cedar (Polyscias murrayi). These fast-growing species are the natural colonisers of disturbed landscapes in our area. The fruit of Native Peach are avidly eaten by Brown Cuckoo-dove and Lewin’s Honeyeater while the Pencil Cedar’s fruit is eaten by Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Pied Currawong and Lewin’s Honeyeater. A more comprehensive list of what to plant for various birds is given in the table below.


The fruit-eating Green Catbird has a most distinctive call, like a cat's cry. Image by Garry Daly ©.

Lewin's Honeyeater is able to live in rainforest as well as forest and woodland, and remains fairly common in urban and rural parts of the Illawarra. Image by Garry Daly ©.

Birdoes have known for a long time that many species in the Illawarra are seasonal migrants. Channel-billed Cuckoo, Black-faced Monarchs and Rufous Fantails are well known to make spring migrations annually to our region to breed and then return north in autumn. However there are lots more species than just these that are seasonal migrants and there are huge numbers of the Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebird and Silvereye that pass through the region. By planting nectar-producing trees along ridgelines these and other honeyeaters will drop into your place for a quick feed before moving on.


A Silvereye sheltering among the foliage of a Bottlebrush. This tiny bird has a distinctive ring of silvery-white feathers around its eyes. Image by Pete Butler. All rights reserved.

On rural land there is often the opportunity to build dams that diversifies that habitat for birds. Large shallow dams are better than small deep ones as shallow (less than 1m) areas are colonised by emergent water plants providing food for Swamp Hens, Coots and ducks. Over the last 40 years there has been a large increase in the number of dams in the region as evidenced by looking at the various editions of topographic maps. This is probably a result of subdivision and an increase in wealth.


Black Duck is one of the most common and easily recognised local duck species. Image by Garry Daly ©.

The Freckled Duck also calls the Illawarra home. Its plumage is freckled all over with paler spots.Image by Garry Daly ©.

A general trend for the new generation of people on rural properties is to eliminate weeds (lantana and so on) and restore the bush. This is something that has occupied much of my time over the last 35 years. However in some situations there is a need to tread carefully. For example I used to hear a pair of Southern Logrunner regularly call from some section of a creek at dusk. Upslope of that site there was a large infestation of lantana. A few years ago we sprayed the weed using a splatter gun and during that work I heard and saw a pair of Logrunner. They were noisy and appeared angry moving up the hill away from us. Shortly after that time the birds abandoned this site, I guess they lost their dense cover that the lantana provided in the shrub layer. Since that time I have replanted the site but it may take years before the birds return.


The Brown Thornbill is a small bird that can be adversely affected by rapid depletion of a weedy shrub layer. It prefers to live in dense undergrowth. Image by Garry Daly ©. 

Useful plants to attract native birds

Common name
Scientific name
Fauna attracted
Use
Maiden’s Acacia
Acacia maidenii
Wonga Pigeon
Seed
Blackwood
Acacia melanoxylon
Wonga Pigeon
Seed
White Aspen
Acronychia oblongifolia
Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Pied Currawong
Fruit
Native Quince
Alectryon subcinereus
Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird
Fruit
Black Oak
Allocasuarina littoralis
Glossy Black Cockatoo
Seed
Red Ash
Alphitonia excelsa
Lewin's Honeyeater
Seed
Bangalow Palm
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
Coastal Banksia
Banksia integrifolia
Lorikeets, Honeyeaters
Nectar
Saw-toothed Banksia
Banksia serrata
Lorikeets, Honeyeaters
Nectar
Flame Tree
Brachychiton acerifolius
Pied Currawong
Seed
Blackthorn
Bursaria spinosa
Australian King Parrot
Fruit
Red-fruited Olive Plum
Cassine australe
Satin Bowerbird
Fruit
Churnwood
Citronella moorei
Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
Brittlewood
Claoxylon australe
Brown Cuckoo-dove
Fruit
Hairy Clerodendrum
Clerodendrum tomentosum
Satin Bowerbird
Fruit
Spotted Gum
Corymbia maculata
Lorikeets, Honeyeaters
Nectar
Jackwood
Cryptocarya glaucescens
Various pigeons, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird
Fruit
Murrogun
Cryptocarya microneura
Various pigeons, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird
Fruit
Stinging Tree
Dendrocnide excelsa
Lewin's Honeyeater, Green Catbird
Fruit
Myrtle Ebony
Diospyros pentamera
Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
Native Tamarind
Diploglottis cunninghamii
Wompoo Fruit-dove
Fruit
Koda
Ehretia acuminata
Lewin’s Honeyeater and Pigeons
Fruit
Pigeonberry Ash
Elaeocarpus kirtonii
Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
Blueberry Ash
Elaeocarpus reticulatus
Satin Bowerbird
Fruit
Corkwood
Endiandra sieberi
Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
Blackbutt
Eucalyptus pilularis
Honeyeaters
Nectar
Forest Red Gum
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Honeyeaters
Nectar
Morton Bay Fig
Ficus macrophylla
Top-knot Pigeon, Satin Bowerbird
Fruit
Small-leaved Fig
Ficus obliqua
Top-knot Pigeon, Satin Bowerbird
Fruit
Port Jackson Fig
Ficus rubiginosa
Satin Bowerbird
Fruit
Superb Fig
Ficus superba var. henneana
Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
Cheese Tree
Glochidion ferdinandi
Lewin's Honeyeater
Seed
Bleeding Heart
Homalanthus populifolius
Brown Cuckoo-dove
Fruit
Cabbage Tree Palm
Livistona australis
Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
White Cedar
Melia azedarach
Pied Currawong, Australian King Parrot
Fruit
Large- Mock Olive
Notelaea longifolia
White-headed Pigeon and Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
Brown Beech
Pennantia cunninghamii
Top-knot Pigeon
Fruit
Sweet Pittosporum
Pittosporum undulatum
Australian King Parrot
Seed
Plum Pine
Podocarpus elatus
Pied Currawong
Fruit
Celery Wood
Polyscias elegans
Lewin's Honeyeater, Satin Bowerbird,
Fruit
Pencil Cedar
Polyscias murrayi
Lewin's Honeyeater, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird
Fruit
Bastard Rosewood
Synoum glandulosum
Satin Bowerbird
Fruit
Brush Cherry
Syzygium australe
Various pigeons
Fruit
Magenta Cherry
Syzygium paniculatum
Satin Bowerbird
Fruit
Lilly Pilly
Acmena smithii
Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird
Fruit
Native Peach
Trema tomentosa var. aspera
Lewin's Honeyeater and Brown Cuckoo-dove
Fruit

The Whipbird is an elusive species but can be attracted to gardens that have a mixed shrubby understorey. Its
distinctive whip-crack call is actually made up of two coordinated calls by male and female birds.  Image by Pete Butler. All rights reserved. 

Text by Garry Daly.

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