Australian Magpie
Gymnorhina tibicen
Easy to spotMagpies can remember human faces. In spring some swoop to protect their nests, so walk calmly and wear a hat.
Look for: Black and white bird with a pale beak, warbling on lawns, ovals and rooftops.
Photos by Max
Meet the Birds
These are birds I've photographed around Melbourne, on the Mornington Peninsula and in the bush. Tap a photo to see it bigger. The dots show how easy each bird is to find.
Rainbow Lorikeet
Trichoglossus moluccanus
Easy to spotLorikeets have a brush on the tip of their tongue for licking up nectar and pollen from flowers.
Look for: Blue head, orange chest, green wings. Listen for loud screeching flocks in flowering gums.
Red Wattlebird
Anthochaera carunculata
Easy to spotIt is named after the red flaps of skin on its cheeks, called wattles. It is one of the biggest honeyeaters.
Look for: Streaky brown bird with red cheek flaps, making a loud 'chock' sound in flowering trees.
Magpie-lark
Grallina cyanoleuca
Easy to spotIt isn't a magpie or a lark! Pairs sing a duet together and build a bowl-shaped nest out of mud.
Look for: Small black and white bird walking on grass or near puddles. Females have a white throat, males a black one.
Little Raven
Corvus mellori
Easy to spotAdult ravens have white eyes. Ravens and crows look alike, so even experts listen to their calls to tell them apart.
Look for: All-black bird with a purple shine and white eyes, calling 'kar-kar-kar' on grass and in parks.
Spotted Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Easy to spotSpotted Doves came to Australia from Asia. Look for the 'necklace' of white spots on the back of the neck.
Look for: Pinkish-brown dove with a spotted collar, cooing softly in gardens.
Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis
Easy to spotMynas came from Asia. They compete with native birds for tree hollows to nest in.
Look for: Brown bird with a black head and yellow skin around the eye, walking around shops and car parks.
Superb Fairywren
Malurus cyaneus
MediumMother fairywrens sing a 'password' to their eggs. The chicks use that call when they hatch to ask for food.
Look for: Tiny bird with a tail that sticks up. In spring the males turn bright blue. Look in low bushes.
Australian King-Parrot
Alisterus scapularis
MediumOnly the male has a bright red head. The female has a green head and a red belly.
Look for: Big red and green parrot in tall forest trees, often in the Dandenong Ranges.
Grey Butcherbird
Cracticus torquatus
MediumIt is called a butcherbird because it wedges its food into tree forks to store it, like a butcher's hook.
Look for: Grey and white bird with a black cap and a hooked beak. It has a beautiful singing call.
White-faced Heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
MediumIt stands very still in shallow water, then stabs fast with its beak to catch fish, frogs and insects.
Look for: Tall blue-grey bird with a white face, near wetlands, lakes, beaches and even wet lawns.
Brown Thornbill
Acanthiza pusilla
TrickyThis tiny bird can copy the alarm calls of other birds to scare away predators that are after its nest.
Look for: Tiny brown bird with red eyes and a streaky throat, busy in thick bushes.
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Zanda funerea
TrickyThey love pine cones and rip bark off trees to find grubs. Listen for a sad, wailing 'wee-lar' call.
Look for: Huge black cockatoo with a yellow cheek patch and yellow in the tail, flying slowly in flocks.
Native or introduced?
Native birds have always lived in Australia. Introduced birds were brought here by people from other countries.