A wonky skull. Enlarged ear chambers. Asymetrical ears. It looks like the elusive night parrot has traded off vision for excellent hearing
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Articles on Australian birds
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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.
Australian birds are arguably among the smartest in the world, displaying complex behaviours comparable to those observed in great apes.
Top contributors
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Professor, Southern Cross 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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Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne
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Emeritus Professor in Animal Behaviour, University of New England
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Professor of Avian Behavioural Ecology, Macquarie University
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Professor, The University of Queensland
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Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland
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Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
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Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
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Deputy Director and ARC Future Fellow, Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide
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Lecturer, The University of Queensland
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Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University
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Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University
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Professor in Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University
