Birds of the Archer

GALAH (36cm) Galahs have a bouncing acrobatic flight and spend much of the day sheltering from the heat in trees. They can congregate in noisy flocks and roost together at night. The feed on ground or low foliage. They can travel large distances in search of feeding grounds. Conservation Status: Secure

SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO (48cm) The raucous screech of the Cockatoo is well known! Being a gregarious species they spend much of their time in flocks. Their normal diet includes berries, seeds, nuts and roots. They can be seen biting off smaller branches which may help to keep their bills trimmed. Conservation Status: Secure

AUSTRALIAN KING PARROT (42 cm)The King Parrot prefers to fly below tree level weaving in and out of trees. The male has a redhead and the female has a green head and breast. They are normally found in pairs or family groups. They forage for seeds and fruit. Conservation status: Secure

LITTLE CORELLA (38cm)Little Corellas are quite playful and can be seen hanging upside down and sliding down roofs. They feed in large noisy groups and need to drink daily. They mainly feed on grains and grass seeds and sometimes fruit. Conservation status: Secure

YELLOW-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO (60cm)It favours eucalypt woodlands and pine plantations. It feeds in noisy flocks mainly on seeds and pine cones and sometimes insects. It nests in tree hollows lined with wood chip. Usually only one chick survives and it stays with the parents for 6 months Conservation Status: Secure in Qld but in decline due to loss of habitat

RAINBOW LORIKEET (30 cm)They are often seen in loud fast moving flocks. They forage on flowers to harvest nectar and pollen but also eat fruits, seeds and insects. They are largely sedentary but may move in response to seasonal flowering plants. Conservation Status: Secure and benefiting from growth in flowering shrubs

PALE-HEADED ROSELLA (31 cm)These are found in lightly wooded areas with grassy understoreys and also near watercourses. They feed mainly at ground level on seeds and grasses but also some insects and their larvae. They prefer to feed in the shade. And often nest in tree hollows near water. Conservation status: Secure

CRIMSON ROSELLA (34 cm) It is often found in eucalpt forests and encountered in small flocks. They can easily be attracted to seed trays. Natural foods include seeds, grasses, insects and some tree blossoms. They nest in hollows high in trees. Conservation Status: Secure

KOOKABURRA (42 cm) They feed on insects, worms, small snakes, frogs and mammals. They seize their prey by pouncing from a perch and if the prey is large they will kill it by bashing it on the ground. It is believed that they pair for life. Their ‘laugh’ is a territorial call to warn other birds to stay away. Conservation status: Secure

SACRED KINGFISHER (22 cm). They live in eucalyptus and melaleuca areas and forage for reptiles, insects and sometimes fish. They are solitary and only pair for the breeding period with both sexes incubating the eggs and caring for the young Conservation status: Secure

PIED BUTCHERBIRD (36 cm). All butcherbirds are aggressive feeders with a large bill, eating reptiles, mammals, frogs and birds. They swoop on the prey from a perch and may hunt in a group. It has a beautiful flute like call. Conservation status: Secure

PIED CURRAWONG (46 cm). The currawong is seen alone except in breeding seasons when you see large flocks. It has a distinctive yellow eye and has a loud ringing call. It feeds on fruit, small birds, lizards and insects. Conservation status: Secure - voracious nest predators responsible for the decline in some smaller birds

WHISTLING KITE (55 cm). A medium size raptor that nests in tall trees. Soars high looking for prey such as carrion, small mammals, birds, fish and insects. They appear to be monogamous with pairs remaining in the same territory. It has a loud descending whistle. Conservation status: Secure

PHEASANT COUCAL ( 60cm) This is the only Australian cuckoo to build its own nest, nesting on the ground. It has a distinctive oop-oop-oop call. They pair for life. They prefer dense tall grasses and sedges and thickets such as lantana. They feed on insects, frogs and eggs and young of birds Conservation status: Secure in Qld

BRUSH TURKEY (70 cm) They feed on insects, fruit and seeds and can be seen raking through leaf litter. The male builds a large mound and eggs are incubated by the heat from the rotting vegetation. The male checks that the temperature is constant (33-38C) by adding and removing matter, Chicks can fend for themselves on birth. Conservation status: Secure but classified as ‘threatened’ in Qld

BUSH STONE CURLEW (55 cm) You may hear their eerie high-pitched wail at night which is a contact call often involving several birds. They are mainly nocturnal and ground-dwelling. They have a remarkable courtship dance accompanied by constant calling. They are carnivorous feeding from the ground and can travel large distances. Conservation status: Secure in Qld but endangered in NSW & Vic

MASKED LAPWING (36cm) A ground dwelling bird also known as ‘plover’ that fiercely protects its nest, diving on intruders who go near their young. Both sexes incubate and care for the young. They usually feed alone or in pairs and eat mainly insects and worms just below the ground surface. Conservation status: Secure

CRESTED PIGEON (32 cm) This pigeon has a distinctive crest and whistling sound on take-off. It needs to drink each day and is found in lightly wooded grasslands near water. It feeds on scattered seeds often in groups. Conservation status: Secure

DOUBLE-BARRED FINCH (11 cm). They prefers grassy woodland and open forests. They are nomadic and feed on the ground on seeds as well as insects. They can be seen flitting around shrubs. They build rounded nests in shrubs or even in the eves of buildings. Conservation status: Secure

BLUE-FACED HONEY EATER (31 cm). This honey-eater starts its call before sunrise. As well as nectar and fruit it feeds on insects and invertebrates. They often feed in pairs or flocks and exclude other birds from the feeding area. They often usethe abandoned nests of other birds. They are distinguished by their blue face mask. Conservation status: Secure

SCARLET HONEYEATER (10 cm)This honey eater likes open woodlands with water nearby. It mainly feeds on nectar and sometimes fruit and insects. The males have the vivid scarlet colour while females are largely brown. The males have a tinkling song which they perform from a perch. Conservation status: Secure

EASTERN YELLOW ROBIN (16 cm) These start performing their high bell-like call at dawn. They prefer a low perch where they can scan for insects and spiders. They mainly feed alone or in pairs. They are inquisitive and usually confident with people. Conservation status: Secure

COMMON MYNA (25 cm). This bird was introduced into Qld cane fields in 1883 to combat cane beetles. They are scavengers feeding on almost anything. They mate for life and their nests are messy and made from leaves grasses and rubbish. There are often battles for desired nesting sites. Conservation status: This is an invasive pest which governments are trying to control

DOLLARBIRD (28 cm). In flight silvery coin shapes are visible on the wings. The birds live in PNG and migrate to Australia to breed from September to March. The same nest is used from year to year. They feed on flying insects which they capture in aerial pursuits. Conservation status: Status

PLUMED WHISTLING-DUCK (50 cm). It is known for its loud sibilant whistle congregating near water holes in the day feeding on grasses. It seems they pair for life with both sexes sharing incubation. Conservation status: Secure and benefiting from increase in dams

AUSTRALIAN WOOD DUCK (47 cm). Flocks chatter when feeding, females calling with a long loud call and males a shorter higher pitch. They feed mainly on grasses with some insects. They seem to pair for life with both sexes sharing feeding and care of young up to about a month after fledging. Conservation status: Secure

PACIFIC BLACK DUCK (55cm). Strangely this duck is predominantly brown. It does have a black stripe from its bill across to behind its eye. It feeds mainly on seeds and some aquatic insects and crustaceans which it ‘duck-dives’ for. It has a complex courting ritual. Conservation status: Secure

YELLOW THORNBILL (10 cm). It mainly feeds on insects with some seeds. The breeding pairs sometimes have ‘helpers’ with feeding the young. Their nest is in the upper branches of trees. Consevation status: Secure

BROWN THORNBILL (10 cm). It is found in shrubby areas and gardens feeding mainly on insects around and under shrubs. The females incubates the eggs and both parents feed the young. Conservation status: Secure but preyed on by cats

WELCOME SWALLOW (15 cm). It is distinguishable by the rusty colouring on the forehead and throat. They feed mainly on insects which they catch in flight and use bristles on the sides of their mouth to guide their food into their mouth whileflying.Conservation status: Secure

WILLIE WAGTAIL (20 cm). They are the most well known of the fantails and are distinguished by the wagging of the tail. They are often seen near sheep and cattle snatching the insects as they are disturbed. They build intricate nests of grass, hair, fur with spiderweb on the outside. Conservation status: Secure

GREY FANTAIL (15cm). It is recognised by its ascending tinkling whistle, fanned tail and quick agile aerial flitting. Feeds on flying insects. They are capable of long flights some regularly flying across Bass Strait. Conservation status: Secure in Qld but critically endangered in NT

NOISY FRIARBIRD (34 cm). It is one of the honeyeaters and is recognised by its deep sharp discordant sound and the bump on its bill. They mainly eat nectar and fruit and can be a pest in orchards. They sometimes eat eggs and baby birds. They form long-term pairs which defend the nest andyoung.Conservation status: Secure

PEACEFUL DOVE (22 cm). Distinguished by black and white barring around the neck, they are found in pairs and fly close to the ground. They feed on seeds and some insects on the ground and need to be close to water to drink each day. They roost in trees and both parents feed the young. Conservation status: Secure

BAR-SHOULDERED DOVE (28 cm). They are smaller than the peaceful dove and have a distinctive blueish head and neck. Usually they are found in pairs or groups foraging at ground level for seeds and rhizomes. As for other doves the young are fed with ‘crop milk’ and both parents care for the young. Conservation status: Secure

SPOTTED DOVE (30 cm). They are distinguished by the black collar with white spots. It was introduced into Australia from Asia and is largely found around urban areas where it forages for seeds and scraps. Its nest is a loose platform of sticks. Conservation status: Introduced species