Bird

Spinifex Pigeon

The Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera) is a bird found in Australia. They are generally found in stony areas with low woodlands. They are a nomadic and terrestrial species.

There are two races of this species and the only difference between them is that they are both geologically separated and one is white-bellied while the other is red-bellied. Their flight is low and fast, often flipping and gliding in the flight and will breed during the spring, summer, or after the rain.

Wedged-Tailed Eagle

The Wedged-Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), sometimes known as the Eaglehawk, is the largest bird of prey of Australia and the world, and is also found in Tasmania and New Guinea. They inhabit almost all habitats and are highly aerial, soaring for hours at very high heights, but it is unclear why they fly so high.

The females are bigger the the males and Adult females tend to be slightly paler than males. Although it rarely needs to be distinguished from other Aquila eagles, its long, wedge-shaped tail is unique to this species.

Black-Necked Stork

The Black-Necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) is a tall long-necked wading bird found across South and Southeast Asia and having a large population in Australia. It lives in the wetlands to forage for prey and is very territorial when feeding. Both sexes look similar except the different iris color.

This large stork has a rather peculiar display in dancing. The pair stalk up to each other face to face, extending their wings and fluttering the wing tips rapidly and advancing their heads until the meet. They then clatter their bills and walk away. The stork is a carnivore and they are largely non-social and are usually seen as single birds, pairs and family groups.

Emu

The Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height after the ostrich. The Emu is common over most of mainland Australia, although it avoids heavily populated areas, dense forest, and arid areas.

Emus will sit in water and are also able to swim. They are curious birds who are known to follow and watch other animals and humans. Emus do not sleep continuously at night but in several short stints sitting down.They can jump and kick to avoid dingos.

Orange-Footed Scrubfowl

The Orange-Footed Scrubfowl is found on many islands in Wallacea as well as southern New Guinea and northern Austrailia. It lives in a range of forest and scrub habitats and is the size of a domestic chicken. The Orange-footed Scrubfowl is dark-colored with orange legs and a pointed crest in the back of the head.

The Orange-Footed Scrubfowl feeds on seeds, fallen fruit and terrestrial invertebrates. It nests in large mounds of sand, leaf litter and other debris where the heat generated by the decomposition of organic material serves to incubate the eggs.

Plumed Whistling Duck

The Plumed Whistling Duck is found in New Guinea and Australia. They prefer to live in tall grassland and savanna, often near bodies of water. The Plumed Whistling Duck is a long-necked duck with brown, chestnut, and white coloring. Their call is a characteristic whistle which gives the bird its name.

The Plumed Whistling Duck feeds on cropping grass on land. Their nesting is a mattress of grasses or similar material in tall grass, or in or near vegetation as cover.

Eclectus Parrot

The Eclectus Parrot is native to the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea, northeastern Australia and the Maluku Islands. The Eclectus' natural habitat is in emergent rain forest trees. The parrot is unusual for its extreme sexual dimorphism of the colors of the plumage; the male has a brilliant emerald green plumage and the female a mostly bright red and purple/blue plumage

The Eclectus Parrot diet consists of mainly fruits, wild figs, unripe nuts, flower and leaf buds, and some seeds. The parrots nests within hollow and large rain forest trees.

Blue Bonnet

The Blue Bonnet is found in Australia. It lives within the open woodland, scrub, and farmlands in the eastern half of the continent. The Blue Bonnet has a gray chest and a blue forehead and crown with a deep red patch on the abdomen and parts of the thigh.

The Blue Bonnet's main diet consists of native grasses and herbaceous plants, as well as flower and fruit nectar. They nest in low-lying tree openings lined with wood substances.