The Laughing Kookaburra

(click images to see larger ones)

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◊  Water Birds     ◊  Black Birds
◊  Smaller Birds & Honeyeaters
◊  Larger Birds & Birds of Prey

25-30cm (10-12 inches) is the arbitrary minimum size of Larger Birds. This is measured from bill tip to tail tip.

As a guide, magpies and seagulls are around 40cm - while wrens and robins are around 15cm.

The second part of the webpage are the birds of prey which besides eagles and falcons, also includes owls.

There are over 40 members of the birds of prey group.

Common Bronzewing
(male)
(Albany, WA)

The aptly named Common Bronzewing can be found throughout Australia. The female has a grey forehead compared to the male's cream forehead.

Satin Bowerbird
(male)
(Leura, NSW)

The male Satin Bowerbird doesn't gain his shiny bluish black feathers until he is 7 years old. In his earlier years he can be distinguished from the ladies by his white beak as shown in this image.

Satin Bowerbird
(female)
(Leura, NSW)

The Satin Bowerbird has the most vivid blue eyes. The bowerbird nest is not the bower, but a "real" nest in a tree.

Peaceful Dove
(Cape Leveque, WA)

The Peaceful Dove is found in the eastern states and the north of WA and the NT. The light blue circle around its eyes easily distinguish it. It is a ground forager.

Crested Pigeon
Dolans Bay, NSW

Found in most parts of Australia, its wings make a distinctive woop, woop, woop sound when taking off.

Photo by Martin Kandilas

Wonga Pigeon
Mt. Wilson, NSW

Found in forests along the coast and ranges from Queensland to Victoria. Often on the ground and in pairs.

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
(Broome, WA)

The Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike is found throughout Australia. This fellow has just caught a grass-hopper.
This image, taken in Lane Cove NP, shows the marvellous back pattern.

Spangled Drongo
(Buderim, Qld)

I was delighted to read in Wikipedia that "the spangled drongo is the only drongo to be found in Australia".
Its flared tail identifies it.
Here's another image.

Photo by Peter Bettess

Laughing Kookaburra
(Cheltenham, NSW)

That most Australian of birds - the Kookaburra.
Its laugh always makes me smile.
Endemic to Australia, and "introduced" to Tasmania and WA.

See our Laughing Kookaburra profile.

Emu
(Mungo NP, NSW)

The largest Australian bird, found throughout Australia except for Tasmania.
Here's an image, taken in Coffin Bay SA, showing three juveniles with their mum.

Powerful Owl
(Lane Cove NP, NSW)

The largest owl in Australia, and apparently the only owl that has the standard "hoot hoot" call.
To hear its call, and learn much more, visit the excellent Owl Pages website.
It is a threatened species.

Pacific Baza
(Berrilee, NSW)

Bearing the distinctive hooked beak of a bird of prey, the Pacific Baza was formerly called "Crested Hawk".
It can be identified by the crest on its head - and of course its yellow eyes, grey head and shoulders, and striped body.

Photo by Jeremy Laws

Nankeen Kestrel
(female)
(Wallaroo, SA)

With the tell-tale dark tear of the falcon, the female Nankeen Kestrel has a brown crown, while the male's is grey.
Here's an image of the male.

Photos by Jimmy Hislop

White-bellied Sea-Eagle
(Jervis Bay, NSW)

Easily identified and magnificent.
Found all around Australia, except for the arid regions.

Photo by Mary

Tawny Frogmouth
(male)
(Cheltenham, NSW)

The Tawny Frogmouth is endemic to Australia, and is found throughout this sunburnt land.

See our Tawny Frogmouth profile.

Glossary