Birds - Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species

Bird identification can be quite difficult when you are starting out with learning birds. This page shows some birds from the Sydney and Blue Mountains and other regions of Australia. Click on the pictures to show more information about each of the different bird species.

Australian Birds - Identification

The bird identification section of the site should be added to (hopefully) soon, and I will add more bird species, and add more information about the birds that are there already.

HOT:Click here to view Australian bird identification field guide books.

NEW — AUSTRALIAN BIRD QUIZ: Click here to try your skill at the new Australian Bird Quiz.

NOTE: The birds are listed in order of size, from smallest to largest. This ordering is more useful for bird identification than having them in alphabetical order of their names, or the order they are usually found in bird identification books. Sizes are measured from bill (beak) tip to the tip of the bird's tail.


Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus Birds Size: 8-10 cm High-Resolution Images
Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla Birds Size: 10 cm High-Resolution Images
Red-browed Firetail (Finch) New Photo Neochmia temporalis Birds Size: 11-12 cm High-Resolution Images
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis Birds Size: 12 cm
White-browed Scrubwren New Photos Sericornis frontalis Birds Size: 11-14 cm
Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus Birds Size: 14 cm High-Resolution Images
Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae Birds Size: 14 cm Not in Sydney or the Blue Mountains
White-throated Treecreeper NEW Cormobates leucophaeus Birds Size: 13-15 cm
Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris Birds Size: 13-16 cm
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Birds Size: 15 cm Introduced High-Resolution Images
Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australia Birds Size: 15 cm High-Resolution Images
Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris Birds Size: 17 cm
Golden Whistler NEW Pachycephala pectoralis Birds Size: 17 cm
New Holland Honeyeater NEW Phylidonyris novaehollandiae Birds Size: 16-19 cm
Bell Miner (Bellbird) NEW Manorina melanophrys Birds Size: 17-20 cm
Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys Birds Size: 19-22 cm
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus Birds Size: 20 cm Introduced
Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus Birds Size: 19-24 cm

Grey Shrike-thrush
Colluricincla harmonica

Birds Size: 24 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Grey Shrike-thrush - Colluricincla harmonica

Common ("Indian") Myna NEW
Acridotheres tristis

Birds Size: 23-25 cm
Introduced

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Common Myna - Indian Myna - Common Indian Myna - Acridotheres tristis

Common Blackbird
Turdus merula

Birds Size: 25 cm
Introduced

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Common Blackbird - Turdus merula

Noisy Miner NEW
Manorina melanocephala

Birds Size: 24-28 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Noisy Miner - Manorina melanocephala

Magpie-lark (Peewee) NEW
Grallina cyanoleuca

Birds Size: 27 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Magpie-lark (Peewee) - Grallina cyanoleuca

Grey Butcherbird NEW
Cracticus torquatus

Birds Size: 24-30 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Grey Butcherbird - Cracticus torquatus

Rainbow Lorikeet
Trichoglossus rubritorquatus

Birds Size: 28 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Rainbow Lorikeet - Trichoglossus rubritorquatus

Eastern Whipbird
Psophodes olivaceus

Birds Size: 25-30 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Eastern Whipbird - Psophodes olivaceus

Little Wattlebird
Anthochaera chrysoptera

Birds Size: 26-33 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Little Wattlebird - Anthochaera chrysoptera

Spotted Turtle-Dove
Streptopelia chinensis

Birds Size: 32 cm
Introduced

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Spotted Turtle-Dove - Streptopelia chinensis

Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
Columba livia

Birds Size: 33 cm
Introduced

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) (Introduced) - Columba livia

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike NEW
Coracina novaehollandiae

Birds Size: 33 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike - Coracina novaehollandiae

Gang-gang Cockatoo
Callocephalon fimbriatum

Birds Size: 34 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Gang-gang Cockatoo - Callocephalon fimbriatum

Red Wattlebird NEW
Anthochaera carunculata

Birds Size: 31-39 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Red Wattlebird - Anthochaera carunculata

Crested Pigeon
Ocyphaps (Geophaps) lophotes

Birds Size: 31-35 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Crested Pigeon - Ocyphaps (Geophaps) lophotes

Crimson Rosella New Photo
Platycercus elegans

Birds Size: 35 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Crimson Rosella - Platycercus elegans

Masked Lapwing (Spurwing Plover)
Vanellus miles

Birds Size: 35 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Masked Lapwing (Spurwing Plover) - Vanellus miles

Eurasian Coot
Fulica atra

Birds Size: 32-39 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra

Wonga Pigeon New Photo
Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Birds Size: 36-39 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Wonga Pigeon - Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Long-billed Corella
Cacatua tenuirostris

Birds Size: 38-41 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Long-billed Corella - Cacatua tenuirostris

Australian Magpie NEW
Gymnorhina tibicen

Birds Size: 36-44 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Australian Magpie - Gymnorhina tibicen

Barking Owl
Ninox connivens

Birds Size: 40 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Barking Owl - Ninox connivens

Silver Gull (Seagull)
Larus novaehollandiae

Birds Size: 41 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Silver Gull - Seagull - Larus novaehollandiae

Australian King-Parrot New Photos
Alisterus scapularis

Birds Size: 42 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Australian King-Parrot - Alisterus scapularis

Blue-winged Kookaburra
Dacelo leachii

Birds Size: 40-45 cm

Not in Sydney or the Blue Mountains

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Blue-winged Kookaburra - Dacelo leachii

Laughing Kookaburra
Dacelo novaeguineae

Birds Size: 45 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Laughing Kookaburra - Dacelo novaeguineae

Tawny Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides

Birds Size: M 48cm, F 34 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Tawny Frogmouth - Podargus strigoides

Masked Owl
Tyto novaehollandiae

Birds Size: M 48cm, F 34 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Masked Owl - Tyto novaehollandiae

Peregrine Falcon
Falco Peregrinus

Birds Size: F 45-50 cm, M 35-42 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Peregrine Falcon - Falco Peregrinus

Pied Currawong
Strepera graculina

Birds Size: 41-51 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Pied Currawong - Strepera graculina

Australian Wood Duck
Also Called Maned Duck
Chenonetta jubata

Birds Size: 44-50 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Australian Wood Duck - Maned Duck - Chenonetta jubata

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo NEW
Cacatua galerita

Birds Size:45-52 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Sulphur-crested Cockatoo - Cacatua galerita

Little Pied Cormorant New Photos
Phalacrocorax melanoleucos

Birds Size: 50-55 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Little Pied Cormorant - Phalacrocorax melanoleucos

Pacific Black Duck
Anas superciliosa

Birds Size: 47-60 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Pacific Black Duck - Anas superciliosa

Channel-billed Cuckoo NEW
Scythrops novaehollandiae

Birds Size: 60 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Channel-billed Cuckoo - Scythrops novaehollandiae

Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus lathami

Birds Size: 56-66 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo - Calyptorhynchus lathami

Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus banksii

Birds Size: 63 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoo - Calyptorhynchus banksii

Little Black Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo

Birds Size: 60-65 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Little Black Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo

Powerful Owl
Ninox strenua

Birds Size:M 67cm, F 58 cm

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Powerful Owl - Ninox strenua

White-Bellied Sea-Eagle
Haliaeetus leucogaster

Birds Size: F 80-85 cm, M 75-77 cm, wingspan 190 cm approx

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - White-Bellied Sea-Eagle - Haliaeetus leucogaster

Superb Lyrebird
Menura alberti

Birds Size: M 80-90 cm, F 74-84 cm

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Superb Lyrebird - Menura alberti

Wedge-tailed Eagle
Aquila audax

Birds Size: F 89-104 cm, M 87-91 cm,
wingspan 210 cm approx

High-Resolution Images

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Wedge-tailed Eagle - Aquila audax

Black Necked Stork (Jabiru)
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

Birds Size: 112-115 cm, stands to 120 cm, wingspan to 200 cm

High-Resolution Images

Not in Sydney or the Blue Mountains

Bird Identification of Australian Birds - Sydney and Blue Mountains Bird Species - Black Necked Stork - Jabiru - Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

The Best Australian Bird Field Guides

Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Nicolas Day, Ken Simpson, Peter Trusler.This is known to birdwatchers as "Simpson and Day". I like the pictures in this one the best out of all the major field guides. The information is still very highly regarded compared to most of the other guides. Many serious birdwatchers think "Pizzey and Knight" (listed here) is the best though. I bought this one since I liked the pictures so much I figured (correctly) that I would spend more time looking through it. I feel that I made the right choice since I love the pictures in this one so much. I have the 6th edition, the current one is the updated version of the 8th edition, which has a different colour cover to the original 8th edition with a black cover. I'm not sure why they haven't called this the 9th edition.

Purchase 8th ed. updated from Australia (Booktopia)

Purchase 8th ed. updated from Australia (Angus & Robertson)

Click here to purchase 8th ed. updated version from Australia (The Nile)

Click here to purchase from Australia (Fishpond)

Click here to purchase 8th ed. original version from Amazon

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight. This is the other of the two best bird field guides for Australia. It is the one preferred by many serious birdwatchers. However I find the pictures a bit dull looking for my taste — the birds all kind of look the same to me, making it harder to remember them in my mind. The illustrations are meant to be the most anatomically correct, though. The text descriptions are better than in Simpson and Day. If you want the most serious bird field guide get this one otherwise get Simpson and Day.

Purchase 9th ed. from Australia (Booktopia)

Purchase 9th ed. from Australia (Angus & Robertson)

Click here to purchase 9th ed. from Australia (The Nile)

Click here to purchase from Australia (Fishpond)

Click here to preorder the 9th ed. from Amazon

More Australian Bird Books

Australian Mammals
Australian Reptiles
Australian Frogs
Australian Fishes
Australian Spiders
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