FACT SHEET Birds in the Gardens
Working for our future – today
Birds in the
Gardens
Following is a list of common native and introduced
birds found in the Gold Coast Regional Botanic
Gardens and in backyards across the city.
Noisy Miner
Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
This common honeyeater is found along the east coast of
Australia. It happily lives in both suburban areas and in its
natural open woodland habitat. Many people regard the
noisy miner as a pest but it is actually native to Australia.
These birds live in small family groups, are very aggressive
and attack other species in an attempt to exclude them from
their territory. Its high-pitched and penetrating call is heard
as it attacks other birds. The species is omnivorous, feeding
on insects, fruit, nectar and vegetable matter. It builds a nest
from twigs, laying between two to four buff white eggs.
Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
This common, suburban black and white bird is found
throughout mainland Australia. It is regarded by many
as having the most melodious call of any Australian bird
and often visits local backyards in search of food. While it
appears friendly and may approach you closely while out
in the garden, the Butcherbird has a more sinister side.
Butcherbirds derive their name from the habit of impaling
prey on thorns or in forks of branches in order to ‘butcher’
the food. Although these birds have a hooked beak, their
feet are not strong enough to hold their prey
while tearing at the flesh. They feed on
large insects, nestlings, mice and lizards.
Butcherbirds live in small family groups.
The immature birds can be identified
by their grey and white feathers as
opposed to the black and
white colourings of the
adult birds. They
lay three to five
spotted or brown
eggs in a nest of
sticks lined with
grass.
Australian Magpie
Australian Magpie
(Cracticus tibicen syn. Gymnorhina tibicen)
The Australian Magpie is one of our most well-known native
birds. There are many types of this cosmopolitan bird,
ranging from the white-backed form found in southern
states to the more common black-backed form, found in
Queensland and the Northern Territory. Its bell-like warble
is welcomed by many even though it becomes territorially
aggressive during the breeding season, protecting its three
eggs laid in a stick and twig nest. Clearing for farmlands
has not affected its numbers because it is a ground feeder,
feasting on insects, small animals and seeds.
The female and immature birds are a black and off-white
colour, while the male is readily identified by its black and
bright white feathers.
Australian Magpie-lark
(Grallina cyanoleuca)
Also known as the Mudlark, Peewee and Peewit, the
Magpie-lark is widespread across the Australian mainland,
many offshore islands, Papua New Guinea and Timor. It
is common in all urban zones, feeding on insects in
grassed areas. Its loud distinctive call gives
rise to its common names of Peewee and
Peewit. These birds are quite territorial
and often can be spotted pecking at its
reflection in mirrored surfaces such as
windows and hub caps. The sexes
are similar, but the male has a black
throat whereas the female’s throat
is white. Generally, pairs are seen
and the nest is built near water,
made of mud bound with grass, fibre
or hair. Five white or pinkish eggs
are laid during the breeding season.
FACT SHEET Birds in the Gardens
Willie Wagtail
(Rhipidura
leucophrys)
The Willie Wagtail is one of
the more common and popular birds found throughout
Australia. True to its name, it wags its tail constantly,
making it appear happy in nature. Its black throat and white
eyebrow differentiates it from the similar Restless Flycatcher
bird which sports a white throat and no eyebrow mark. In
farmlands, Willie Wagtails can be spotted on the backs of
cattle catching insects. Two to three spotted white eggs are
laid in a neat cup-like nest of grass and twigs.
Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
This large black bird can be distinguished from a crow by
the white in its wings and across its rump and tail tip. Its
call is also more melodious than the raucous sound of the
crow. This is an aggressive bird that preys on smaller bird
species. Research has shown that the Pied Currawong has
caused a reduction of the smaller bird species in suburban
Sydney. It is distributed along the East Coast of Australia
and is common in cities. It lays three light brown eggs in a
grass-lined nest of sticks.
Torresian Crow (Corvus orru)
There are five large black birds in Australia classed as crows
or ravens. All are pure black with white eyes and it is
difficult to distinguish between the different species. As
such, these birds are often differentiated from their pattern
of distribution. The Torresian Crow is generally found on
the Gold Coast. It moves in relatively large groups and its
raucous call readily signals its presence. This call and the
scavenging habits of the bird in suburbia can make it an
unpopular visitor. It is omnivorous, feeding on almost any
available food scraps. Its large stick nest holds three to six
eggs during the breeding season.
Supported by fgcbg.org.au
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel
syn. Hirundo ariel)
Fairy Martins and Swallows are closely related and catch
insects during flight, particularly over water. The Fairy Martin
can be distinguished from its close relative, the Tree Martin,
by its red head. Often, the Fairy Martin is seen flying over the
lake and wetlands in the Botanic Gardens. Its bottle-shaped
mud nest is of particular interest and is built on cliffs, bridges
or culverts, housing four or five freckled eggs in spring.
Introduced Birds
Two non-native birds, the Common Myna and the
Rock Dove or Feral Pigeon are commonly seen in the
Botanic Gardens and in suburban areas. They are also
spreading into country areas, replacing native species in
many habitats. These birds should not be encouraged
by feeding and some agencies have programs to reduce
both their numbers and impacts on native birds. The
Myna is particularly aggressive and occupies nesting
sites normally used by Australian species.
Admire the birds but,
please, don’t feed them!
• Feeding bread and other human food to birds
can cause serious health problems. For example,
ducks that eat human food not only become
unhealthy, but can become too heavy to fly.
• Waste from birds that eat human food
contributes to water pollution.
• Inappropriate feeding attracts
excessive numbers of birds.
• Feeding human food to birds changes their
natural behaviour and upsets the ecosystem.
• When birds are fed human food, they can become
aggressive or more vulnerable to predators.
The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, located
on Ashmore Road, Benowa, provides an area where
animals and birds are able to find vestiges of their
natural habitat in an otherwise suburban area.
For more information, visit
goldcoastcity.com.au/parks
GCCC XXXX
Willie Wagtail