8 Australian Birds to Spot This Winter
Winter is a wonderful time to slow down, step outside and notice the birdlife sharing our backyards, parks and bushland.
Some Australian birds remain close to home throughout the year, while others become easier to spot during the cooler months as they move into more open habitats in search of food. Even a quiet winter morning can reveal flashes of colour, familiar calls and plenty of feathered personality.
Here are eight beautiful Australian birds to look and listen for this winter.
Bird sightings vary across Australia, so the species you encounter will depend on your location and surrounding habitat.
1. Laughing Kookaburra
Few sounds are more unmistakably Australian than the rolling laugh of a kookaburra.
The Laughing Kookaburra is a large member of the kingfisher family, with a sturdy bill, brown wings, creamy-white underparts and touches of blue among its wing feathers. It is commonly found in eastern Australia and has also been introduced to parts of Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
Where to look
Watch for kookaburras perched quietly on:
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Fences
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Powerlines
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Bare branches
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Garden posts
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Low tree limbs overlooking open ground
They often remain perfectly still while watching for insects, worms, lizards and other small prey.
What to listen for
Their famous laughing chorus is most often heard around dawn and dusk. If one kookaburra begins calling, others in its family group may quickly join in.
2. Australian Magpie
Australian Magpies are familiar visitors to backyards, paddocks, parks and sporting fields across most of the country.
Their bold black-and-white colouring makes them easy to recognise, although their exact markings vary between different regions. They are intelligent, inquisitive birds and are often seen walking confidently across open grass.
Where to look
Search lawns, paddocks and open woodland where magpies can forage on the ground. They frequently use tall trees, posts and powerlines as lookout points.
What to listen for
The Australian Magpie’s rich, flute-like carolling is one of the most beautiful sounds of the Australian landscape. Winter is a lovely time to listen for pairs and family groups calling to one another.
3. Galah
With soft grey wings, a rosy-pink body and a pale crest, the Galah brings a cheerful burst of colour to the winter landscape.
Galahs are widespread across much of Australia and can be found everywhere from rural paddocks to suburban parks. They are social birds and are often seen in pairs or lively flocks.
Where to look
Watch for Galahs feeding on:
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Grassy verges
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Sports fields
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Paddocks
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Open parkland
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Areas beneath seed-producing trees
They may also gather along powerlines or perch high in bare trees.
What to look for
When a Galah becomes excited or alert, it may raise its crest. Their playful behaviour—hanging upside down, chasing one another and performing acrobatic manoeuvres—can make them especially entertaining to watch.
4. Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo
The Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo is difficult to miss. This large white parrot has a strong dark bill and a brilliant yellow crest, which it raises when excited, curious or alarmed.
These intelligent and highly social birds are common across northern and eastern Australia, as well as Tasmania.
Where to look
Look for noisy flocks in:
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Tall eucalyptus trees
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Parks and gardens
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Farmland
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Open woodland
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Grassy areas where birds forage on the ground
What to listen for
You will often hear a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo before you see it. Its loud, rasping call can carry over a considerable distance, particularly when a flock is flying overhead.
The Australian Museum’s Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo profile provides more information about this wonderfully expressive bird.
5. Superb Fairy-Wren
Small, quick and endlessly charming, the Superb Fairy-Wren is often found hopping through low shrubs with its long tail held upright.
Breeding males are famous for their vivid blue-and-black feathers. During winter, however, some males may be wearing less colourful non-breeding plumage. Females and young birds are mostly brown, with warm reddish colouring around the eye.
Where to look
Superb Fairy-Wrens prefer areas with plenty of protective cover, including:
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Dense native shrubs
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Garden borders
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Creek edges
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Bushland undergrowth
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Tangled vegetation near open grass
They usually live in small family groups and move quickly between sheltered plants and open feeding areas.
What to look for
Do not search only for bright blue. In winter, look for a tiny brown bird with a fine bill, a long upright tail and quick, bouncing movements.
See the different plumage colours in BirdLife Australia’s Superb Fairy-Wren profile.
6. Spotted Pardalote
The Spotted Pardalote may be tiny, but it is one of Australia’s most beautifully patterned birds.
Its dark upper feathers are covered in small white spots, while flashes of yellow, red and warm buff add surprising colour. Because Spotted Pardalotes often forage high among eucalyptus leaves, they can be much easier to hear than to see.
Where to look
Search the canopy of mature eucalyptus trees in forests, woodlands, established parks and native gardens.
Move slowly and look for a tiny bird hopping among the outer leaves rather than sitting prominently on an exposed branch.
What to listen for
Listen for a clear, repeated three-note call, often described as sounding a little like “sleep-may-be.” Following the call with your ears can help you find the bird among the foliage.
Spotted Pardalotes are especially associated with eucalypt forests and woodlands, although they also visit gardens with a well-established eucalyptus canopy. Learn more through the BirdLife Australia Spotted Pardalote profile.
7. Scarlet Robin
A male Scarlet Robin is a striking winter sight, with a black head and back, white forehead patch and bright scarlet breast. Females are softer brown and grey, with a more subdued reddish-orange wash on the chest.
Scarlet Robins occur mainly in southern and south-eastern Australia, with populations also found in south-western Western Australia. They are not encountered throughout the entire country, making location especially important when searching for this bird.
Where to look
During autumn and winter, Scarlet Robins may move into more open areas such as:
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Grassy woodland
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Farmland with scattered trees
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Bushland edges
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Open paddocks
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Larger parks and gardens
They often perch on low branches, fence posts or fallen timber before dropping to the ground to catch insects.
Winter can be a particularly rewarding time to look for them because many move into more open habitats after breeding. The NSW Government Scarlet Robin profile explains this seasonal change in habitat.
8. Australian King-Parrot
The Australian King-Parrot adds spectacular colour to the forests and gardens of eastern Australia.
Adult males have a brilliant red head and underparts with deep green wings and back. Females are mainly green around the head and chest, with red colouring lower on the body. Males are the only Australian parrots with a completely red head.
Where to look
Australian King-Parrots are most often associated with:
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Rainforests
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Wet eucalyptus forests
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Forested ranges
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Leafy gardens close to bushland
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Trees bearing seeds or fruit
They are usually encountered in pairs or small family groups and may sit surprisingly quietly among dense foliage.
What to look for
When searching the canopy, watch for movement as well as colour. A green female can blend beautifully into the leaves, while the red plumage of a male is much easier to see when sunlight reaches the branches.
Learn more about identifying males and females through the Australian Museum’s Australian King-Parrot profile.
Simple Winter Birdwatching Tips
You do not need specialist equipment to begin noticing more birds. Start with a quiet place, a little patience and a willingness to listen.
Choose the right time
Birds are often most active during the first few hours after sunrise and again later in the afternoon.
Stop and listen
Spend a minute listening before walking further. Calls, rustling leaves and movement in the canopy can reveal birds you may otherwise overlook.
Look at different heights
Some birds forage on open lawns, while others remain in shrubs or high among eucalyptus leaves. Scan the ground, low vegetation and canopy.
Keep your distance
Observe birds quietly without approaching nests, chasing individuals or playing recorded calls. If a bird changes its behaviour because of your presence, give it more space.
Make your garden more welcoming
Locally native trees, dense shrubs and grasses can provide natural food and shelter. A clean birdbath placed near protective vegetation may also attract visiting birds. Keep cats indoors or in a secure enclosure to help protect native wildlife.
How Many Will You Spot?
Whether it is the familiar laugh of a kookaburra, a flash of pink from a passing Galah or the tiny spotted feathers of a pardalote hidden among the gum leaves, winter offers countless opportunities to appreciate Australia’s remarkable birdlife.
Keep a simple list of the birds you notice in your backyard, on country drives or during winter walks. You may be surprised by how many species have been there all along.
Inspired by Australia’s feathered residents? Explore the Australian bird art collections by Jessica Rose Collective and bring the colour and character of native birdlife into your home.