Illawarra birds

Birds are a group (class) of animals that have a skin covered with feathers, are warm blooded and lay eggs. For the purpose of this review I exclude exotics, marine pelagic, shorebirds and so called ‘blow ins’ (vagrants). Birds are some of the most appealing animals because they are mostly active during the day, brightly coloured and call to proclaim territories.

The table below lists the 239 species of birds that occur in the region, ranging from ducks, pigeons, parrots and honeyeaters to ravens. Many are specialists living in just a few of the various habitat types. These species are unlikely to occur in urban areas but some may be found nearby in urban parks and reserves. Some key general points to consider are:

Different types of birds have different food preferences. Some plants are great for nectar-eating birds, while others attract insect-eaters (e.g. thornbills, robins, pardalotes, gerygones and wrens) or seed-eaters (e.g., finches, parrots and cockatoos). Providing a range of flowering and fruiting plants, preferably all local natives, will encourage local birds.

Grevilleas and other lush flowering natives can attract aggressive bird species such as Noisy Miners that will scare away other species. The combination of a flat lawn with occasional trees or shrubs creates habitat ideal for the invasive Indian Myna. Planting a range of local grasses, small plants, shrubs and trees, creates habitat more likely to bring in local birds.

Bird baths can attract a wide range of birds, but need to be accessible and safe. Some dense or prickly shrubs planted to one side can provide a safe escape route if small birds feel threatened. Adding a few rocks or sticks that run to the bird bath’s edge will allow smaller birds to get in and out of the water more easily.

King Parrots will visit bird baths, but are happiest if they have a perch not too far away from which to reach it. Image by Garry Daly ©

Satin Bowerbirds are confident garden visitors, and enjoy access to bird baths and messy areas with shrubs and leaf litter. They often appear in mixed groups of females and immature birds, collectively known as 'green birds' because of their similar coloration. Mature males are usually solitary. Image by Peter Butler. All rights reserved.

Native birds of the Illawarra (excluding marine and shorebirds)

Note: Those shown with * are listed on the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016)

Family	Species	Common name
Megapodiidae	Alectura lathami	Scrub Turkey
Phasianidae	Coturnix ypsilophora	Brown Quail
	Coturnix pectoralis	Stubble Quail
	Coturnix chinensis	King Quail
Anatidae	Dendrocygna eytoni	Plumed Whistling Duck
	Oxyura australis	Blue-billed Duck*
	Biziura lobata	Musk Duck
	Stictonetta naevosa	Freckled Duck*
	Cygnus atratus	Black Swan
	Tadorna variegata	Australian Shelduck
	Chenonetta jubata	Australian Wood Duck
	Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard
	Anas superciliosa	Black Duck
	Anas gracilis	Grey Teal
	Anas castanea	Chestnut Teal
	Anas rhynchotis	Australasian Shoveler
	Malacorhynchus membranaceus	Pink-eared Duck*
	Aythya australis	Hardhead
Podicipedidae	Tachybaptus novaehollandiae	Australasian Grebe
	Tachybaptus poliocephalus	Hoary-headed Grebe
Anhingidae	Anhinga melanogaster	Darter
Phalacrocoracidae	Phalacrocorax melanoleucos	Little Pied Cormorant
	Phalacrocorax varius	Pied Cormorant
	Phalacrocorax sulcirostris	Little Black Cormorant
	Phalacrocorax carbo	Great Cormorant
Pelicanidae	Pelecanus conspicillatus	Australian Pelican
Ardeidae	Egretta novaehollandiae	White Faced Heron
	Egretta garzetta	Little Egret
	Egretta sacra	Eastern Reef Heron
	Ardea pacifica	Pacific Heron
	Ardea alba	Great Egret
	Ardea intermedia	Intermediate Egret
	Ardea ibis	Cattle Egret
	Butorides striatus	Striated Heron
	Nycticorax coledonicus	Nankeen Night Heron
	Ixobrychus minutus	Little Bittern
	Ixobrychus flavicollis	Black Bittern*
	Botaurus poiciloptilus	Australasian Bittern*
Threskiornithidae	Plegadis falcinellus	Glossy Ibis
	Threskiornis molucca	Australian White Ibis
	Threskiornis spinicollis	Straw-necked Ibis
	Platalea flavipes	Yellow-billed Spoonbill
	Platalea regia	Royal Spoonbill
Accipitridae	Pandion haliaetus	Osprey*
	Elanus axillaris	Black-shouldered Kite
	Lophoictinia isura	Square-tailed Kite*
	Milvus migrans	Black Kite
	Aviceda subcristata	Pacific Baza
	Haliastur sphenurus	Whistling Kite
	Haliaeetus leucogaster	White-bellied Sea-eagle*
	Circus approximans	Swamp Harrier
	Circus assimilis	Spotted Harrier*
	Accipiter fasciatus	Brown Goshawk
	Accipiter novaehollandiae	Grey Goshawk
	Accipiter cirrhocephalus	Collared Sparrowhawk
	Aquila audax	Wedge-tailed Eagle
	Hieraaetus morphnoides	Little Eagle*
Falconidae	Falco berigora	Brown Falcon
	Falco longipennis	Australian Hobby
	Falco subniger	Black Falcon
	Falco peregrinus	Peregrine Falcon
	Falco cenchroides	Nankeen Kestrel
Rallidae	Gallirallus phillippensis	Buff-banded Rail
	Rallus pectoralis	Lewin's Rail
	Porzana pusilla	Baillon's Crake
	Porzana fluminea	Australian Spotless Crake
	Porzana tabuensis	Spotless Crake
	Porphyrio porphyrio	Purple Swamphen
	Gallinula tenebrosa	Dusky Moorhen
	Fulica atra	Eurasian Coot
Turnicidae	Turnix varia	Painted Button-quail
Scolopacidae	Gallingo hardwickii	Latham's Snipe*
Burhinidae	Burhinus grallarius	Bush-stone Curlew*
Recurvirostridae	Himantopus himantopus	Black-winged Stilt
	Recurvirostra novaehollandiae	Red-necked Avocet
Rostratulidae	Rostratula australis	Australian Painted Snipe
Charadriidae	Vanellus miles	Masked Lapwing
Columbidae	Columba leucomela	White-headed Pigeon
	Macropygia amboinensis	Brown Cuckoo-dove
	Chalcophaps indica	Emerald Dove
	Phaps chalcoptera	Common Bronzewing
	Phaps elegans	Brush Bronzewing
	Ocyphaps lophotes	Crested Pigeon
	Geopelia cuneata	Diamond Dove
	Geopelia striata	Peaceful Dove
	Geopelia humeralis	Bar-shouldered Dove
	Leucosarcia melanoleuca	Wonga Pigeon
	Ptilinopus magnificus	Wompoo Fruit-dove
	Ptilinopus superbus	Superb Fruit-dove
	Lopholaimus antarcticus	Topnot Pigeon
Cacatuidae	Calyptorhynchus lathami	Glossy Black Cockatoo*
	Calyptorhynchus funereus	Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo
	Callocephalon fimbriatum	Gang-gang Cockatoo*
	Eolophus roseicapillus	Galah
	Cacatua tenuirostris	Long-billed Corella
	Cacatua sanguinea	Little Corella
	Cacatua galerita	Sulfur-crested Cockatoo
Psittacidae	Trichoglossus haematodus	Rainbow Lorikeet
	Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus	Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
	Glossopsitta concinna	Musk Lorikeet
	Glossopsitta pusilla	Little Lorikeet*
	Alisterus scapularis	Australian King Parrot
	Platycercus elegans	Crimson Rosella
	Platycercus eximius	Eastern Rosella
	Lathamus discolor	Swift Parrot*
	Psephotus haematonotus	Red-rumped Parrot
	Neophema pulchella	Turquoise Parrot*
	Pezoporus wallicus	Ground Parrot*
Cuculidae	Cuculus saturatus	Oriental Cuckoo
	Cuculus pallidus	Pallid Cuckoo
	Cacomantis variolosus	Brush Cuckoo
	Cacomantis flabelliformis	Fan-tailed Cuckoo
	Chrysococcys basalis	Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo
	Chrysococcys lucidus	Shining Bronze Cuckoo
	Eudynamys orientalis	Eastern Koel
	Scythrops novaehollandiae	Channel-billed Cuckoo
Centropodidae	Centropus phasianinus	Pheasant Coucal
Strigidae	Ninox strenua	Powerful Owl*
	Ninox connivens	Barking Owl*
	Ninox novaeseelandiae	Southern Boobook
Tytonidae	Tyto tenebricosa	Sooty Owl*
	Tyto novaehollandiae	Masked Owl*
	Tyto alba	Barn Owl
Podargidae	Podargus strigoides	Tawny Frogmouth
Caprimulgidae	Eurostopodus mystacalis	White-throated Nightjar
Aegothelidae	Aegothehes cristatus	Australian Owlet Nightjar
Apodidae	Hirundapus caudacutus	White-throated Needletail
	Apus pacificicus	Fork-tailed Swift
Alcedinidae	Alcedo azurea	Azure Kingfisher
Halcyonidae	Dacelo novaeguineae	Laughing Kookaburra
	Todiramphus sanctus	Sacred Kingfisher
Meropidae	Merops ornatus	Rainbow Bee-eater
Coraciidae	Eurystomus orientalis	Dollarbird
Pittidae	Pitta versicolor	Noisy Pitta
Menuridae	Menura novaehollandiae	Superb Lyrebird
Climacteridae	Cormobates leucophaea	White-throated Treecreeper
	Climacteris picumnus victoriae	Brown Treecreeper*
	Climacteris erythrops	Red-browed Treecreeper
Maluridae	Malurus cyaneus	Superb Fairy-wren
	Malurus lamberti	Variegated Wren
	Stipiturus malachurus	Southern Emuwren
Pardalotidae	Pardalotus punctatus	Spotted Pardalote
	Pardalotus striatus	Striated Pardalote
	Dasyornis brachypterus	Eastern Bristlebird*
	Pycnoptilus floccosus	Pilot Bird
	Origma solitaria	Rock Warbler
	Sericornis citreogularis	Yellow-throated Scrubwren
	Sericornis frontalis	White-browed Scrubwren
	Sericornis magnirostris	Large-billed Scrubwren
	Hylacola pyrrhopygia	Chestnut-rumped Hylacola
	Calamanthus fuliginosus	Striated Fieldwren
	Chthonicola sagittata	Speckled Warbler
	Smicrornis brevirostris	Weebill
	Gerygone mouki	Brown Gerygone
	Gerygone olivacea	White-throated Gerygone
	Acanthiza pusilla	Brown Thornbill
	Acanthiza reguloides	Buff-rumped Thornbill
	Acanthiza chrysorrhoa	Yellow-rumped Thornbill
	Acanthiza nana	Yellow Thornbill
	Acanthiza lineata	Striated Thornbill
	Aphelocephala leucopsis	Southern Whiteface
Meliphagidae	Anthochaera carunculata	Red Wattlebird
	Anthochaera chrysoptera	Little Wattlebird
	Philemon corniculatus	Noisy Friarbird
	Xanthomyza phrygia	Regent Honeyeater*
	Manorina melanocephala	Noisy Miner
	Meliphaga lewinii	Lewin's Honeyeater
	Caligavis chrysops	Yellow-faced Honeyeater
	Lichenostomus leucotis	White-eared Honeyeater
	Lichenostomus melanops	Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
	Lichenostomus fuscus	Fuscus Honeyeater
	Lichenostomus penicillayus	White-plumed Honeyeater
	Melithreptus lunatus	White-naped Honeyeater
	Melithreptus brevirostris	Brown-headed Honeyeater
	Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera	Crescent Honeyeater
	Phylidonyris novaehollandiae	New Holland Honeyeater
	Phylidonyris niger	White-cheeked Honeyeater
	Phylidonyris melanops	Tawny Crowned Honeyeater
	Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris	Eastern Spinebill
	Myzomela sanguinolenta	Scarlet Honeyeater
	Epthianura albifrons	White-fronted Chat
Petroicidae	Microeca leucophaea	Jacky Winter
	Petroica boodang	Scarlet Robin*
	Petroica phoenicea	Flame Robin
	Petroica rosea	Rose Robin
	Petroica rodinogaster	Pink Robin*
	Melanodryas cucullata	Hooded Robin
	Eopsaltria australis	Eastern Yellow Robin
Orthonychidae	Orthonyx temminckii	Southern Logrunner
Cinclosomatidae	Psophodes olivaceus	Eastern Whipbird
	Cinclosoma punctatum	Spotted Quail-thrush
Neosittidae	Daphoenositta chrysoptera	Varied Sittella*
Pachycephalidae	Falcunculus frontatus	Crested Shrike-tit
	Pachycephala olivacea	Olive Whistler*
	Pachycephala pectoralis	Golden Whistler
	Pachycephala rufiventris	Rufous Whistler
	Colluricincla harmonica	Grey Shrike-thrush
Dicruridae	Monarcha melanopsis	Black-faced Monarch
	Monarcha trivirgatus	Spectacled Monarch
	Monarcha cyanoleuca	Satin Flycatcher
	Myiagra rubecula	Leaden Flycatcher
	Myiagra inquieta	Restless Flycatcher
	Grallina cyanoleuca	Magpie Lark
	Rhipidura rufifrons	Rufous Fantail
	Rhipidura fuliginosa	Grey Fantail
	Rhipidura leucophrys	Willie Wagtail
	Dicrurus bracteatus	Spangled Drongo
Campephagidae	Coracina novaehollandiae	Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
	Coracina papuensis	White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
	Coracina tenuirostris	Cicadabird
	Lalage sueurii	White-winged Triller
Oriolidae	Oriolus sagittatus	Olive-backed Oriole
	Sphecotheres viridis	Figbird
Artamidae	Artamus leucorynchus	White-breasted Woodswallow
	Artamus personatus	Masked Woodswallow
	Artamus superciliosus	White-browed Woodswallow
	Artamus cyanopterus	Dusky Woodswallow
	Cracticus torquatus	Grey Butcherbird
	Cracticus tibicen	Australian Magpie
	Strepera graculina	Pied Currawong
	Strepera visicolor	Grey Currawong
Corvidae	Corvus coronoides	Australian Raven
	Corvus mellori	Little Raven
Corcoracidae	Corcorax melanorhamphos	White-winged Chough
Ptilonorhynchidae	Ailuroedus crassirostris	Green Catbird
	Ptilonorhynchus violaceus	Satin Bowerbird
Alaudiea	Mirafra javanica	Singing Bushlark
Motacillidae	Anthus novaeseelandiae	Richard's Pipit
Passeridae	Taeniopygia guttata	Zebra Finch
	Taeniopygia bichenovii	Double-barred Finch
	Neochmia temporalis	Red-browed Firetail
	Stagonopleura guttata	Diamond Firetail
	Stagonopleura bella	Beautiful Firetail
	Lonchura castaneothorax	Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Dicaeidae	Dicaeum hirundinaceum	Mistletoebird
Hirundinidae	Hirundo neoxena	Welcome Swallow
	Hirundo nigricans	Tree Martin
	Hirundo aeriel	Fairy Martin
Sylviidae	Acrocepephalus stentoreus	Clamorous Reed-warbler
	Megalurus timoriensis	Tawny Grassbird
	Megalurus gramineus	Little Grassbird
	Cincloramphus mathewsi	Rufous Songlark
	Cincloramphus cruralis	Brown Songlark
	Cisticola exilis	Golden-headed Cisticola
Zosteropidae	Zosterops lateralis	Silvereye
Muscicapidae	Zoothera lunulata	Bassian Thrush

Urban native birds

Since the 1970s there has been a revolution in Australian gardens with the use of native plants. The result is that urban areas have been colonised or recolonised by a swag of birds, namely honeyeaters and parrots. Sparrows and Indian Turtle Doves have given way to flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets, Corellas, Wattlebirds, Crested Pigeons and Noisy Miners. The planting of nectar-producing plants in particular Grevilleas and Bottlebrush species (most of which do not grow naturally in the region) have driven this change by providing a ready source of food - nectar. However there have been more changes in the Illawarra local bird populations.

The Rainbow Lorikeet is one of the bird species that have become common in urban areas of the Illawarra due to extensive planting of nectar-producing plants like Grevilleas. Image by Garry Daly ©

In the 1940s birdoes (those of us who have a bent for our feathered friends) used to camp in Royal National Park at a place called the Shack. At that time it was a big “tick” (birdo term for seeing a bird) to see a Sulfur Crested Cockatoo. Corellas, Figbirds and Crested Pigeons did not occur on the coast at that time and Rainbow Lorikeets were heard and seen as specks in the sky as they flew south from the Sunshine coast to Nowra when the Spotted Gum were in flower. What has driven these massive changes?

Notes on the birds some 5km west of Cambewarra Mountain (Tapitallee) by avid bird-watcher Aubrey Elliott clearly indicate that in the 1930s and early 1940s people shot birds for food and to reduce attacks on vegetables, fruit and poultry. Species such as Red Wattlebird, Wonga Pigeon and no doubt Top-knot Pigeon were shot for food whereas Goshawks were shot because they might take a chicken. You also have to consider that most of the bush in the area is regrowth from the Great War and not favourable to many species of bird. On our place there is a layer of fine wire along one boundary fence, when I asked a neighbour about this he said that in the old days the government fenced peoples’ properties if they had a commitment to eradicating feral Rabbits. They built the fence, with the fine wire, if the owner had at least two hunting dogs to drive rabbits into a fence corner so they could be clubbed. This piece of physical evidence and the rock walls in the rainforest in Foxground and Kiama are tell-tale signs of extensive clearing in the region for farming.

Top-knot Pigeons, with their distinctive grey and brown crests, feed on figs and other rainforest fruits, and then distribute the seeds. Image by Garry Daly ©.

The Illawarra escarpment was initially logged of Red Cedar (Toona ciliata) soon after settlement. Then came agriculture especially after the World War I soldier resettlement scheme, and finally pit props were cut for coal mining. Bigger more mature trees have proportionally more flower than smaller ones and so as the forest matures there is a greater abundance of nectar and nesting sites for birds and other fauna. So natural revegetation has led to more species of bird being in urban areas.

The pet trade has contributed to the rise in the Illawarra’s bird diversity. In the early 1980s I recall there were a large number of baby Corellas available in pet shops. These wild caught birds flooded the shops and some escaped and established wild populations. I first observed Short-billed Corella in Nowra in 1985 and Long-billed in 1986. Currently mixed flocks of 5-10,000 live in the city and they are common along the Illawarra coast.

Other species have made their own way down the coast. The Figbird has moved down the coastal strip from up north and recorded as scarce and nesting at Shellharbour in 1956 (Gibson 1989), Rainbow Lorikeets decided not to fly back to Queensland as there was a ready supply of nectar from our native gardens. Summer-breeding migrants such as the Channel-billed Cuckoo and Common Koel have become more abundant in the region since the 1970s and are expanding their range to south-eastern NSW. A list of the birds in the Illawarra excluding marine species is given in the table below.

Birds have shown the greatest change in our native fauna since the idea of planting native gardens spread from the few to be widespread. Being able to fly means they can cross all sorts of obstacles that animals that lack wings have to contend with. The debate has changed from attracting native birds to your garden to providing habitat for the smaller birds that have been driven away by the aggressive ones like the Wattlebirds and Noisy Miners.

The Superb Fairy Wren is a small bird that needs shelter near a bird bath or water feature to feel safe enough to use it. Image by Garry Daly ©.

Rural native birds

Rural native birds In rural areas or larger blocks there is a huge scope to provide habitat for birds. The planting of a variety of native Eucalypts will provide nectar over an extended period for many species of honeyeaters and Silvereyes. I have a particular preference for Swamp Mahogany and Forest Red Gum that flower in winter on a regular basis as it is during this time of the year that food for native animals is at a minimum. Local Governments in the Illawarra should be encouraged to plant these two species (plus the Coastal Banksia) in parks and gardens along the coast for this reason.

If regenerating degraded land along the Illawarra escarpment there are a number of pioneer species that can be planted that provide food resources for birds. This included Native Peach (Trema tomentosa var. aspera) and Pencil Cedar (Polyscias murrayi). These fast-growing species are the natural colonisers of disturbed landscapes in our area. The fruit of Native Peach are avidly eaten by Brown Cuckoo-dove and Lewin’s Honeyeater while the Pencil Cedar’s fruit is eaten by Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Pied Currawong and Lewin’s Honeyeater. A more comprehensive list of what to plant for various birds is given in the table below.

The fruit-eating Green Catbird has a most distinctive call, like a cat's cry. Image by Garry Daly ©.

Lewin's Honeyeater is able to live in rainforest as well as forest and woodland, and remains fairly common in urban and rural parts of the Illawarra. Image by Garry Daly ©.

Birdoes have known for a long time that many species in the Illawarra are seasonal migrants. Channel-billed Cuckoo, Black-faced Monarchs and Rufous Fantails are well known to make spring migrations annually to our region to breed and then return north in autumn. However there are lots more species than just these that are seasonal migrants and there are huge numbers of the Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebird and Silvereye that pass through the region. By planting nectar-producing trees along ridgelines these and other honeyeaters will drop into your place for a quick feed before moving on.

On rural land there is often the opportunity to build dams that diversifies that habitat for birds. Large shallow dams are better than small deep ones as shallow (less than 1m) areas are colonised by emergent water plants providing food for Swamp Hens, Coots and ducks. Over the last 40 years there has been a large increase in the number of dams in the region as evidenced by looking at the various editions of topographic maps. This is probably a result of subdivision and an increase in wealth.

The Freckled Duck also calls the Illawarra home. Its plumage is freckled all over with paler spots.Image by Garry Daly ©.

A general trend for the new generation of people on rural properties is to eliminate weeds (lantana and so on) and restore the bush. This is something that has occupied much of my time over the last 35 years. However in some situations there is a need to tread carefully. For example I used to hear a pair of Southern Logrunner regularly call from some section of a creek at dusk. Upslope of that site there was a large infestation of lantana. A few years ago we sprayed the weed using a splatter gun and during that work I heard and saw a pair of Logrunner. They were noisy and appeared angry moving up the hill away from us. Shortly after that time the birds abandoned this site, I guess they lost their dense cover that the lantana provided in the shrub layer. Since that time I have replanted the site but it may take years before the birds return.

The Brown Thornbill is a small bird that can be adversely affected by rapid depletion of a weedy shrub layer. It prefers to live in dense undergrowth. Image by Garry Daly ©.

Useful plants to attract native birds

Common name	Scientific name	Fauna attracted	Use
Maiden’s Acacia	Acacia maidenii	Wonga Pigeon	Seed
Blackwood	Acacia melanoxylon	Wonga Pigeon	Seed
White Aspen	Acronychia oblongifolia	Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Pied Currawong	Fruit
Native Quince	Alectryon subcinereus	Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird	Fruit
Black Oak	Allocasuarina littoralis	Glossy Black Cockatoo	Seed
Red Ash	Alphitonia excelsa	Lewin's Honeyeater	Seed
Bangalow Palm	Archontophoenix cunninghamiana	Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
Coastal Banksia	Banksia integrifolia	Lorikeets, Honeyeaters	Nectar
Saw-toothed Banksia	Banksia serrata	Lorikeets, Honeyeaters	Nectar
Flame Tree	Brachychiton acerifolius	Pied Currawong	Seed
Blackthorn	Bursaria spinosa	Australian King Parrot	Fruit
Red-fruited Olive Plum	Cassine australe	Satin Bowerbird	Fruit
Churnwood	Citronella moorei	Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
Brittlewood	Claoxylon australe	Brown Cuckoo-dove	Fruit
Hairy Clerodendrum	Clerodendrum tomentosum	Satin Bowerbird	Fruit
Spotted Gum	Corymbia maculata	Lorikeets, Honeyeaters	Nectar
Jackwood	Cryptocarya glaucescens	Various pigeons, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird	Fruit
Murrogun	Cryptocarya microneura	Various pigeons, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird	Fruit
Stinging Tree	Dendrocnide excelsa	Lewin's Honeyeater, Green Catbird	Fruit
Myrtle Ebony	Diospyros pentamera	Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
Native Tamarind	Diploglottis cunninghamii	Wompoo Fruit-dove	Fruit
Koda	Ehretia acuminata	Lewin’s Honeyeater and Pigeons	Fruit
Pigeonberry Ash	Elaeocarpus kirtonii	Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
Blueberry Ash	Elaeocarpus reticulatus	Satin Bowerbird	Fruit
Corkwood	Endiandra sieberi	Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
Blackbutt	Eucalyptus pilularis	Honeyeaters	Nectar
Forest Red Gum	Eucalyptus tereticornis	Honeyeaters	Nectar
Morton Bay Fig	Ficus macrophylla	Top-knot Pigeon, Satin Bowerbird	Fruit
Small-leaved Fig	Ficus obliqua	Top-knot Pigeon, Satin Bowerbird	Fruit
Port Jackson Fig	Ficus rubiginosa	Satin Bowerbird	Fruit
Superb Fig	Ficus superba var. henneana	Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
Cheese Tree	Glochidion ferdinandi	Lewin's Honeyeater	Seed
Bleeding Heart	Homalanthus populifolius	Brown Cuckoo-dove	Fruit
Cabbage Tree Palm	Livistona australis	Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
White Cedar	Melia azedarach	Pied Currawong, Australian King Parrot	Fruit
Large- Mock Olive	Notelaea longifolia	White-headed Pigeon and Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
Brown Beech	Pennantia cunninghamii	Top-knot Pigeon	Fruit
Sweet Pittosporum	Pittosporum undulatum	Australian King Parrot	Seed
Plum Pine	Podocarpus elatus	Pied Currawong	Fruit
Celery Wood	Polyscias elegans	Lewin's Honeyeater, Satin Bowerbird,	Fruit
Pencil Cedar	Polyscias murrayi	Lewin's Honeyeater, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird	Fruit
Bastard Rosewood	Synoum glandulosum	Satin Bowerbird	Fruit
Brush Cherry	Syzygium australe	Various pigeons	Fruit
Magenta Cherry	Syzygium paniculatum	Satin Bowerbird	Fruit
Lilly Pilly	Acmena smithii	Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird	Fruit
Native Peach	Trema tomentosa var. aspera	Lewin's Honeyeater and Brown Cuckoo-dove	Fruit

The Whipbird is an elusive species but can be attracted to gardens that have a mixed shrubby understorey. Its
distinctive whip-crack call is actually made up of two coordinated calls by male and female birds. Image by Pete Butler. All rights reserved.

Text by Garry Daly.