Fraser Avenue, West Perth, Western Australia 6005Tel: (08) 9480 3600 • Fax: (08) 9322 5064

Email: enquiries@bgpa.wa.gov.au • Internet: www.bgpa.wa.gov.au RO19

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Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus These lorikeets were introduced

from the eastern states in the 1960s and have now spread widely throughout the metropolitan area. Lorikeets have a brush-tipped tongue for collecting pollen and nectar.

(B, R, C)

These birds look for hollows in trees for nesting. They have strong bills for cracking seeds and nuts.

Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonariusRingnecks are often seen feeding on the ground. They have a wide variety of calls. (B, R, C)

HONEYEATERS HONEYEATERS CUCKOOS

Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculataThis is the largest of our honeyeaters and is very noisy and aggressive.(B, R, C)

Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidusThe Pallid Cuckoo visits KingsPark and Botanic Garden fromMay to November and relieson large honeyeaters as ahost for their young.(B, M, U)

Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis Fan-tailed Cuckoos visit the

Perth area in winter. They feed on caterpillars.

(B, M, U)

ShiningBronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidusThey are usually most commonfrom August to December andmigrate to Indonesia in winter.They mostly rely on Thornbillsas hosts. (B, M, C)

Australian Raven

Corvus coronoides Australian Ravens are

omnivorous and are often seen feeding in the picnic areas.

(B, R, C)

Prepared by Birds Australia WA Group

BIRDS OF KINGS PARK AND BOTANIC GARDEN

BIRDWATCHING IN KINGS PARK AND BOTANIC GARDEN

PARROTS AND GALAHS

Perth is fortunate enough to have an area of over 400ha of native vegetation, parks and gardens in the middle of the city. This provides a home for over 70 species of birds, many of which live here permanently and others visit at various times of the year.

Morning is the best time for bird watching. Good places to see birds are the Botanic Garden, the banksia woodlands in the Spring and the edges of the woodland where the trees meet the grassed area. To see some of the rarer species such as thornbills, you can take a quiet walk along some of the trails throughout the Park.

This brochure tells you about 40 of the most common birds of Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

Illustrations by Susan Tingay, Judy Blyth and Pam Free.

Information prepared by Allan K Jones, John Dell and Jodi Mansell-Fletcher.

Birds Australia – Western Australian Group167 Perry Lakes Drive Floreat WA 6014

Tel: (08) 9383 7749Call in for more information - new members are welcome.

Kings Park and Botanic Garden Information Centre9.30am - 4pm daily Tel: 9480 3634

KEY

C Common R Resident all year I Irregular visitorU Uncommon B Breeds in Kings Park M MigratoryRa Rare

Short-billedBlack-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostrisThese birds are visitors to thecoastal plain in autumn-winterfrom the wheatbelt. They havedeveloped a taste for pine tree seeds. Note their unusual call, ‘wee-yu’, when flying. (M, C)

Galah Cacatua roseicapilla Galahs have expanded

their range south from the Murchison and they now breed around Perth.

(B, R, C)

Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum The Mistletoebird visits the

park in search of mistletoe berries or small fruits of introduced plants.

(I, Ra)

Three cuckoos are regular visitors to Kings Park and BotanicGarden. Cuckoos lay their eggs in nests of other birds (hosts).

Honeyeaters are found in every major vegetation zone in Australia. They are important pollinators of Australian plants and are very active in their search for nectar and insects. The following honeyeaters can be found in Kings Park and Botanic Garden in all seasons.

Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescensThe Singing Honeyeater prefersopen woodland throughout thepark. They are Perth’s secondmost common garden bird.(B, R, C)

Western Spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus They are often found feeding in plants below 2m. Note their fine

curved beak. (B, R, C)

White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris nigraThe White-cheeked Honeyeatercan usually be seen in theBotanic Garden and escarp-ment. A similar species, the New Holland Honeyeater, may sometimes be seen. (B, R, C) Crows and Ravens

Western Wattlebird

Anthochaera chrysoptera The Western Wattlebird is

smaller than the Red Wattlebird and can sometimes be seen in the Botanic Garden perched on top of a bush giving its chortling call.

(B, R, U)

Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indisinctaThe Brown Honeyeater hasa brownish plumage. It has anumber of loud, musical calls.(B, R, C)

Spotted Turtledove

Streptopelia chinensis These birds were introduced

from Asia in 1898. They are not as common and are larger than the Laughing turtle-dove.

(B, R, C)

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiaeWhen perched, notice howthey give a peculiar displayin which the wings are liftedalternately on the back.(B, R, C)

Tawny Frogmouth

Podargus strigoides Tawny Frogmouths live in pairs

in a permanent territory. They feed by night on ground animals such as mice and centipedes.

(B, R, U)

Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcopteraThis is a very shy bird whichlikes to feed on wattle seeds.It comes each day at duskto drink at taps and otherwatered areas.(B, R, U)

Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrysThese lively birds are usuallyfound on lawns and in opencountry. They defend theirterritory aggressively whennesting. (B, R, C)

Several water birds visit the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Fountain inthe Botanic Garden and others are residents including the following.

These smaller birds live in the foliage and collect insects fromthe leaves.

Western Gerygone Gerygone fuscaThey are more often heard thanseen, usually singly or in pairs.They have a distinctively mournful call.(B, R, C)

Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris The Weebill is Australia’s smallest

bird and is often heard before it is seen as it moves through the canopy of eucalypts. Listen for its call - ‘wee-bit’.

(B, R, C)

Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatusListen for its loud, distinctivecall ‘chip-chip’. They eat manyfoods including insects, cellsof leaf bugs and sometimesnectar. (B, R, C)

Silvereye Zosterops lateralis Silvereyes move in flocks through

the bushes with their contact call of ‘psec-psec’. They feed on a wide range of foods including aphids, berries and Marri nectar.

(B, R, C)

Predators hunt for insects, lizards, small mammals and young birds.

Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides They are often seen hovering

over scarp at Kings Park and Botanic Garden in their search for food.

(R, U)

Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatusThey are usually present during winter and spring when nesting in eucalypt trees in the centre of the park. They may swoop on you if you approach the nest. (B, R, C)

GROUND FEEDERS GROUND FEEDERS INTERESTING BIRDS

FANTAILS

WATER BIRDS

AERIAL FEEDERS

GLEANERS PREDATORS

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

Acanthiza chrysorrhoa They are occasionally seen in

small flocks along tracks and mown lawns.

(B, R, U)

Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufi ventris This bird is usually found in

Jarrah woodland either singly or in pairs. Its loud, musical call is often heard.

(B, R, C)

Fantails have a conspicuous fan-like tail. They are restlessly active in their search for insects, grubs and spiders.

Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa Grey fantails are more

common from April to November. They are very inquisitive and will often come close to intruders.

(B, R, C)

Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosaThey appear on most lakesand waterways around Perthand are often seen loafingabout in the daytime. (B, R, C)

Magpie Lark Grallina cyanoleuca Magpie Larks are territorial

and the young form flocks after breeding. They have a musical call ‘tee-he-pee-o’.

(B, R, C)

Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicenMagpies live in groups in permanent territories where they feed, roost and breed. They are aggressive in breeding season and may swoop on passers-by.(B, R, C)

Australian Wood Duck

Chenonetta jubata They are usually nomadic but

will remain at a site if food, especially lawn grass, is available.

(B, R, C)

Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatusTheir brilliant plumage is obviousas they fly about in search of bees, wasps and dragonflies. They visit Perth from the north in spring and summer. (B, M, C)

Tree Martin Hirundo nigricans Feeds high above the treetops.

Nests in tree hollows. (B, M, C)

Laughing Turtledove Streptopelia senegalensisThese birds were introduced to Perth Zoo from India and continue to increase their range in the southwest of Western Australia.(B, R, C)

Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxenaFeeds aerially. Often builds small mud nests on built structures. (B, R, C)

Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctusThe Sacred Kingfisher is abreeding visitor from Septemberto March. It is usually found inthe woodland area.(B, M, U)

Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatusGrey Butcherbirds live in permanent territories and prefer bushland bordering parks and open spaces. They have a number of loud melodious calls.(B, R, C)

Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae The Kookaburra was

introduced to Western Australia from Eastern Australia in 1898. It has now spread throughout the south-west.

(B, R, C)