Tag: birds

Bird Bites is my social media channel dedicated to the wonderful world of birds.

There is a youtube channel, facebook page, instagram account and the blog posts here.

I write regular articles in my local newspaper and am interviewed frequently on TV and the radio about bird and conservation related issues. Most of these posts are from the newspaper articles with the occasional extra ones, like this one on Bird Calls of the Toowoomba Region. The youtube channel and facebook page are very active if you’d like to follow them there.

I used to host this all separately on another blog site birdbites.com.au but I have decided to place them all here now. I hope you enjoy!

<< click here for the BIRD BITES blog posts >>

It takes Silver gulls (Larus novaehollandiae) around two years to reach full adult plumage.

Here’s some shots of some of the transitional stages they go through. All photos taken at Caloundra, Queensland.

Continue reading “Silver gull plumage moults”

We have three species of rosellas in the local area – Crimson, Pale-headeds, and
very rarely Eastern rosellas. Pale-headed rosellas are by far the most common and
widely spread in our area. They are in my opinion too, the most beautiful of all the
rosellas, owing to their delicate colouration.

Continue reading “Pale-headed rosella – Platycercus adscitus”

Crested pigeons are a widely spread and popular bird throughout Australia, and especially in our region. They feed exclusively on the ground and prefer open or lightly timbered country and are found throughout parks, gardens, farmland and wooded grasslands.

Continue reading “Crested pigeons – Ocyphaps lophotes”

White-faced heron’s are one of our most common herons, and I’m always struck by their grace and apparent fragility when I see them.

Continue reading “White-faced heron – Egretta novaehollandiae”

Magpie-larks, or peewees as they are affectionately known, are one of Australia’s
most successful birds. They are found throughout the mainland, except for the most
arid parts of the interior, as well as Papua New Guinea and Timor. They have been
introduced to Lord Howe Island and are quite well established there.

Continue reading “Magpie-lark – Grallina cyanoleuca”

An adult male Satin bowerbird outside of his bower, with blue decorations

With the male’s beautiful dark blue sheen, violet eyes, bizarre calls and bower
building habits, the Satin bowerbird is one of our most intriguing birds.

Continue reading “Satin bowerbird – Ptilonorhynchus violaceus”

White-headed pigeons are a large and common pigeon, but not regularly seen by
most people in our area. They are around 40 centimetres long with grey wings and a
white neck and breast, which is slightly greyer in the females than the males.

Continue reading “White-headed pigeon – Columba leucomela”

The Galah is a well known and widely spread cockatoo that is endemic to Australia. They are found throughout almost all of the mainland, and have been introduced to Tasmania. There are three subspecies, broadly found in the south-eastern, northern and western parts of the country. In our local area we have the south-eastern sub-species albiceps.

Continue reading “Galah – Eolophus roseicapilla”

Of all the Australian birds that are common and widely distributed Willie wagtails are
one of the most recognisable and entertaining. They are a common sight throughout
the gardens of Australia as they forage across lawns looking for invertebrates to eat
whilst constantly wagging and fanning their tail. Coupled with the stern appearance
their eye-brow ridge gives them and their harsh contact call, they are quite a
memorable sight.

Continue reading “Willie wagtail – Rhipidura leucophrys”