Often also called a "Snake bird" due to its appearance when swimming, where its long neck protrudes from the water and looks like a snake.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Suliformes > Anhingidae > Anhinga > Anhinga novaehollandiae
Often just referred to as "Figbird", the Australasian Figbird is the only Figbird in Australia.
Previously considered a sub species of the Purple swamp hen but now recognised as its own species.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Gruiformes > Rallidae > Porphyrio > Porphyrio melanotus
Previously considered a subspecies of the Asian koel, Australian koels are also known as Stormbirds or Rainbirds due to there propensity for singing more before rain.
A strikingly coloured kingfisher native to Eastern Australia and New Guinea
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Coraciiformes > Alcedinidae > Ceyx > Ceyx azureus
Bar-shouldered doves are native to Australia and New Guinea and can grow to up to 30cm.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Columbiformes > Columbidae > Geopelia > Geopelia humeralis
Large ground dwelling bird that is becoming rare, especially south of Cairns.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Charadriiformes > Burhinidae > Esacus > Esacus magnirostris
Up to 58cm in length, this is a large bittern, found in wetland areas.
More closely related to the Australian magpie, Black Butherbirds are proficient hunters and nest raiders.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Artamidae > Melloria > Melloria quoyi
A common raptor, often seen between Cairns and Cape Tribulation, occasionally in flocks.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Accipitriformes > Accipitridae > Milvus > Milvus migrans
A small wading plover found throughout much of Australia
Often known as the Jabiru, the Black-necked Stork is a truly impressive bird of wetland habitats.
A medium sized, black and white wader found in fresh and brackish wetlands and mangroves.
Slightly smaller than the Laughing kookaburra, the Blue-winged kookaburra is native to the rainforest areas of northern Australia and southern New Guinea.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Coraciiformes > Alcedinidae > Dacelo > Dacelo leachii
A distinctive bird of prey, with white head and breast, and red-brown wings and tail.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Accipitriformes > Accipitridae > Haliastur > Haliastur indus
Also known as the "brown pigeon", or "pheasant pigeon", Brown cuckoo-doves occur along the east coast and up into the tablelands, all the way from Cape York to the Victorian border.
When you hear a scream at night, it is quite possibly just one of these interesting birds.
Found only in far north Queensland and New Guinea, the Southern Cassowary is the second largest bird in the world (after the ostrich).
Often easy to spot, in paddocks with cattle on the side of the road, where they feed on insects.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Pelecaniformes > Ardeidae > Bubulcus > Bubulcus ibis
The Double-eyed fig parrot is the smallest parrot found in Australia.
A subspecies of the Great Egret found throughout Oceania and Asia.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Pelecaniformes > Ardeidae > Ardea > Ardea alba modesta
A medium sized fish hunting raptor, common along the coast and rivers.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Accipitriformes > Pandionidae > Pandion > Pandion cristatus
Interestingly, this species can either be white, or grey.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Pelecaniformes > Ardeidae > Egretta > Egretta sacra
Found in along the coast between Cairns and Cape Tribulation, you will often spot these fishers, near a river close to the coast.
Native to north-eastern Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea lowland tropical moist rainforests.
Very difficult to distinguish from the Yellow-spot honeyeater and the Lewin's Honey Eater, however can be identified by the call.
Australias largest heron, it hunts its prey in shallow water.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Pelecaniformes > Ardeidae > Ardea > Ardea sumatrana
Greater Crested Terns can be seen in large colonies along the rocky coast and small islands between Cairns and Cape Tribulation
This small wader can often be spotted along the intertidal areas between Cairn and Cape Tribulation hunting for food.
A shy and inconspicuous bird found foraging for fruit in dense rainforest.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Oriolidae > Oriolus > Oriolus flavocinctus
A small insectivorous bird of the "old world" passerine order.
Found along the east coast of Queensland, this varient of the Hemeted friarbird has a large knob on its bill as well as a bare grey facial skin and a red eye.
An iconic Australian bird with the one of the most distinctive calls of any Australian bird.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Coraciiformes > Alcedinidae > Dacelo > Dacelo novaeguineae
Preferring the wetter areas of eastern Australia, this small bird is often seen in the upper branches of trees, feeding on fruit and insects.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Meliphagidae > Meliphaga > Meliphaga lewinii
A communal bird that lives on the edges of swamps and rivers where it can feed.
Only occurring in north east Queensland and the Gulf country, the Lovely Fairywren is a lively little bird.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Maluridae > Malurus > Malurus amabilis
Often maligned for their bold (and aggressively defensive) nesting habits, Lapwing Plovers are usually shy and harmless.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Charadriiformes > Charadriidae > Vanellus > Vanellus miles
Often seen in large flocks, following fruiting trees, Metallic Starlings are a glossy black with a coloured purple-green "sheen" to the coat which gives them there common name.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Sturnidae > Aplonis > Aplonis metallica
As its name suggests these active birds feed mainly on the berries of mistletoe plants (although it will catch insects to feed its young).
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Dicaeidae > Dicaeum > Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Also known as the Rufous Night Heron, this is a medium sized heron that is mostly nocturnal.
Also known as the yellow-bellied sunbird, you will often find the nest of these beautiful birds in public places, like verandas and gazebos.
Building huge mounds for nests, these chicken sized megapodes are a regular sight between Cairns and Cape Tribulation.
Also known as the Crested hawk, this is a small long-tailed hawk with a distinctive crest on its head.
A dark, dabbling, duck with growing up to 55-60cm in size.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Anseriformes > Anatidae > Anas > Anas superciliosa
The longest of the frogmouths, the Papuan Frogmouth grows to around 53cm.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Podargiformes > Podargidae > Podargus > Podargus papuensis
A large (up to 70cm) species of cuckoo that is found in far north Queensland and New Guinea's sub tropical moist lowland rainforest.
A large, attractive, mostly white pigeon that can be seen between Cairns and Cape Tribulation during the wet season.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Columbiformes > Columbidae > Ducula > Ducula bicolor
A commonly seen wading bird along the coast between Cairns and Cape Tribulation
Also known as the Black-backed Shelduck or the Burdekin Duck, this is a strikingly coloured black and white duck with green bands on the top of the wings that can be seen from above when in flight.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Anseriformes > Anatidae > Tadorna > Tadorna radjah
An aptly named and striking bird commonly seen around the Daintree Region
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Coraciiformes > Meropidae > Merops > Merops ornatus
An unmistakable, brightly coloured parrot of the rainforest and woodland areas.
This parrot is found in grassland, savannah and woodland of northern and north-eatern Australia as well as New Guinea.
Also known as the black-billed spoonbill, it is often encountered wading on intertidal flats using its wide bill to catch small fish, crabs and frogs.
The Polynesians believed this medium sized kingfisher had power over the waves, hence the common name of Sacred kingfisher.
The male shining flycatcher is a black, and shining, dark blue, whilst the female is brown with a white belly.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Monarchidae > Myiagra > Myiagra alecto
The only Australian Drongo, it can be easily identified by its forked tale and glossy black plumage.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Dicruridae > Dicrurus > Dicrurus bracteatus
A recent arrival to Australia, now with a resident population on the Daintree River.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Anseriformes > Anatidae > Dendrocygna > Dendrocygna guttata
Named after the river where it was first spotted, near the Caspian Sea, this is a small migratory wader often seen in shallows around the coast.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Charadriiformes > Scolopacidae > Xenus > Xenus cinereus
A member of the cuckoo-shrike family, varied trillers a common in the Daintree Rainfores where they like the warm humid environment.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Campephagidae > Lalage > Lalage leucomela
The largest bird of prey in Australia, Wedge-tailed eagles are a magnificent sight with an unmistakable "wedge shaped" tail.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Accipitriformes > Accipitridae > Aquila > Aquila audax
Adapting to human habitat well, these small swallows are quite colourful and a common site between Cairns and Cape Tribulation.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Hirundinidae > Hirundo > Hirundo neoxena
A large, distinctive raptor with a white head, body and wings and grey upperparts.
A small (15-20cm) ground dwelling bird in the Rail (Rallidae) family.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Gruiformes > Rallidae > Amaurornis > Amaurornis cinerea
A medium sized heron common throughout Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand.
A large, spectacularly coloured fruit dove found in tropical north Queensland and into New Guinea.
Also known as the Lesser lewin, this olive-brown and grey bird is endemic to north Queensland.
Eukaryota >Animalia > Chordata > Aves > Passeriformes > Meliphagidae > Meliphaga > Meliphaga notata
