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Common Garden Birds in Darwin

Common garden birds photographed in suburban Darwin including doves, finches, fig birds, honey eaters and lorrikeets.

With plenty of water available to keep tropical gardens green, birds of all sorts are attracted to the housing areas as well as the public gardens and parks.

Darwin is a "must do" for birdwatchers with plenty to see in the suburbs and unique environments close by in Fogg Dam, Kakadu and the Mary and Adelaide river systems.

The Northern variety of the Figbird has bright yellow plumage.

Black cockatoo's are frequent visitors, flashing their brilliant yellow tails in flight.

I think this is actually a Red-Tailed Cockatoo as the Yellow-Tailed variety only extends as far north as mid QLD.

Black Cockatoo

Flashing yellow-red tail

Black cockatoo feasting on nuts on the roadside.

Sulphur-Crested cockatoos visit from time to time, feeding on seeds, berries, nuts and roots.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos - happy to enjoy a free lunch.

Cockatoo on Tree top

Feeding Cockatoos

A cockatiel looks out on a brilliant green visitor attracted by a free lunch. Thanks to Claire for identifying this as an Indian Ringneck, a popular cage bird introduced into Australia. Maybe this one escaped?

Visiting parrot

Indian Ringneck

This pair of Red-winged Parrots was photographed just behind the University.

Red-winged Parrot

Female Red Winged

Masked Lapwing Plovers are part of the scenery all year round, nesting in the buildup season around October-November.

They become quite aggressive when they have eggs or chicks to protect. The nests are a simple depression in the ground and easy to walk past without noticing.

As you approach the nesting bird will make quite a display of being hurt and lead you way from the nest. If you get too close they will make swooping attacks to discourage you further.

A lapwing plover says "that's close enough"

Lapwing and nest

Three plover eggs in a nest.

Adult plover and chick

Emerald Dove

Bar Shouldered Dove

Masked Lapwing

Red-Backed Button-Quail

Dove and Double-barred Finch

Double-barred Finch perched on a Desert Rose.

Peaceful Dove - similar appearance but about half the size of the Bar-shouldered Dove

Green Oriole has a loud whistle and a pretty wrble

Olive Backed Oriole

Grey-Crowned Babblers feeding on the grass in Nightcliff

Helmeted Friarbird

Little Friarbird

Little Friarbird enjoys a free lunch.

(below) Two birds I can't really identify. Maybe warbler taking a shower, and another small finch in the bushes at Rapid Creek.

Warbler? enjoying a shower.

Unidentified finch at Rapid Creek

Thanks Chris for the suggestion this could be a Long Tailed Finch.

Not a very clear photo, but seems a good pick.

The Slater Field Guide lists 53 different Honeyeaters and many look quite similar just from the illustrations.

Another honeyeater which is a common garden bird, I thought a Brown Honeyeater, or as suggested, a Dusky Honeyeater (thanks Keith).

Maybe a Brown or Dusky Honeyeater

Honeyeater and chick

This one flew into a building by mistake - Rufus Banded Honeyeater

Blue Faced Honeyeater - one of the most colourful honeyeaters

Dusky Honeyeater

The white bellied cuckoo shrike (below) visits frequently, this one has just caught a grasshopper.

A White bellied Cuckoo Shrike with locust.

See more of Darwins Birds and some of the water birds often seen in the creeks and tidal areas around the suburbs.

Northern Territory Field Guide

The Northern territory Field Guide is a free app that can help you identify over 600 species of.. "everything from colourful birds, iconic fish and mammals, dangerous snakes and crocs, through to butterflies, tiny termites and wasps."

Water Birds- Magpie Geese, Radjah Shelducks, Night Heron...

Black Cockatoo, Ibis, Galagh and more

Brahminy Kites, Black Kites, White Sea Eagles

Fogg Dam Birdwatching

Usually a nocturnal visitor, this young fruit bat hung around for a daytime visit. The evening skies are sometimes filled with thousands making their way to feeding on any nectar or fruit they can find.