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List of birds of Victoria (state) facts for kids

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Victoria, Australia, is a special place for birds! Even though it's Australia's second-smallest state, it's home to an amazing 516 different bird species. That's more than half of all the bird types found in Australia, living in just a tiny part of the country's land.

Many birds gather in certain areas, like the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee, near Melbourne. This spot is a safe haven for thousands of birds. It has lots of water, different types of land, and many plant species that birds love.

Victoria also has many different natural homes, called habitats. These include warm and cool rainforests, open woodlands, and grasslands. There are also areas with small, stunted eucalyptus trees called mallee scrubland. Birds also live near lakes, rivers, and along the ocean and bay coastlines. A large part of Victoria's land and sea, about 4 million hectares, is protected in National Parks. This helps keep these amazing bird homes safe.

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Bird Hotspots in Victoria

Victoria has many important places where birds live and visit. These are called Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by BirdLife International. They are special because they support many different bird species.

Some of these important bird areas include:

Many places in Victoria are also known as top spots for birdwatching. These are great places to visit if you want to see many different kinds of birds!

Some of Australia's best birdwatching locations in Victoria are:

Other popular birdwatching spots include:

Bird Species in Victoria

Victoria is home to a wide variety of birds, from tiny finches to large eagles. Here's a look at some of the bird families you can find here.

Ostriches

These are the largest birds in the world.

  • Common ostrich, Struthio camelus – This bird was brought to Australia by people.

Emus

Emus are Australia's largest native birds.

Magpie Goose

This large waterbird is known for its black and white feathers.

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Victoria has many types of waterbirds.

Mound-builders

These birds build large mounds of soil and plants to incubate their eggs.

New World Quail

  • California quail, Callipepla californica – This bird was brought to Australia by people.

Pheasants and Quail

Grebes

Grebes are diving waterbirds.

Pigeons and Doves

You can find many types of pigeons and doves.

Tropicbirds

These seabirds are known for their long tail feathers.

Frogmouths

Frogmouths are nocturnal birds that look a bit like owls.

Nightjars

These birds are active at night and have excellent camouflage.

Owlet-nightjars

Swifts

Swifts are fast-flying birds that catch insects in the air.

Cuckoos

Many cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds' nests.

Rails, Crakes, and Coots

These are shy birds often found in wetlands.

Cranes

Bustards

Penguins

  • Australian little penguin, Eudyptula novaehollandiae

Storm-petrels

Small seabirds that fly over the ocean.

Albatrosses

Large seabirds with very long wings.

  • Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans
  • Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris

Fulmars, Petrels, and Shearwaters

Another group of seabirds.

Storks

Pelicans

  • Australian pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus

Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets

Wading birds often seen near water.

Ibises and Spoonbills

Frigatebirds

Large seabirds known for their long wings and for stealing food from other birds.

  • Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel

Boobies and Gannets

Diving seabirds.

Cormorants

Waterbirds that dive for fish.

Darters

Stone-curlews (Thick-knees)

Nocturnal birds with long legs.

Oystercatchers

Shorebirds that eat shellfish.

Avocets and Stilts

Wading birds with long legs.

Plovers and Lapwings

Shorebirds often seen on open ground.

Plains-wanderer

A rare and unique ground bird.

  • Plains-wanderer, Pedionomus torquatus

Painted-snipe

Waders or Shorebirds

A large group of birds that live near water.

Buttonquail

Small, quail-like birds.

Pratincoles

Birds that live in open, dry areas.

Skuas

Seabirds known for chasing other birds to steal their food.

Gulls and Terns

Common seabirds.

Osprey

A fish-eating bird of prey.

Hawks, Kites, and Eagles

Powerful birds of prey.

Barn Owls

Nocturnal birds of prey.

True Owls

Bee-eaters

Colorful birds that eat insects, especially bees.

Rollers

Kingfishers

Brightly colored birds that often eat fish.

Falcons

Fast-flying birds of prey.

Cockatoos

Popular and often noisy parrots.

True Parrots

A wide variety of colorful parrots.

Lyrebirds

Known for their amazing ability to mimic sounds.

Bowerbirds and Catbirds

Bowerbirds build special structures to attract mates.

Treecreepers

Birds that climb tree trunks looking for insects.

Fairywrens, Emu-wrens, and Grasswrens

Small, active birds.

Bristlebirds

Shy, ground-dwelling birds.

Honeyeaters

Birds that feed on nectar from flowers.

Pardalotes

Small, colorful birds.

Scrubwrens, Thornbills, and Allies

Small, insect-eating birds.

Australasian Babblers

Social birds that live in groups.

Sittella

Cuckooshrikes

Quail-thrushes

Ground-dwelling birds.

  • Spotted quail-thrush, Cinclosoma punctatum

Whistlers and Allies

Birds known for their beautiful songs.

Crested Bellbird

Whipbirds and Wedgebills

Known for their loud calls.

Figbirds and Orioles

Currawongs, Woodswallows, Butcherbirds, and Allies

A group of Australian birds with varied behaviors.

Drongo

Fantails

Active birds that fan their tails.

Crows and Ravens

Intelligent and common birds.

Monarch Flycatchers

Chough and Apostlebird

Social birds that live in groups.

  • White-winged chough, Corcorax melanoramphos

Australasian Robins

Colorful small birds.

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

Australasian Finches, Firetails, and Waxbills

Small, seed-eating birds.

Old World Sparrows

Wagtails and Pipits

  • Australian pipit, Anthus australis

True Finches, Crossbills, and Allies

Larks

  • Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis – This bird was brought to Australia by people.

Cisticolas and Allies

Grassbirds, Songlarks, and Allies

Reed-warblers

Swallows

Birds known for their graceful flight.

Bulbuls

  • Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus – This bird was brought to Australia by people.

White-eyes

Starlings

  • European (common) starling, Sturnus vulgaris – This bird was brought to Australia by people.
  • Indian myna, Acridotheres tristis – This bird was brought to Australia by people.

Thrushes and Allies

See also

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List of birds of Victoria (state) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.