Barbary Dove

Barbary Doves are essentially cage birds both here in Australia and in other countries. As far as I can determine, the original species from which this was bred no longer exists in the wild state in Africa. The bird shown on this post wandered into our garden a year or so ago. It was obviously a very tame bird and had escaped from someone's aviary. The same thing has happened in some suburbs in Adelaide and in other cities and small breeding populations are emerging.

For more information about Australian birds go to Trevor's Birding.

Spotted Turtledove

Spotted Turtledoves are common birds of parks and gardens throughout eastern and southern Australia as well as parts of Western Australia. They were introduced from Asia in the 1860s. Their soft "coo-coo" calls can be pleasant at first and a common call of many towns and cities. After a few hours of hearing this persistent call it can get irritating to some people. Like many doves and pigeons, their nest is a flimsy platform of a few sticks.

To read more about Australian birds click here.

Peaceful Dove

Peaceful Doves are delightful little birds. We occasionally have some visit our garden. We love hearing their soft "doodle-doo" call in the trees around our house.

Peaceful Doves are widespread throughout most of Australia except for Tasmania and southern Western Australia. Their preferred habitat includes scrublands, open grassy woodlands, farming country, parks and gardens. They make a flimsy nest of a few sticks.

Read more about Australian birds on Trevor's Birding blog.

Rock Doves

Rock Doves are also called Feral Pigeons, Domestic Pigeons or Homing Pigeons. They are a common bird, usually introduced, in many large cities of the world, especially in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Here in Australia they are present in most cities and towns and are spreading to farm buildings and factories. I have also witnessed large populations living in rock crevices and small caves along coastal cliffs. Around schools and hospitals and other public buildings, for example, they can pose a considerable health risk from their droppings and as lice carriers.

For more information about Australian birds go to Trevor's Birding.

Black-fronted Dotterel

The tiny Black-fronted Dotterel is found throughout most of Australia where there is suitable habitat. This species prefers shallow freshwater wetlands, swamps, edges of lakes, rivers and lagoons and sometimes brackish waters. They are usually encountered singly, in pairs and occasionally in small groups. They feed in very shallow water and along mudflats.

To read more about Australian birds click here.

Darter

The Darter is also called "Snake-bird" because of its long, snake-like neck. As it swims along the surface of the water you can often only see its neck out of the water, not unlike a snake swimming.

The Darter is a widespread water bird in many parts of Australia where there is suitable habitat. It frequents lakes, rivers, reservoirs, swamps, lagoons and estuaries but rarely the open sea. After swimming individuals can be seen perched on a bank, log or tree branch with wings outstretched drying out the feathers which are not water resistant.

To read more about Australian birds, and to see many more photos of them go to Trevor's Birding blog.

Pied Currawong

Pied Currawongs are found along the eastern part of Australia, from Cape York Peninsula down through to Victoria and to the south eastern tip of South Australia. They are a relatively common bird in their range. Their far reaching call is a well known sound in the forests, woodlands and farming areas in their range, as well as in parks and gardens in populated areas.

The photos on this post were taken from the kitchen window of my son's house in Artarmon in inner north Sydney. It was being harassed by several Noisy Miners.

To read more about Australian birds go to Trevor's Birding, my other blog about birds.