The iconic Australian Magpie is the bird most often seen across the country. Photo: Simon Pelling.
The good old Australian Magpie is the bird we most often see in our backyards and neighbourhoods, according to the latest Aussie Bird Count results.
More than five million birds were counted around the country during one October week last year.
In the 12th year of the popular citizen science event, 64,000 people recorded 621 bird species.
One in every two surveys included a sighting of the iconic black-and-white Magpie.
The colourful Rainbow Lorikeet claimed second position on the list, ahead of the Native Noisy Miner, the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and the Magpie-Lark.
Magpies were top of the list in the ACT, while NSW bucked the trend with more sightings of Rainbow Lorikeets, ahead of Magpies and Noisy Miners.
BirdLife Australia’s National Public Affairs advisor Sean Dooley said because Rainbow Lorikeets were more social, hanging out in flocks, we see more of them.
“But the Magpie is the bird we encounter most often. Every second person who did the count last year added a Magpie to their list,” he said.
Sean said the growing popularity of the Aussie Bird Count reflected renewed interest in a classic hobby.
“BirdLife Australia turns 125 this year and it all started when a passionate community of people observed the birds around them and shared their sightings with others,” he said.
“That’s still the backbone of everything we do. The Aussie Bird Count is an open invitation to have a go yourself, or with friends.
“For many people, that can be the start of a rewarding hobby that helps the scientists protecting birds from extinction.”
Four of the most often seen birds in the country… clockwise from top left: Native Noisy Miner. Photo: Phillip Leahy; Magpie. Photo: Phillip Leahy; Rainbow Lorikeet. Photo: Andrew Silcocks; Sulphur-crested cockatoo. Photo: Peter Higgins.
There were some notable shifts in the overall results from previous years, including some birds outside of the top 10 climbing the ranks of those seen most often.
The Australian White Ibis climbed from 23rd place in 2021 to 14th last year. In NSW and Queensland, the Australian Brush-Turkey also moved up the ladder.
“Birds respond to the changes we make to our environment,” Sean said.
“Everybody knows the bin-chicken, especially in Sydney and Brisbane where they’re doing well in the city.
“Birds like these have found ways to take advantage of urban growth, and it’s encouraging to see native species adapting like this.
“Sadly, the flipside to that story is the birds in need of other kinds of habitat, like smaller bush birds, get pushed into decline as their habitats are destroyed.
“It’s a reminder that the changes we make have an impact. Adding native plants to your garden can offer a lifeline to those other Australian native birds that we’re more worried about.”
Australia’s most commonly seen birds:
- Australian Magpie
- Rainbow Lorikeet
- Noisy Miner
- Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
- Magpie-Lark
- Galah
- Red Wattlebird
- Crested Pigeon
- Welcome Swallow
- Common Myna.
The full results are available on the Aussie Bird Count website.
The 2026 Aussie Bird Count will take place in bird week, from 19 to 25 October.
Original Article published by Jen White on Region Illawarra.
