Bird fact sheets | Field of Mars EEC

Explore Field of Mars EEC bird fact sheets for NSW primary and secondary students and teachers. These resources introduce Australian birds found in Sydney bushland, wetlands, gardens, parks, waterways and other NSW environments.

Use these fact sheets to learn how birds feed, move, communicate, reproduce and survive. They support learning about adaptations, life cycles, habitats, food webs, ecosystems, biodiversity, pollination, seed dispersal and conservation.

Browse bird fact sheets by group

Birds can be grouped by what they eat, where they live and the adaptations they use to find food, avoid predators and raise young.

Jump to a group: Learn about birds | Nectar feeders | Seed eaters | Insect eaters | Waterbirds | Birds of prey | Learn with us

Learn about birds

Birds fact sheet

Learn what birds are, how they survive, and why they are important in healthy ecosystems.

Nectar feeders

These birds visit flowers to feed on nectar. As they move between flowers, some help transfer pollen and support plant reproduction.

An illustration of an eastern spinebill.

Eastern spinebill fact sheet

A small nectar-feeding bird with a curved beak that helps pollinate native flowers in bushland and gardens.

An illustration of a rainbow lorikeet.

Rainbow lorikeet fact sheet

A noisy, brightly coloured parrot that feeds on nectar, pollen, fruit and seeds in flowering trees.

An illustration of a red wattlebird.

Red wattlebird fact sheet

A large honeyeater with red wattles on its neck that visits flowering shrubs and trees for nectar.

An illustration of a noisy miner.

Noisy miner fact sheet

A grey honeyeater that lives in noisy groups and defends flowering trees and feeding territories.

Seed eaters

These birds feed on seeds, fruit, berries, nuts, flowers or other plant material. Some help spread seeds through forests, gardens and bushland.

An illustration of a king parrot.

Australian king parrot fact sheet

A bright red-and-green parrot that lives in forests and gardens and feeds on seeds, fruit and blossoms.

An illustration of a brush turkey.

Brush turkey fact sheet

A large ground-dwelling bird that feeds on seeds, fruit, insects and other food found on the forest floor.

An illustration of a channel-billed cuckoo.

Channel-billed cuckoo fact sheet

Australia’s largest cuckoo, a fruit-eating migratory visitor that lays its eggs in other birds’ nests.

An Illustration of a crimson rosella.

Crimson rosella fact sheet

A colourful parrot often seen in Sydney bushland feeding on seeds, fruit, flowers and leaf buds.

An illustration of a pied currawong.

Pied currawong fact sheet

A large black bird with white wing patches that feeds on fruit, insects, eggs and small animals.

An illustration of a red-browed finch.

Red-browed finch fact sheet

A small seed-eating bird that lives in grassy bushland, gardens and shrubby habitats.

An illustration of a satin bowerbird.

Satin bowerbird fact sheet

A glossy blue-black bird where males build and decorate bowers to attract a mate.

An illustration of a sulphur-crested cockatoo.

Sulphur-crested cockatoo fact sheet

A large white parrot with a yellow crest that uses its strong beak to crack seeds and tear apart plant material.

An illustration of a yellow-tailed black cockatoo.

Yellow-tailed black cockatoo fact sheet

A large black cockatoo with yellow tail panels that feeds on seed cones, wood-boring larvae and native plant material.

Insect eaters

These birds hunt insects and other small animals on grass, bark, leaves, soil, branches or in the air.

An illustration of an Australian magpie.

Australian magpie fact sheet

A black-and-white bird that walks across grass looking for insects, worms and other small animals.

An illustration of an Australian raven.

Australian raven fact sheet

A large black bird known for its loud calls, clever behaviour and varied diet.

An illustration of a butcherbird.

Butcherbird fact sheet

A songbird with a strong hooked beak that catches insects and small animals.

An illustration of a laughing kookaburra.

Laughing kookaburra fact sheet

A large kingfisher famous for its laughing call and for catching insects, reptiles and other small animals.

An illustration of a magpie lark.

Magpie-lark fact sheet

A black-and-white bird often seen near water, known for its pee-wee call and muddy bowl-shaped nests.

An illustration of a superb fairy wren.

Superb fairy-wren fact sheet

A tiny, fast-moving bird that hops through shrubs and grasses looking for insects.

An illustration of a tawny frogmouth.

Tawny frogmouth fact sheet

A camouflaged night bird that looks like a broken branch and hunts insects and small animals after dark.

An illustration of a willie wagtail.

Willie wagtail fact sheet

A bold black-and-white bird that flicks its tail while chasing insects on the ground and in the air.

Waterbirds

These birds live in or near creeks, ponds, rivers, wetlands and coastal areas. They may swim, wade, graze or search for food in shallow water.

An illustration of an Australian white ibis.

Australian white ibis fact sheet

A long-legged bird with a curved beak that feeds in wetlands, parks and urban areas.

An illustration of a dusky moorhen.

Dusky moorhen fact sheet

A dark waterbird with a red bill that swims in creeks, ponds and wetlands.

An illustration of a pacific black duck.

Pacific black duck fact sheet

A brown duck commonly found in creeks, ponds, wetlands and other freshwater habitats.

An illustration of a wood duck.

Wood duck fact sheet

A grazing duck often seen near water, on grass and around open parkland.

Birds of prey

These birds hunt other animals using sharp talons, hooked beaks and strong eyesight. They are important predators in food webs.

An illustration of a powerful owl.

Powerful owl fact sheet

Australia’s largest owl, a night hunter that lives in tall forests and preys on possums and other animals.

An illustration of a white-bellied sea eagle.

White-bellied sea eagle fact sheet

A large eagle that soars over waterways and coastlines searching for fish and other prey.

Learn with us

iPad showing the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre online booking form for primary and secondary excursions and incursions

Book now

Book a teacher-led excursion or incursion where students investigate birds, habitats, adaptations and ecosystem relationships.

iPad showing links to excursions and incursions offered by Field of Mars EEC.

Learning programs

Explore primary and secondary programs that use hands-on fieldwork to investigate birds, biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems.

iPad displaying a Field of Mars digital learning resource that supports excursions, incursions and fieldwork skills.

Learning resources

Use online lessons and classroom activities to support learning about birds, habitats, ecosystems and fieldwork skills.

Illustration representing native plants and animals used for Field of Mars flora and fauna fact sheets to support primary and secondary learning.

Flora and fauna fact sheets

Browse related fact sheets about Australian birds, other animals, plants, habitats, ecosystems and environments.