Tree habitats fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are trees?

Trees are usually tall plants with a single woody trunk at the base and a canopy of branches and leaves at the top. Australia has thousands of species of native trees, including eucalypts, wattles, she-oaks and paperbarks. The local Darug Peoples of the Sydney Basin use the word daramu to describe trees. 

One eucalypt tree alone can provide many different habitats for animals, from its flowers and leaves to its branches, bark and hollows. 

There are over 900 species of eucalypt trees in Australia. One tree can provide a range of habitats for multiple animals.

Trees as habitat

Trees produce leaves, seeds and nectar that provide food for many animals. Whether they are alive or dead, trees offer nest sites including tree hollows for mammals, birds and reptiles.

Branches and canopy in living trees give protection from predators and are used by predatory birds such as kookaburras as a perch to search the ground for food.

Once trees die they still provide essential habitat. Animals continue to nest in or on them, and as branches fall to the ground they help create new habitats for ground-dwelling species.

Once trees die they still provide essential habitat. Animals will continue to nest in or on them. As branches fall to the ground they help to create new habitats.

Rosellas feed on seeds and nectar from flowering plants. They create their nest in tree hollows.

Beetles collect nectar from flowering trees. The beetles may also become food for other animals.

Jumping spiders hunt other invertebrates on or under tree bark. Cicadas climb up tree trunks to emerge from their shells.

The branches and canopy of trees provides protection for some animals from predators. Predatory birds such as the kookaburra use tree branches as a perch to search the ground for food.

Ringtail possums create a nest called a drey using small branches and leaves. They feed on flowers, nectar and leaves.

Tree hollows provide homes to many animals including skinks.

Tree hollows and nest boxes

Most trees take around 100 years to form natural hollows. These hollows are vital because nearly half of Australia’s mammals, including many possums, need them for breeding and shelter.

Where natural hollows are missing, nest boxes can be used as artificial hollows. Nest boxes come in many shapes and sizes to suit different animals, and each species has specific requirements such as hole size, box depth and height.

Nearly half of Australia's mammals including many possums need tree hollows for breeding.

Nest boxes are an artificial tree hollow. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different types of animals.

Related fact sheets

Habitats

• Habitat fact sheet – overview
• Shrub habitats fact sheet – explains how shrubs fill the layer between trees and ground cover.
• Ground cover habitats fact sheet – grasses and low plants beneath tree canopies.
• Leaf litter habitats fact sheet – decomposing leaves and twigs under trees.
• Rock and log habitats fact sheet – logs and rocks that often lie beneath or near trees.

Species linked with tree habitats

• Ringtail possum fact sheet – uses dreys and tree hollows. 
• Kookaburra fact sheet – perches on branches to spot prey. 
• Crimson rosella fact sheet – feeds on seeds and nectar, nests in hollows.

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