Kookaburra

Kookaburras have a loud, very distinctive laughing call.They have strong beaks and are meat eaters eating small animals like lizards, snakes and mice.They are found all over Australia and are one of Australia's best loved birds. There are 4 species of kookaburras, the 2 most common ones are the laughing kookaburra and the blue-winged kookaburra.

Cassowary

The cassowary belongs to the ratite family which includes birds like the emu, the ostrich and New Zealand’s kiwi. The name cassowary comes from two Papuan words, Kasu: meaning horned and Weri: meaning head. The horn on their head is called a ‘casque’ and their bright neck decorations are called ‘wattles’.

Male and female cassowaries look very similar although the females are usually the largest. The male cassowary sits on the nest, staying for 50 days not eating or drinking much and constantly turning his precious eggs. Once the chicks hatch it is the father who raises them, looking after them as well, until they are around 9 months old.

Rainbow lorikeet

These noisy characters are a common sight in Tropical North Queensland as they screech through the rainforest. They eat seeds, fruit and honey and their brightly coloured feathers and loud screeching call make them easy to find.

Brush Turkey

The Brush turkey, also known as the bush turkey or scrub turkey, is another common rainforest bird, although you won't see this one in the treetops. The male builds a large mound to incubate the eggs and several females will lay up to 50 eggs in a single mound. The male cares for the mound, checking the temperature with his beak. The chicks take 7 weeks to hatch and when they dig their way out they are fully feathered and able to fly almost immediately.

Pelican

Pelicans are large birds that spend their lives by the water, they travel long distances flying up to 24 hours at a time and covering hundreds of kilometres. They mostly eat fish catching them with their enormous bill, but will also often eat tadpoles, turtles and crabs.

Cockatoo

The sulphur crested cockatoo is one of Australia's favourite birds. They're often seen high up in trees or squawking loudly as they fly overhead. They have stong beaks and claws, beautiful white feathers and an amazing yellow crest. They eat seeds and fruit and are often kept as pets and can be taught to talk.