Did you know Queensland is Australia’s most naturally diverse state?

We have 70% of Australia's mammals, 80% of its native birds and more than 50% of its native reptiles, frogs and plant species.

To mark this year’s National Bird Week (October 16-22), we’re shining a spotlight on five captivating birds from Queensland that you won’t find anywhere else in the world!

Take a look!

Golden-shouldered parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius)

The golden-shouldered parrot is sacred to the Olkola people of the central Cape York Peninsula.

Known for their striking appearance, male golden-shouldered parrots have vibrant turquoise plumage with orange hues, complemented by a black crown and bright yellow shoulder feathers. Females and juveniles sport a more subdued green, turquoise colouration.

Golden-shouldered parrots nest in cone-shaped termite mounds which they excavate just after wet season when the mounds are soft.

Golden-shouldered parrots are granivores and often feed on the ground in grassy areas, which makes them easy targets for predators. Because of this, they have formed a close relationship with black-faced woodswallows. While the parrots forage for food, woodswallows act as a watchful guard, sounding off when predators are nearby.

Once a common sight in large flocks across Cape York, the golden-shouldered parrot faces a concerning decline. Current estimates suggest that there are only between 780 and 1,100 remaining in the wild, restricted to a total area of 3,000km².

Pied monarch (Arses kaupi)

Measuring a modest 14-15 centimetres, the pied monarch boasts striking plumage of blue-black and white and features a notable blue ring around its eye.

Pied monarchs are skilful nest builders. They craft woven cup-shaped baskets using dry roots, twigs, and spider webs, which act as a natural glue. These finely crafted nests are often found suspended amidst hanging vines.

Pied monarchs are social birds, often seen in pairs, and while most are non-migratory, some pied monarchs fly to the Eucalyptus woodlands in the Atherton Tableland for winter. Their populations are considered stable across Queensland.

Victoria’s riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae)

In the world of riflebirds, the Victoria's riflebird claims the title of the smallest, maxing out at just 25cm. Its presence, however, commands attention.

Being just one of a few Australian birds-of-paradise, the Victoria’s riflebird is known for its extravagant displays of courtship. During mating season (July-December), males compete against one another for the top spot on traditional perches, vying for the best chance to woo a female.

When attempting to capture a female's attention, a male distorts his body and fluffs up his feathers, showcasing its vibrant turquoise patterns. He extends his wings and gracefully sways, dancing until a female draws close and allows herself to be embraced.

This elaborate ritual is so ingrained in Victoria’s riflebirds that juveniles practise these moves in their nest.

Victoria’s riflebirds reside year-round in the Atherton Tableland region in Far North Queensland.

Lovely fairy-wren (Malurus amabilis)

The lovely fairy-wren (Malurus amabilis) is one of 12 fairy-wren species. They can only be found in the Wet Tropics and Cape York Peninsula regions in Far North Queensland, where their populations are stable.

They stand out as the most arboreal (tree-living) of all the fairy-wrens, scaling trees to heights of up to 20 metres. Lovely fairy-wrens predominantly occupy the fringes of rainforests, mangrove areas, and densely vegetated habitats.

Like most other fairy-wrens, they reside within family groups composed of an adult pair and their offspring. Interestingly, little is known about fairy-wrens, despite the large number of studies on them.

It seems that they establish permanent territories and stay there year-round.

When breeding, male fairy-wrens exhibit distinctive features: a pale blue helmet, brownish wings, and a pristine white belly. In contrast, females and non-breeding males share a similar appearance, with complete white plumage extending from under their chin to their belly, while their backs, crowns, and cheeks shimmer in shades of blue.

Yellow honeyeater (Stomiopera flava)

The yellow honeyeater is easy to identify thanks to it being mostly plain yellow and lacking distinct markings like stripes, bars, cheek patches, or wingbars.

You can encounter yellow honeyeaters in nearly any tree-covered area such as lowland woodlands and mangrove forests from Far North Queensland to as far south as the Central Queensland Coast bioregion. Keep an eye out for them around gardens as well, where they can be seen feeding on nectar and pollinating flowers.

Our native birds are truly incredible, but sadly, they face an uncertain future. The ongoing clearance of habitat poses a major threat to all bird species. This is why we’ve pledged $262.5 million over the next four years to expand the state’s network of protected areas.

For more information on what we are doing, take a look at Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2020–2030 and Queensland's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.

What can you do?

If you want to contribute to the conservation of Australia’s bird species, get involved in the Aussie bird count, one of Australia’s largest citizen science events.

All you need to do is record the number of birds you see in a 20-minute period on the ‘Aussie Bird Count’ app (Apple & Android) or website.

You can also continue counting birds year-round and submit your findings in Birdata surveys - it’s a great way to contribute to conservation.

Data sourced through Birdata plays a crucial role in steering conservation efforts, aiding scientific research, functioning as an early alert system for threatened bird species and influencing policy and planning decisions made by governments.