What Birds? Discover, Identify and Learn About the Amazing World of Birds

Have you ever spotted a bird and wondered, “What bird is that?”

Perhaps you noticed a colourful parrot in your backyard, heard an unusual bird call from the trees, watched a bird of prey soaring overhead, or discovered a tiny bird hopping through the garden.

Whatever caught your attention, What Birds is here to help you discover more.

Welcome to What Birds, your growing online guide to birds, bird identification, birdwatching, bird behaviour, bird sounds, bird species and pet bird care.

From familiar backyard birds to spectacular birds of prey, colourful parrots, owls, waterbirds and fascinating songbirds, our goal is to make learning about birds simple, enjoyable and accessible to everyone.

Discover the Wonderful World of Birds

Birds are found almost everywhere on Earth.

They live in forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, mountains, gardens, cities, coastlines and remote wilderness areas. Some spend their lives in one region, while others travel extraordinary distances during migration.

There are thousands of bird species around the world, each with its own appearance, behaviour, habitat, diet, voice and fascinating characteristics. That incredible variety is one of the reasons birdwatching is such a rewarding hobby.

But identifying a bird isn’t always easy.

Two species can have similar colours and markings while behaving completely differently. A male, female or juvenile bird may also look different from the bird you expected to see.

That’s why What Birds goes beyond simple photographs.

Our bird guides help you look at the clues that can reveal a bird’s identity, including its:

Size and body shape
Beak and bill
Wings and tail
Feather patterns
Colour and markings
Habitat
Behaviour
Feeding habits
Flight pattern
Bird calls and songs
Geographic location

The more of these clues you notice, the easier bird identification becomes.

Bird Identification Guides

[Explore Bird Identification →]

Trying to identify a bird you’ve just seen?

Start here.

Our bird identification guides are designed to help beginners and experienced birdwatchers understand the features that make one species different from another.

You don’t always need a perfect photograph.

Start by asking simple questions.

How big was the bird?

Was it sparrow-sized, pigeon-sized, magpie-sized or much larger?

What did its bill look like?

A short, powerful bill can suggest a very different feeding strategy from a long, slender or hooked bill.

Where did you see it?

A bird sitting beside a wetland presents a different set of possibilities from one climbing through a woodland tree.

What was it doing?

Was it swimming, soaring, digging, hunting, feeding, climbing, hopping or hovering?

These observations can dramatically narrow down the possibilities.

Explore Bird Species

[Browse Bird Species →]

Every bird has a story.

Some are powerful predators. Others are tiny insect hunters. Some spend their lives around water, while others rarely leave the treetops.

Our bird species guides are designed to give you an easy way to learn about individual birds.

Discover information about their appearance, habitat, diet, behaviour, nesting habits, calls and interesting characteristics.

You can explore familiar birds as well as species you may never have encountered before.

Featured Bird Species Guides

[Australian Magpie]
Learn about one of Australia’s best-known birds, including its appearance, behaviour, habitat and famous song.

[Rainbow Lorikeet]
Discover the colourful parrot that can often be found feeding in flowering trees.

[Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo]
Learn about this intelligent, highly social Australian cockatoo.

[Laughing Kookaburra]
Discover the distinctive bird behind one of Australia’s most recognisable calls.

[Superb Fairywren]
Learn how to identify this tiny Australian favourite and understand the differences between males and females.

[Great Blue Heron]
Explore the appearance, habitat, feeding behaviour and fascinating characteristics of this impressive waterbird.

[Great Horned Owl]
Discover the hunting behaviour, habitat and distinctive features of this powerful owl.

[Peregrine Falcon]
Learn about one of the world’s most famous birds of prey.

[Turkey Vulture]
Discover how this remarkable scavenger uses its adaptations to locate food.

[California Condor]
Explore the story and characteristics of one of the world’s most remarkable large flying birds.

Learn About Bird Behaviour

[Bird Behaviour Guides →]

Bird behaviour can tell you a surprising amount about what you are seeing.

Why is a bird bobbing its tail?

Why is a bird attacking a window?

Why do birds suddenly gather in large groups?

Why do some birds sing from the same branch every morning?

Why does a bird puff up its feathers?

Understanding behaviour can make birdwatching much more interesting because you’re no longer simply looking at a bird — you’re observing what it is trying to do.

Our bird behaviour articles explore feeding, communication, courtship, nesting, territorial behaviour, flocking, migration and other fascinating activities.

Explore Bird Behaviour

Why Do Birds Sing?
Why Do Birds Fluff Their Feathers?
Why Do Birds Flock Together?
Why Do Birds Bob Their Tails?
Why Do Birds Attack Windows?
Why Do Birds Migrate?
How Birds Communicate
Understanding Bird Courtship Behaviour

Bird Sounds, Songs and Calls

[Explore Bird Sounds →]

Sometimes you hear a bird before you see it.

A strange whistle comes from the trees.

A repetitive call wakes you in the morning.

A loud screech comes from the backyard.

Or perhaps you hear a beautiful song but have no idea which bird is making it.

Learning bird calls can transform the way you experience the outdoors.

Birdwatchers often use sound as an important identification clue because many species have distinctive calls and songs.

Our bird sound guides help you understand the difference between calls, songs, alarm sounds and other forms of bird communication.

Popular Bird Sound Guides

[How to Identify a Bird by Its Call]
[Common Bird Calls and What They Mean]
[Australian Bird Sounds]
[Birds That Sing at Dawn]
[Why Do Birds Sing?]
[How to Learn Bird Songs]

Australian Birds

[Explore Australian Birds →]

Australia is an extraordinary place for birdwatchers.

From colourful parrots and cockatoos to tiny fairywrens, powerful raptors, waterbirds and familiar backyard species, Australian birds provide endless opportunities for discovery.

Whether you’re exploring a national park, walking along the coast, visiting a wetland or simply sitting in your backyard, you never know what might appear.

Some familiar Australian birds include the Australian Magpie, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Superb Fairywren, Galah, Willie Wagtail and White-faced Heron.

Australian Bird Guides

[Australian Bird Identification Guide]
[Common Australian Birds]
[Birds of New South Wales]
[Birds of Queensland]
[Birds of Victoria]
[Birds of Western Australia]
[Australian Parrots]
[Australian Birds of Prey]
[Australian Garden Birds]
[Australian Waterbirds]

Pet Bird Care

[Explore Pet Bird Care →]

Birds aren’t only wild animals to admire.

Many people share their homes with companion birds, including budgies, cockatiels, canaries, finches, parrots, cockatoos and other species.

Keeping a pet bird is a responsibility, and understanding the bird’s natural behaviour and needs is essential.

Our pet bird articles cover practical subjects such as diet, housing, enrichment, bathing, perches, toys, behaviour and everyday care.

Pet Bird Guides

[Budgie Care Guide]
[Cockatiel Care Guide]
[Best Perches for Pet Birds]
[How to Bathe a Pet Bird]
[Bird Cage Setup Guide]
[Pet Bird Diet Guide]
[Bird Toys and Enrichment]
[Understanding Pet Bird Behaviour]
[Bird Vitamin Supplements]

Bird Watching for Beginners

[Start Birdwatching →]

You don’t need expensive equipment to start birdwatching.

You can begin in your own backyard.

Look at the trees. Listen carefully. Watch the garden. Visit a local park. Spend time near wetlands or other suitable bird habitats.

A pair of binoculars can help, but observation is the most important skill.

Keep a simple birdwatching journal and record the birds you see, where you saw them, what they were doing and what they sounded like.

Over time, you’ll start recognising species almost automatically.

Birdwatching is also an excellent way to become more aware of the natural world around you. Citizen-science projects have helped increase the amount of information available about Australian birds and their distribution.

Birdwatching Guides

[Birdwatching for Beginners]
[Best Binoculars for Birdwatching]
[How to Start a Bird Life List]
[Best Places to Watch Birds]
[Birdwatching Tips and Techniques]
[Bird Photography for Beginners]
[How to Attract Birds to Your Garden]

Backyard Birds

[Discover Backyard Birds →]

You don’t have to travel to remote wilderness to enjoy birds.

Your backyard may already be home to more species than you realise.

Birds may visit for food, water, shelter, nesting opportunities or simply because your garden provides a suitable habitat.

Discover which plants attract birds, how to provide safe water, how to create bird-friendly spaces and how to observe visiting birds without disturbing them.

Backyard Bird Guides

[How to Attract Birds to Your Backyard]
[Best Plants for Birds]
[Bird Baths and Garden Water]
[Bird Feeders Guide]
[Bird-Friendly Garden Ideas]
[How to Identify Backyard Birds]

Start Exploring What Birds

Whether you’re trying to identify a mysterious bird, learn the meaning of a strange call, discover a new species, improve your birdwatching skills or learn how to care for a pet bird, What Birds is designed to be your starting point.

You don’t need to know the bird’s name before you begin.

Start with what you can see.

Look at its size.

Study its shape.

Notice its bill, wings and tail.

Watch what it does.

Listen to its call.

Think about where you found it.

Then follow the clues.

The more you learn about birds, the more birds you begin to notice.

Explore our growing collection of bird identification guides, bird species profiles, birdwatching resources, bird behaviour articles, bird sound guides, Australian bird information and pet bird care advice.

What Birds Are You Looking For Today?

[Identify a Bird]
[Browse Bird Species]
[Learn Bird Calls]
[Explore Australian Birds]
[Discover Birdwatching Guides]
[Learn About Pet Birds]
[Explore Backyard Birds]

What Birds — Your Guide to the Birds Around You

There is always another bird to discover.

There is always another call to recognise.

And there is always another fascinating behaviour to understand.

Welcome to What Birds.

Look closer. Listen carefully. Discover more.

What Birds? Bird Identification, Species, Facts & Birdwatching Guides