Facts about key threatened birds from Australian electorates
Our 2021 State of the Environment Tool shows how many threatened birds can be found in your Federal electorate*, including one of the flagship species below.
Sadly, all of the birds on this page are threatened, some are even critically endangered and could disappear in a few years!
*as per The Action for Australian Birds 2020
Australasian Bittern
(Endangered)
BirdLife Australia’s Bittern Project aims to help ensure the long-term survival of bitterns, and other freshwater wetland species.
Australasian Bittern by Andrew Silcocks
Australian Fairy Tern
(Vulnerable)
BirdLife Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds project raises awareness and seeks to support those birds nesting on Australia’s beaches
Australian Fairy Tern by Claire Greenwell
Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo
(Critically Endangered)
BirdLife Australia’s Southwest Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program seeks to protect these birds and their critical habitat.
Baudin’s Black-Cockatoo by David Stowe
Black-breasted Buttonquail
(Vulnerable)
BirdLife Southern Queensland are exploring a pilot project to survey and support conservation of this elusive bird!
Black-breasted Buttonquail by Indra Bone
Blue-winged Parrot
(Vulnerable)
BirdLife Bass Coast have begun a project to support one key part of this parrot’s mainland breeding population
Blue-winged Parrot © JJ Harrison
Capricorn Yellow Chat
(Endangered)
BirdLife Capricornia continue to survey and advocate for stronger protections for the Capricorn Yellow Chat
Capricorn Yellow Chat by Matt Wright
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo
(Endangered)
BirdLife Australia’s Southwest Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program seeks to protect these birds and their critical habitat.
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo by Georgina Steytler
Carpentarian Grasswren
(Vulnerable)
BirdLife Northern Queensland has been running Grasswren surveys near Mt Isa for years, supporting habitat conservation efforts
Carpentarian Grasswren by Luke Paterson
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren
(Vulnerable*)
*Mount Lofty Ranges Chestnut-rumped Heathwrens are on our priority list of birds facing extinction in the next 20 years
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren by Mick Roderick
Curlew Sandpipers
(Endangered)
BirdLife Australia coordinates the Australian Shorebird Monitoring Program, to support migratory shorebirds like Curlew Sandpipers
Curlew Sandpipers by Andrew Silcocks
Diamond Firetail
(Vulnerable)
Our Woodland Birds for Biodiversity project supports the conservation of threatened and declining woodland birds like Diamond Firetails
Diamond Firetail by Gail Yager
Eastern Bristlebird
(Critically Endangered)
These birds were severely impacted by the 2019–20 Bushfires. Already Endangered before the fires, our bushfire recovery is vital.
Eastern Bristlebird by Rob Kernot
Far Eastern Curlew
(Critically Endangered)
Migratory shorebirds, like Far Eastern Curlews, other animals, and the local community are at risk from inappropriate developments at Toondah Harbour, in Moreton Bay
Far Eastern Curlew by Duade Paton
Gang Gang Cockatoo
(Vulnerable)
The already declining ‘Gang-gang’ population was hit hard by recent bushfires. Our Gang-gang Cockatoo Recovery Project aims to help these birds recover
Gang Gang Cockatoo by Andrew Silcocks
Golden-shouldered Parrot
(Endangered)
BirdLife Northern Queensland are supporting conservation action for this beautiful parrot, to help halt population declines
Golden-shouldered Parrot © Tim Van Leuween, BirdLife Photography
Grey Range Thick-billed Grasswren
(Crit. Endangered)
Grey Range Thick-billed Grasswrens are on our priority list of birds facing extinction in the next 20 years
Grey Range Thick-billed Grasswren by David Geering
Helmeted Honeyeater
(Critically Endangered)
One of Victoria’s two Fauna Emblems, both sadly Critically Endangered. Ongoing conservation work seeks to save ‘HeHos’.
Helmeted Honeyeater by Andrew Silcocks
Hooded Plover
(Vulnerable)
BirdLife Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds project researches, protects, and raises awareness for birds nesting on beaches like ‘Hoodies’
Hooded Plovers by Hamish Burrell
Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Endangered)
The 2019-2020 Bushfires burnt almost half the island! Our Kangaroo Island Bushfire Recovery Project aims to help endemic birds recover.
Kangaroo Island GBC by Graham Crowhurst
King Island Brown Thornbill
(Critically Endangered)
One of three critically endangered endemic birds on King Island. The Wings on King Project seeks to monitor populations for conservation.
King Island Brown Thornbill by Barry Baker
Mallee Emu Wren
(Endangered)
Large-scale fires, in 2014, wiped out key populations of Mallee Emu-wrens. Conservation work seeks to save these wrens.
Mallee Emu Wren by Tom Hunt
Mukarrthippi Grasswren
(Critically Endangered)
The total known population of this species is under 20 individuals, making it frighteningly imperilled from all threats to its population!
Mukarrthippi Grasswren by Mick Todd
Night Parrot
(Critically Endangered)
One of Australia’s most cryptic birds, its known nesting sites are top secret to protect it!
Night Parrot by Elizabeth Gould, in John Gould’s The Birds of Australia, 1840-1848,
Orange-bellied Parrot
(Critically Endangered)
The Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery project works on ‘OBP’ conservation to save this species from extinction.
Orange-bellied Parrot by Andrew Silcocks
Red Goshawk
(Endangered)
Researchers from the BirdLife Australia Raptor Group are tracking Red Goshawks in northern Australia, to monitor their spatial ecology
Red Goshawk by William Riddell
Regent Honeyeaters
(Critically Endangered)
BirdLife Australia is fighting to save Regents, with recent captive bred-releases helping slow the decline of wild populations
Regent Honeyeaters © Dean Ingwersen
South-eastern Boobook
(Near Threatened)
Research has revealed rat poisons are poisoning owls, like Boobooks. We are trying to get the worst poisons off our shelves
South-eastern Boobook by Andrew Silcocks
South-eastern Glossy Black Cockatoo (Vulnerable)
Analyses showed around 38% of the their range was impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires, and we are working to save and restore their habitat.
South-eastern GBC by Andrew Peacock
South-eastern Hooded Robin
(Vulnerable)
Our Woodland Birds for Biodiversity project supports the conservation of threatened and declining woodland birds like Hooded Robins
South-eastern Hooded Robin by Mick Roderick
South-eastern Red-tailed
Black-cockatoo (Endangered)
Loss of nesting and foraging habitat across their range is driving declines of these beautiful birds
South-eastern Red-tailed Black-cockatoo by Bianca Fammartino
Southern Black-throated Finch
(Endangered)
Sadly, this charismatic finch is listed in the Top 10 Threatened Species with the most potential habitat lost to land clearing!
Southern Black-throated Finch by Stanley Tang
Southern Emu Wren
(Endangered*)
*Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-Wrens are on our priority list of birds facing extinction in the next 20 years
Southern Emu Wren by John Barkla
Swift Parrot
(Critically Endangered)
Swifties need forests in Tasmania and the mainland, but humans are destroying critical habitat. These birds are in dire need of help!
Swift Parrot by Leigh Pieterse
Western Ground Parrot
(Critically Endangered)
BirdLife Australia is active in urgent translocations to save this species, which is teetering on the brink of extinction
Western Ground Parrot © Jenenne Riggs