Australians counted 4.1 million birds in a week; here’s what we saw. 

The results of Australia’s largest citizen science event, BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count are in. More than 57,000 participants counted an astonishing 4.1 million birds as part of the week-long national event in October last year.  

No two states shared the same top three birds, a reminder of how birds are integral to the unique character and identity of each state.  

“Australia is a big place, full of diversity, and as you move across the continent, it’s fascinating to see the variety of birds change,” said Sean Dooley, Senior Public Affairs Advisor at BirdLife Australia. “But I think the birds that remind us of home are very special to us. The dawn-chorus at home always feels like home. 

“Birds are responding to the way we have changed our environment. The most numerous birds reported in the Aussie Bird Count are the ones that adapt better to these changes. If we want to ensure we can enjoy seeing and hearing a greater variety of birds, including smaller bush birds, we need to continue the great work already underway to create more diverse habitat in both urban and regional spaces.” 

The vibrant Rainbow Lorikeet, a common sight in parks and gardens in Australia’s most populous cities, reigned supreme as the most numerous bird recorded across the country. Noisy Miners, a native honeyeater sometimes mistaken for the introduced Common Myna, came in second. 

The Australian Magpie swooped into third place, but while there may have been more rainbows streaking our skies, when it comes to the bird seen by the most people, the result is black and white.  “The Australian Magpie was actually the bird spotted by the most participants across the country, so it’s Australia’s most familiar bird. Almost 50% of participants saw a Magpie when they did the Aussie Bird Count, which is a reminder of how closely connected we are to this beautiful, intelligent bird,” said Sean. 

“Watching birds is fun, but it can also be very important. Birds tell us a lot about the environment we live in and keeping track of them helps us take the pulse of the environment. The Aussie Bird Count is about having fun and getting to know the birds around us a bit better. But it’s also about helping Aussies turn an interest in birds into a hobby that provides valuable information.  

“At BirdLife Australia, we love seeing so many Australians getting excited about birds each year. If you had fun taking part in last year’s Count and can’t wait until October, we’d love you to join our active community of volunteer birdwatchers who have already contributed more than 25 million records to our Birdata platform. It’s free and it helps BirdLife Australia with our scientific research and conservation work. Your hobby can really make a big difference.” 

The 2025 Aussie Bird Count will take place from 20-26 October. 

Download the 2024 results infographic here.

Download the 2024 species list for Australia and the states/territories here.

Why we need you

Collecting a huge dataset like the one we get from the Aussie Bird Count is only possible thanks to you. The vast amount of data collected from citizen science programs like the Aussie Bird Count fills a knowledge gap, particularly on urban bird species, and gives us access to areas we usually wouldn’t be able to survey, like your backyard!

As well as helping ecologists track large-scale biodiversity trends like these, it also gives people the chance to connect with their natural environment and gain a greater appreciation of our unique fauna.

Count birds year-round

If counting birds for one week each October isn’t enough, and you’re keen to submit bird surveys year-round, you should check out our bird monitoring programs — Birds in Backyards and Birdata.

Never miss a chirp – sign up to our mailing list

Stay current with Aussie Bird Count updates, bird conservation news, fun facts, and ways to help protect Australia’s birds.