Aussie Bird Count

Explore resources to help you count with confidence

From bird ID tips to field guides and podcasts, we’ve got everything you need to get to know your local birds and take part in the Count.

Discover your local birds

Resources to help you become a confident bird counter.

Part of the fun of the Aussie Bird Count is learning more about the birds that share our backyards. You might already know a few regulars, but there’s always something new to spot, hear or learn.

Below you’ll find our top tips, guides and tools to help you feel bird ready. Whether you’re a first-time Counter or just brushing up.

How to count

Not sure how to get started?

Watch our How to Count guide for everything you need to know, including how to use the Aussie Bird Count app and how to submit your sightings.

Discover which birds live in your area  

  1. On your computer, go to the Birdata website.
  2. Select ‘explore’ from the navigation.
  3. Use the Filter on the left-hand side of the page. Use the ‘Area Layer’ dropdown menu and select ‘Local Government Area’. Start typing the name of your council into the ‘Area’ field, and select the relevant option from the list (e.g. ‘Yarra’). The list of birds in this area will appear on the right.
  4. Sort the list of birds by clicking on the sort icon in the top right-hand corner. Select the option to ‘Sort by reporting rate’. This will bring the most common birds in your area to the top of the list.
  5. Select the print icon located in the menu near the sort icon to print a copy of the list or save as a PDF. Note you can also save the list as a .csv file using the download icon.

For more information, and additional filtering options, you can watch the video below.

Learn on the go: Weekend Birder Podcast  

New to birding or want to learn more?

The Weekend Birder podcast is a great starting point, with beginner-friendly tips on bird ID, fun facts and where to go birdwatching. 

Watch: What bird is that?

Short videos to help you identify birds by sight and sound.

Recommended field guides  

While the Aussie Bird Count app includes a handy ‘Find a Bird’ feature, many birders still love a physical guidebook. A good field guide will help you identify any birds you might be unsure of, and there are loads of great field guide options to choose from. The ones listed here are among of the best known and most popular Aussie bird guides, but there are many worth checking out. All of the titles below will likely be available in your local bookstore, public library, or online.

TitleUsual price
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia – Pizzey and Knight
The classic guide, known affectionately as The Pizzey. Excellent text.		$35-45
The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds – Peter Slater
The guide for out in the field – less text but beautiful illustrations and fits in a jacket pocket.		$27-35
The Australian Bird Guide – Menkhorst et al
The most recent bird guide and a firm favourite among many – but quite heavy!		$37-40
Field Guide to Australian Birds – Michael Morcombe
This guide has a very useful section on nest and egg identification.		$50

What about bird sounds?

Bird calls can be tricky to master and even trickier for apps to identify. Unlike songs, bird calls vary between individuals, regions and seasons.

So far, there’s no Aussie-specific bird sound app we officially endorse, but here are some resources where you can listen and learn:

Birds in Backyards – Top 40 Bird Songs
Graeme Chapman’s Bird listings with recordings of bird calls
Xeno-canto – Sharing bird sounds from around the world  

Tip: Most field guide apps (like Morcombe & Stewart) include audio clips if you’re after ID support on the go.

Bird-friendly gardening

Creating a bird-friendly garden is another way you can help our native Aussie birds. Learn more about attracting native birds to your garden.