Booderee National Park

Birds

Booderee National Park is a birdwatcher’s paradise, boasting an incredible diversity of bird species ranging from large raptors to colorful parrots. Below are some of the most popular birds found in the park.

Superb Lyrebird
Renowned for its extraordinary ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds, the superb lyrebird is often heard before it is seen. These ground-dwelling birds are known for their elaborate courtship displays, where males fan out their long, lyre-shaped tail feathers.

Eastern Whipbird
Recognizable by its sharp, whip-crack call, this secretive bird often remains hidden in the dense undergrowth. Its distinctive duet song, where the male makes a loud whip sound followed by the female’s quick response, is a signature sound of Booderee’s forests.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
These large, striking cockatoos are easily identified by their black plumage, bright yellow cheek patches, and yellow tail feathers. They often fly in small flocks, calling out with a distinctive, mournful cry.

Crimson Rosella
A brilliantly colored parrot with red and blue plumage, the crimson rosella is a common sight in Booderee’s woodlands and picnic areas. These birds feed on seeds, nectar, and fruit, often seen foraging in trees or on the ground.

Laughing Kookaburra
Famous for its loud, cackling call that resembles laughter, the laughing kookaburra is a member of the kingfisher family. It perches in trees while scanning for prey such as insects, small reptiles, and even small mammals.

Eastern Spinebill
This small, honeyeater bird has a distinctive curved bill designed for feeding on nectar. It flits rapidly between flowers, making it an important pollinator in Booderee’s diverse plant ecosystems.

White-bellied Sea Eagle
One of Australia’s largest raptors, the white-bellied sea eagle soars above coastal cliffs and waterways in search of fish and other prey. It has a striking white head and underparts, contrasting with its dark wings.

Pied Oystercatcher
Often seen along Booderee’s sandy beaches and mudflats, the pied oystercatcher has black-and-white plumage and a long, bright orange beak. It uses its beak to pry open shellfish and other invertebrates.

Eastern Rosella
This colorful parrot has a bright red head, yellow chest, and vibrant blue wings. It is often seen in pairs or small flocks, foraging for seeds and fruit in the park’s open woodlands.

Masked Owl
A nocturnal predator, the masked owl hunts rodents and small mammals in Booderee’s forests and grasslands. It has a heart-shaped facial disc and keen hearing, which allows it to detect prey in the dark.

Booderee National Park is a haven for wildlife lovers, offering incredible opportunities to observe these remarkable species in their natural habitats.

Booderee National Park, located on the southern coast of Jervis Bay in Australia, is a stunning natural sanctuary known for its diverse wildlife, pristine beaches, and rich Indigenous heritage. The park is home to a variety of land and marine species, including unique marsupials, reptiles, and marine mammals. Below are some of the more popular species that can be found within Booderee National Park.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo
One of the most iconic Australian animals, the Eastern Grey Kangaroo is frequently seen grazing in open grasslands and along forest edges. These large marsupials can leap great distances and are highly social, often found in groups called mobs.

Swamp Wallaby
This smaller wallaby species is commonly found in the dense undergrowth of Booderee’s forests. Unlike kangaroos, swamp wallabies are more solitary and have a darker, almost black, coat with rusty markings on their chest and limbs.

Short-beaked Echidna
Echidnas are fascinating monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, covered in spines that help protect them from predators. They use their long, sticky tongue to feed on ants and termites, often seen foraging through the leaf litter.

Common Wombat
These sturdy, burrowing marsupials are nocturnal but may be spotted in the early morning or late evening. They have strong claws for digging and a distinctive cube-shaped scat, which helps mark their territory.

Long-nosed Bandicoot
A small, nocturnal marsupial, the long-nosed bandicoot uses its pointed snout to dig for insects, roots, and fungi. They play an important role in the ecosystem by aerating the soil as they forage.

Short-tailed Sheathtail Bat
This insectivorous bat is known for its distinctive short tail that extends only partially into its tail membrane. It roosts in tree hollows during the day and emerges at night to hunt for flying insects.

Lace Monitor
One of the largest lizards in Australia, the lace monitor is a skilled climber often seen scaling trees or scavenging for food. These carnivorous reptiles feed on birds, small mammals, and carrion.

Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard
Recognizable by its bright blue tongue, this large, slow-moving skink uses its tongue as a warning signal to deter predators. It primarily feeds on insects, snails, and vegetation.

Bottlenose Dolphin
Booderee’s pristine waters are home to pods of bottlenose dolphins that can often be seen leaping through the waves or playing near the shore. These intelligent marine mammals are highly social and communicate using a series of clicks and whistles.

Australian Fur Seal
Occasionally spotted along the rocky coastline, Australian fur seals are agile swimmers that feed on fish and squid. They have thick fur coats that keep them warm in cooler waters and use their strong flippers to propel themselves through the ocean.