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At any one time, there are up to 60 different species of birds in the Aviary, comprising both Australian Native and Foreign species.
(Australia has over 800 species of birds and there are over 11,000 species of birds worldwide).
Australian parrots like the Rainbow Lorikeet and Cockatiel are the most numerous at The Canberra Walk-in Aviary.
The aviaries collection of birds consists of Finches, Parrots, Doves, Quail, Pheasants and Partridges from not only Australia but from other parts of the world. A full species list is at the bottom of this page.
The Rainbow Lorikeet is a small, brightly-colored Australian parrot with a brush-tipped tongue. This active bird has a shrill call while flying and chatters while eating. It is found in rainforests, open forests, woodlands, heath, mangrove forests, parks and orchards in Australia. In the wild, this parrot feeds in flocks of about 20 parrots, but roosts in flocks of thousands of birds. Mating pairs stay together for life. The Rainbow Lorikeet has a life span of about 20 years.
Anatomy: The Rainbow Lorikeet is up to about 14 inches (35 cm) long. They weigh about 5 ounces (133 grams). These parrots have brightly-colored red, green, blue, yellow, and orange feathers; the curved bill is red. The males and females are hard to distinguish.
Eggs and Chicks: There are 2 white eggs in each clutch (a set of eggs laid in one nesting period). The eggs are laid in a tree cavity high above the ground. The female incubates the eggs for 25-26 days, and the male feeds her. Both parents will feed the chicks.
Diet: Rainbow Lorikeets eat flowers, pollen, nectar, seeds, insects, and some fruit, feeding while upside-down. They use their brush-tipped tongue to get the pollen. The tip of the tongue has hairy projections (called papillae) that soak up nectar and catch pollen. These birds spend most of the day feeding.
Predators: Rainbow Lorikeets are eaten by peregrine falcons, brown falcons, whistling kites, and pythons.
Classification: Order Psittaciformes, Family Psittacidae, Subfamily Lorinae, Genus Trichoglossus, Species haematodus.
Finches are for many people the bird of choice. Finches are not noisy, do not require a large aviary and are quite an active, energetic bird. Bright and energetic finches are highly social with one another. A small planted finch aviary can be quite an attractive addition to your backyard. Finches do not usually bond with people. This makes them less appealing to people who want a pet that can be held and taught tricks. However it does mean that finches are a good choice for busy people as once their basic needs are met, little else has to be done.
You can have multiple pairs or varieites of finches in the same aviary. Most finches are not destructive to the vegetation in a planted aviary.
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Bird Species of the Canberra Walk in Aviary as at July 2020 |
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Common Species Name |
Species Origin |
Scientific Name |
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Parrots |
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Bourke Parrots |
Australian Native |
Neopsephotus bourkii |
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Budgerigar |
Australian Native |
Melopsittacus undulatus |
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Cockatiels |
Australian Native |
Nymphicus hollandicus |
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Elegant Parrot |
Australian Native |
Neophema elegans |
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Indian Ring Neck Parrot (Various Colours) |
Foreign Species |
Psittacula krameri |
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Kakariki (Red Fronted) |
Foreign Species |
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae |
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King Parrots |
Australian Native |
Alisterus scapularis |
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Monk - Quaker Parrots |
Foreign Species |
Myiopsitta monachus |
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Plum Head Parrot |
Foreign Species |
Psittacula cyanocephala |
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Princess Parrot in Normal’s (Green) & Blues |
Australian Native |
Polytelis alexandrae |
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Red Rump Parrot - (Normal & Various Colours) |
Australian Native |
Psephotus haematonotus |
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Red Winged Parrot |
Australian Native |
Aprosmictus erythropterus |
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Regent Parrot |
Australian Native |
Polytelis anthopeplus |
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Superb Parrots |
Australian Native |
Polytelis swainsonii |
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Turquoise Parrots |
Australian Native |
Neophema pulchella |
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Lorikeets |
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Little Lorikeets |
Australian Native |
Glossopsitta pusilla |
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Musk Lorikeet |
Australian Native |
Glossopsitta concinna |
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Purple Crown Lorikeet |
Australian Native |
Glossopsitta porphyrocephala |
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Rainbow Lorikeet in Normal’s & Olives |
Australian Native |
Trichoglossus haematodus |
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Red Collar Lorikeet |
Australian Native |
Trichoglossus haematodus rubritorquis |
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Scaly Breasted Lorikeet in Normal’s & Olives |
Australian Native |
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus |
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Varied Lorikeet |
Australian Native |
Psitteuteles versicolor |
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Rainbow x Scaley Hybrid & Musk x Scaley Hybrid |
Australian Native |
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Finches & Wrens |
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Black Throated Finch |
Australian Native |
Poephila cincta |
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Canaries |
Foreign Species |
Serinus canaria domestica |
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Cordon Blue Waxbill Finch |
Foreign Species |
Uraeginthus bengalus |
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Crimson Chat |
Australian Native |
Ephthianura tricolour |
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Cuban Finch |
Foreign Species |
Tiaris canora |
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Diamond Firetail Finch |
Australian Native |
Emblema guttata |
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Double Bar Finch |
Australian Native |
Poephila bichenov |
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Gouldian Finch |
Australian Native |
Chloebia gouldiae |
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Jacarini Finch |
Foreign Species |
Volatina jacarina |
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Java Sparrow |
Foreign Species |
Lonchura oryzivora |
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Long Tailed Finch |
Australian Native |
Poephila acuticauda |
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Orange Breast Waxbill Finch |
Foreign Species |
Amandava subflava |
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Painted Firetail Finch |
Australian Native |
Emblema pictum |
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Red Brow Finch |
Australian Native |
Aegintha temporalis |
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Red Face Parrot Finch |
Foreign Species |
Erythrura psittacea |
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Star Finch (Red & Yellow headed) |
Australian Native |
Neochima ruficauda |
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Silver Eyes |
Australian Native |
Zosterops lateralis |
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Yellow Siskin Finch |
Foreign Species |
Carduelis magellancia |
| Varigated Fairy Wren | Australian Native | Malurus lamberti |
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Doves, Quails & Others |
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Barborary Doves |
Australian Native |
Streptopelia risoria |
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Bob White Quail |
Foreign Species |
Colinus virginianus |
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Bleeding Heart Pigeon |
Foreign Species |
Gallicolumba luzonica |
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Californian Quail |
Foreign Species |
Lophortyx californicus |
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Chukar Partridge |
Foreign Species |
Alectoris chukar |
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Diamond Doves |
Australian Native |
Geopelia cuneata |
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Golden Pheasant |
Foreign Species |
Chrysolophus pictus |
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King Quail |
Native Species |
Coturnix chinensis |
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Japanese Quail |
Foreign Species |
Coturnix japonica |
| New Guniea Ground Dove | Foreign Species | Gallicolumba jobiensis |
| Peaceful Dove | Australian Native |
Geopelia placida |
| Spinifex Pigeon | Australian Native | Geophaps plumifera |
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54 different species in total as at 1/12/2023 |
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