A Birder's Guide to Australia: Kuranda

Check my birding map for specific location.

I have been staying at a house sit in the rainforest of Kuranda. A slice of sloping lawn cuts through the middle of dense forest and enables me to sit on the deck and look down onto fruiting trees. It really has been one of the most productive and easy birding experiences I've ever had.

Each morning, I sit on the deck as it gets light. In the early part of my stay, the Spotted Catbird would pop out to feed on the wild raspberries and figs. They are extraordinary birds with a yowling call that sounds like a cat being tortured!

Spotted Catbird

There were a good number of species that were always present in the garden and it was great getting to know them as they came and went. The Australian Figbirds always numbered between 10 and 20 and would either sit in the trees cackling away at each other or in the tree with the most fruits.

Male Australian Figbird

Female Australian Figbird

I heard some great rainforest birds here - the Chowchilla, Eastern Whipbird, Victoria's Riflebird. While I never saw the first 2, I frequently got glimpses of the latter. There were males around in their dark plumage but I didn't manage to photograph them. This is a female below with very different colouring.

Victoria's Riflebird

Also resident in the garden were a pair of Olive-backed Sunbird. These tiny creatures were the most active of all species. Even during heavy rain, they were still buzzing around and if the kookaburra appeared they would go nuts. I just loved watching them.

Male Olive-backed Sunbird

Female Olive-backed Sunbird

There were several species of dove that I would hear all day. They are all shy and tend to stick to the depths of the trees. I would have to track them from the deck or sneak around the garden for them.

Brown Cuckoo Dove

Wompoo Fruit Dove

Certain species could be relied upon to pass through each day and as I heard them, I would grab my camera and start scanning the trees. My favourites were the Little Bronze Cuckoo and the Varied Triller. It took quite some time for me to get good photos of them both but I think I got there.

Little Bronze Cuckoo

Varied Triller (male)

And lastly, there were those birds that visited from time to time. After a while I got used to the rhythm of the garden and I could tell straight away when a new bird started calling. It was always a mad dash to get photos of these new species before they disappeared.

Forest Kingfisher (scarab beetle larvae in its mouth)

Topknot Pigeon

White-eared Monarch

Towards the end of my stay I heard the distinctive buzz of fairywren. I chased them up and down the garden and eventually could watch them from the deck. The homeowner hasn't seen them here in the 10 years she has lived here. We are hoping they are looking for a nesting site. The male was very territorial, hammering away at his own reflection in the car window!