Native animal fact sheets
This page has fact sheets about some well-known native animals in NSW - as well as a few species you may not have heard of. The list of fact sheets is sorted by type of animal. You can also:
Animal fact sheets sorted by type of species
| Amphibians |  Top |
|---|---|
| Frogs | |
| Australia's diverse frog populations are in decline. Find out what's threatening them, and become a frog spy. | |
| Birds | Top |
| Australian brush turkey | |
| This fascinating bird belongs to the family of megapodes. Like the malleefowl, it incubates its eggs in large mounds of rotting vegetation. | |
| Bowerbirds | |
| These are thought of as the most advanced of all birds, because of the intricate display areas they weave out of twigs and other materials. | |
| Glossy black-cockatoo | |
| These magnificent birds feed on the seeds of casuarina trees, and nest in the hollows of old eucalypts. They're threatened in NSW, largely due to the loss of these trees. | |
| Ibis | |
| The graceful nature and incredible adaptation of Australia's wetland birds to the harsh environment has captivated many people. | |
| Lyrebirds | |
| These fascinating birds can mimic almost any sound - including other birds and animals, whistles, car alarms and even chainsaws. | |
| Parrots | |
| Australia has 56 species of these colourful birds, from tiny budgerigars to large cockatoos. | |
| Shearwaters | |
| These seabirds dive for their food, 'shearing' the water with their wings. Large numbers are sometimes washed up on our beaches, dead from the exhaustion of their travels. | |
| Australian magpie | |
| Ever been swooped by a magpie in spring? It's only defending its family during the nesting season. Find out more about this common native. | |
| Emu | |
| Australia's largest birds come from an ancient family, seen in their primitive feathers. They thrive in rugged, remote environments. | |
| Laughing kookaburra | |
| A kookaburra's call lets other birds know of its territory. Groups of the birds gather at the boundaries of their area, 'laughing' at other groups. | |
| Little penguin | |
| These flightless seabirds might seem a bit clumsy on land, but they're graceful swimmers, 'flying' through the water on their stumpy wings. | |
| Lord Howe Island woodhen | |
| These flightless birds are only found on Lord Howe Island. They were brought back from the brink of extinction in the 1980s. | |
| Malleefowl | |
| Malleefowl build nest mounds to incubate their eggs in, using a complicated system to keep the mound at the right temperature. | |
| Terns | |
| People and shorebirds love the same places - the beautiful sheltered areas along our NSW coastline. Healthy populations of one of these species, the little tern, are a great indicator of ecosystem integrity and vigour. | |
| Wedge-tailed eagle | |
| With a massive 2.5-m wingspan, this is Australia's largest bird of prey. | |
| Invertebrates | Top |
| Purple copper butterfly | |
| This beautiful insect is one of Australia's rarest butterflies. Found only in the Central West of NSW, it depends on a particular species of ant and special kind of blackthorn plant. Find out more. | |
| Mammals | Top |
| Bandicoots | |
| These small marsupials were once common in suburban gardens, but now they're rare around Sydney. Find out why. | |
| Echidnas | |
| These spiny termite eaters are monotremes, or egg-laying mammals. They might look a bit scary, but they're actually quite shy. | |
| Gliding possums | |
| Gliders can cover distances of more than 100 m in a single leap, gliding on a thin sheet of skin between their forepaws and ankles. | |
| Kangaroos & wallabies | |
| Did you know there are 45 species of kangaroos and wallabies? They range from huge western red kangaroos to tiny rat-kangaroos. | |
| Brush-tailed possum | |
| These marsupials are common backyard visitors. Find out about them, and see how you can build a special possum box. | |
| Dingo | |
| Did you know that dingos have only lived in Australia for around 3500 years? Scientists think they were brought here by Asian sailors. | |
| Koala | |
| Koalas are fussy eaters, eating the leaves of a few varieties of eucalypt trees. Do you have any koala food trees in your area? | |
| Platypus | |
| When the first platypus was sent to England for identification, scientists thought it was a hoax. It's a member of the strange and exclusive monotreme family. | |
| Whales | |
| Humpback and southern right whales travel along the NSW coast between May and September each year. Find out why, and get tips on some great whale-watching spots. | |
| Wombats | |
| Full-grown wombats can weigh up to a whopping 36 kg! They are territorial animals, but will share their burrows with visitors. | |
| Reptiles | Top |
| Snakes | |
| Some 100 Australian snakes are venomous. However, they are not naturally aggressive, and will only attack humans if hurt or provoked. | |
Page last updated: 18 February 2009