The Who's Who of Australian Birds Quiz

Answer: Galah

Found in all Australian states and common in suburban areas, galahs can reach an age of up to 80 years in captivity, but in the wild, it's unusual for galahs to live beyond 15 years. Their natural diet includes seeds, insects, berries, plant roots and the occasional piece of fruit.

Galahs nest in tree cavities, usually laying between two and five eggs, which take roughly 25 days to hatch. Both parents share parental duties and the chicks leave the nest around 50 days after hatching.

Answer: Laughing kookaburra

Found in various Australian habitats from forests to suburban areas, there are four known species of kookaburra (the blue-winged kookaburra, the spangled kookaburra, the rufous-bellied kookaburra and the laughing kookaburra). They are famous for their loud call, which sounds like echoing human laughter.

Kookaburras are carnivores, feeding mostly on snakes, lizards, mice and the young of other birds. They've even been seen stealing goldfish out of backyard ponds and will also be happy to steal meat from your barbecue.

I like to think of these birds as living alarm clocks. Many years ago, I went on holiday with my family to Moama, a small town in southern New South Wales, on the banks of the Murray River. We stayed in a cabin/caravan park and every morning, without fail, we'd be woken by the sound of laughing kookaburras in the trees on the riverbank.

Answer: Sulphur-crested cockatoo

Commonly kept as pets, sulphur-crested cockatoos can be demanding and very noisy. Usually found in tropical and subtropical rainforests, they've become a very common sight in many of Australia's major cities. Their normal diet includes seeds, nuts and berries.

Females build nests in hollow trees and lay either two or three eggs which can take anywhere between 20 and 30 days to hatch. Both parents share parental duties and the chicks stay in the nest for between 9 and 12 weeks.

Answer: Rainbow lorikeet

An easily recognised bird, the rainbow lorikeet gets its name from its bright rainbow plumage. Colours include red, blue, orange, green and yellow. They feed mostly on pollen, fruit and nectar.

Rainbow lorikeets nest in various areas including hollow trees and holes in the ground. Females lay between one and three eggs, which take roughly 25 days to hatch, however, the males play no part in incubating the eggs or raising the chicks.

Answer: Australian magpie

A quiz about Aussie birds just wouldn't be the same without the magpie. Affectionately known as "maggies", there are thought to be at least nine different species, with the most common being the black-backed magpie and the white-backed magpie.

Magpies found in suburban areas are famous for two things. The first is their very complex vocalisation (their call is unmistakeable). The second is swooping. Males, in particular, can become aggressive during the breeding season and will occasionally attack people and other animals that they see as being a threat to their eggs or chicks. Cyclists are common targets and I've often seen people riding around with cable ties or pipe cleaners attached to their helmets in an attempt to discourage swooping birds. These attacks can cause nasty injuries, usually to the head, so if you ever find yourself having to walk near a magpie's nest, it's best to wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunnies to protect your face, keep your head down and walk quickly and quietly.

Answer: Cassowary

Native to the tropical forests of north-eastern Australia, cassowaries feed mostly on fruit and seeds. During the breeding season, females lay between three and eight large eggs in a pile of leaves on the ground (these birds can't fly), however, she will play no further part in caring for the eggs or chicks (that job is left to the male). After hatching, the chicks stay with their father for around nine to ten months, before the young males leave to establish their own territories.

Cassowaries are usually shy and prefer to avoid people, but when provoked, are capable of inflicting fatal injuries. On April 6th, 1926, Phillip McClean (aged 16) and his 13-year-old brother found a cassowary on their property and tried to kill it. The bird defended itself with powerful kicks and, whilst the younger boy managed to escape, Phillip wasn't so lucky. He bled to death after the cassowary kicked him in the neck, severing his jugular vein.

Answer: Peregrine falcon

Say hello to the world's fastest flying bird. In its characteristic hunting stoop, the peregrine falcon can reach speeds of up to 400 km/h. On rare occasions, peregrines will feed on small mammals including rabbits, squirrels and mice, but their preferred prey is other birds such as doves, pigeons and waterfowl.

Peregrines mate for life. The females choose the nest site and usually lay between two and four eggs, which take roughly 33 days to hatch. The chicks stay in the nest for around 40 to 50 days.

Answer: Wedge-tailed eagle

It probably won't surprise you to learn the wedge-tailed eagle gets its name from its distinctive wedge-shaped tail. These big, beautiful birds are found throughout Australia in almost every habitat. They are opportunistic hunters, targeting everything from rabbits and feral cats to (believe it or not) emus and red kangaroos.

Females usually lay two eggs in a large nest, which can be as deep as it is wide (between twp and five metres). Eggs take around 45 days to hatch. The male will do the hunting until the chicks are roughly 30 days old. The female will then join in the hunting. Chicks stay with their parents until the approach of the next breeding season.

Answer: Black swan

Black swans are a common sight on Australian rivers, usually seen swimming along in pairs or small groups. They are herbivores, feeding mostly on algae and other aquatic plants.

These birds mate for life. Females lay between four and eight eggs which take between 35 and 40 days to hatch. Both parents care for the eggs and can be aggressive when defending the nest. After hatching, the chicks, known as cygnets, will stay with their parents for around 8 to 9 months.

Answer: Emu

Emus are the world's second-largest birds, living in various habitats across Australia. Though not quite as fast as ostriches, emus can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h when necessary. They feed mostly on plants and insects.

Females play no part in caring for the eggs or raising the chicks. The male does this job and will not eat or drink for roughly eight weeks, until the eggs hatch. The chicks reach their full size in around six months and will stay as a family group until the next breeding season.