Birds of Sydney, Australia

From 2022 to 2025, I’ve been based in Sydney, Australia, completing my Architecture degree at USYD. To relax on my free days outside of work and Uni, I go birding across Sydney and the greater NSW area!

Coming from a country like the Philippines, birding in Sydney felt easy and wonderful, thanks to the abundance of birds, well-maintained green spaces, and easily accessible walking trails. You get Lorikeets and Kookaburras right outside your window, waterbirds being very calm across wetlands, and a plethora of Cockatoos! Not only that, but Aussie birds are everywhere in everyday life, from stationery and a variety of bird books. It’s hard not to get jealous of what Australia has done with the local Birding scene.

This post is a little compilation of my favorite birds that I’ve photographed from my 3-year stay in Sydney. Honestly, there are too many to choose from, but some of my favorites include the Variegated Fairywren and a bunch of Cockatoos!

My overall favorite Aussie Bird is the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Zanda funerea). I first saw that bird in the Blue Mountains, and my favorite encounter was right next door in Centennial Park when I was living in Kensington. Some birds are definitely a lot harder; I’ve had 3 trips looking for the Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus), and I only got it last October 2025. The Azure Kingfisher marks my 600th bird species ever photographed!