The red-collared lorikeet, followed by the magpie-lark and Torresian imperial-pigeon, were the most sighted birds in the Northern Territory according to respondents to Bird Life Australia’s Aussie Bird Count survey.

Bird Life Australia spokesman Sean Dooley said more than 64,000 Australians participated in the Aussie Bird Count in October last year, with more than 5 million birds counted across 621 species.

Mr Dooley said the magpie was the most frequently observed bird nationally, with half of all surveys reporting its presence, followed by the rainbow lorikeet, ahead of the noisy miner, sulphur-crested cockatoo and magpie-lark.

Other frequently sighted birds included the galah, red wattlebird, crested pigeon, welcome swallow and common myna.

Mr Dooley said the red-collared lorikeet topped the list in the NT, followed by the magpie-lark and Torresian imperial-pigeon.

“Birds respond to the changes we make to our environment. Everybody knows the bin-chicken, especially in Sydney and Brisbane, where they’re doing well in the city,” Mr Dooley said.

“Birds like these have found ways to take advantage of urban growth, and it’s encouraging to see native species adapting like this.

“Sadly, the flipside to that story is the birds in need of other kinds of habitat, like smaller bush birds, get pushed into decline as their habitats are destroyed.

“It’s a reminder that the changes we make have an impact. Adding native plants to your garden can offer a lifeline to those other Australian native birds that we’re more worried about.”

Mr Dooley said this year’s bird counts revealed sightings from diverse locations across Australia, including remote islands, with about 70 per cent occurring in urban areas.

Notable ranking changes included the Australian white ibis, which climbed from 23rd place in 2021 to 14th last year, while the Australian brush-turkey also recorded significant gains in New South Wales and Queensland.

Mr Dooley said Bird Life Australia is celebrating its 125th anniversary, continuing the tradition of community engagement in bird observation and the count encouraged individuals to participate, fostering a fulfilling hobby that aids in the conservation of at-risk bird species.

“The Aussie Bird Count is a fun way to give bird watching a go while adding to a valuable national snapshot in the places we live, work and learn… we strongly encourage you to keep looking out for birds, taking notes, and sharing what you see on our Birdata website,” Mr Dooley said.

The 2026 Aussie Bird Count will occur during Bird Week from October 19 to 25.

Full results can be found at Aussie Bird Count website.