The most common bird in Australia has been identified.

The rainbow lorikeet has been identified as Australia’s most numerous bird species, according to country’s largest citizen science study.

The 2024 Aussie Bird Count, conducted by BirdLife Australia, recorded 4.1 million bird sightings across the week-long event in October, with more than 57,000 participants taking part.

The rainbow lorikeet has vibrant feathers that have made it the most frequently seen bird since the beginning of the Aussie Bird Count in 2014. This bird leads a top four list that has remained consistent for the past ten years.

The Rainbow Lorikeet was identified as the most numerous bird species/ — The rainbow lorikeet was identified as the most numerous bird species in Australia.(SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett)

The millions of birds tallied in the count represent more than just numbers. BirdLife Australia is utilizing this information to shape its conservation efforts, aiming to prevent bird extinctions by 2032 and put a stop to the overall decline in bird species population by 2050.

“Watching birds is fun, but it can also be very important. Birds tell us a lot about the environment we live in.”

The Aussie Bird Count serves not only as a way to have fun and become more acquainted with the birds in our surroundings, but also as a means to assist Australians in transforming their bird-watching interest into a valuable hobby that contributes essential data.

The 2025 Aussie Bird Count will take place from October 20-26.

For individuals eager to contribute before then, Birdlife Australia runs two bird monitoring programs – Birds in Backyards and Birdata.