Learn about native animals

Adelaide is home to more than 150 native animal and bird species. Learn about them here.

Adelaide is home to a diverse range of native animals – from microbats and possums to shorebirds and raptors, and everything in between. Discover facts about the wildlife that share our city and find out why protecting them is important for a healthy environment.

Get to know Adelaide's animals

Learn about Adelaide's flying-fox population

If you’ve spent time in Adelaide, you would have heard about the population of bats that have taken up residence in Botanic Park.

Learn about Adelaide's microbats

Microbats are one of the most common native mammals in metropolitan Adelaide. But what are these little creatures, and why are they so important?

Learn about Adelaide's possums

Possums have called Adelaide home for hundreds of years. Here’s everything you need to know about these native animals.

Learn about Adelaide's Hooded Plover

The hooded plover is a small- to medium-sized coastal shorebird that lives right here in Adelaide! Click here to learn more about them.

Learn about the red-capped plover

Relative to the hooded plover, this is the smallest of Adelaide's beach-nesting and resident shorebirds.

Learn about Adelaide's common birds

Adelaide is home to a broad range of birds. Discover what species you might spot, and how to encourage these feathered friends into your garden.

Learn about Adelaide's tree martins

Tree martins are tiny little swallows that congregate in huge flocks around Adelaide - particularly Leigh Street in the CBD.

Learn about the Australian Kestrel

Although they are Australia's smallest raptors, they are fierce and clever hunters and can see things invisible to the human eye.

Learn about the Australian Hobby

Also known as the little falcon, this fast and skilled acrobat often engages in high speed chases in pursuit of its prey.

Learn about Adelaide's Peregrine Falcon

This large, powerful bird is in fact the fastest animal on the planet! They have been recorded diving at their prey at more than 300 kilometres an hour

Learn about Adelaide's Brown Goshawk

This medium-sized raptor can be identified by their frowning appearance and their favourite way to hunt by surprising their prey

Learn about native fish of the River Torrens

When you think of fish and the River Torrens/Karrawirra Pari, you probably imagine carp, but we have lots of interesting natives in our iconic river.

Learn about cicadas

Heard a clicking, creaking, buzzing or scratching lately? It could be a cicada. There are 16 species in Adelaide with possibly more to be found.