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Key plants used by Australian birds:
Emu-bush (Eremophila [...])

Aboriginal names: "ngawil" [yuwaalaraay], "ortherrenge" [eastern aranda], "tulypur" [yankunytjatjara]

There is a whole family of plants called Eremophila, comprising shrubs and trees of various sizes, with flowers of various colours, all of which are called "Emu-bushes". A number of honeyeater species have a preference for nectar from Eremophila flowers and various parrots and cockatoos like their seeds. Emu-bushes are found in scrub.

We present here, as an example, Eremophila longifolia (Native Plum, Dogwood), which we have found to be a major bird attraction when flowering south of Bourke, NSW, in September 2012. Another species found in inland NSW is Eremophila debilis, a prostrate shrub with inconspicuous white to off-white flowers and pink fruit.

Bird species found in this type of habitat or plant

This is not necessarily a complete list. We display here some examples of bird species found by us in this kind of habitat or plant. Hover your cursor on thumbnails to see names of species; click on thumbnail to go to the page describing the species.

Photos

Emu-bush (Eremophila longifolia) found near Bourke, NSW; often found as shrubs of up to 3 m high, these plants can grow into trees with a height of up to 8 m

Red bell-shaped flowers of Eremophila longifolia

Close look at a single red bell-shaped flower of an Eremophila longifolia planted on our property

Mature seed pod of Eremophila longifolia

Frontal view of a Major Mitchell's Cockatoo feeding in an Emu-bush (Eremophila longifolia)
[Near Bourke, NSW, September 2012]

Overview of an Eremophila debilis shrub on our property

Closer look at the fruit of Eremophila debilis

Spotted Bowerbird collecting fruits of Eremophila debilis
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2020]

Usage

This is not necessarily a complete list. We collate here various ways in which birds can use various types of plant.

Perch Roost Shade Food Nectar Fruit Seed Prey Nest
space		 Nest
mat.		 Shelter Vantage
point

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.