Identify wild birds in Victoria

Report sick or dead wild birds

Do not touch

Please do not handle or move sick or dead birds, as this may spread the virus.

Follow these steps

If you suspect avian influenza in poultry, please call the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.

For birds and wildlife:

  • AVOID contact with sick or dead birds, wildlife or their environment
  • RECORD what you see
  • REPORT wildlife sickness or deaths to DEECA using the online form or call the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888

What to report

Report even one sick or dead:

  • wild seabird
  • waterbird
  • shorebird
  • bird of prey

Report clusters of 5 or more sick or dead wild birds of any species, anywhere in Victoria.

Following a report, we will assess each report and decide if testing is needed.

We understand this may be distressing, but every report is useful.

Thank you for helping protect Victoria’s wildlife.

Report sick or dead wildlife online

Review the birds displayed below that we are most concerned about for H5 bird flu.

Albatross

Shy albatross standing on a rocky nesting colony with other albatrosses in the background.

Cormorants

Little black cormorant standing on rocks in shallow water.Great cormorant perched on a tree branch against a clear blue sky.Little pied cormorant perched on a stump with wings partly spread.

Ducks

Blue-billed duck swimming in wetland water with its bright blue bill clearly visible.Pacific black duck swimming across calm water with its reflection visible.Australian wood duck with ducklings feeding on grass near wetland reeds.Pink-eared duck swimming on calm water with its reflection visible below.

Gulls

Pacific gull standing on a sandy beach near the water's edge.Juvenile Pacific gull standing on a rocky shoreline beside the water.Silver gull standing in shallow water along the shoreline.

Herons

White-faced heron standing in shallow water with its reflection visible on the surface.White-necked heron standing on rocks beside a muddy wetland.Nankeen night heron perched on a tree branch among dense foliage.

Oystercatchers

Pied oystercatcher standing on a sandy beach with its bright orange bill visible.Sooty oystercatcher walking through shallow water along the shoreline.

Penguin

Little penguin standing on a sandy beach at the water's edge with small waves behind it.

Petrels

Southern giant petrel standing on a sandy shoreline with blue water in the background. Wilson's storm petrel flying low over the ocean with wings spread wide.

Plovers

Hooded plover standing on a sandy beach with rocky shoreline in the background.Red-capped plover standing on a rocky beach beside the water.Masked lapwing standing on grassy ground with water in the background.

Prion

Fairy prion in flight over the ocean with wings outstretched.

Stint

Red-necked stints wading along the water's edge on a sandy beach.

Shearwater

Short-tailed shearwater gliding low over the ocean with wings fully outstretched.

Sandpiper

Curlew sandpiper standing in shallow water along the shoreline.

Skuas

Brown skua resting on a rocky shoreline with its beak open.Two south polar skuas standing on rocky shoreline rocks near splashing waves.

Swan

Black swan swimming on the water, with another black swan in the background.

Terns

Crested tern perched on a weathered post near the shoreline.Fairy tern in flight against a blue sky with wings outstretched.

Page last updated: 06 Jul 2026