Australian Wildlife at Risk from H5N1 Bird Flu

Australia's geographic isolation has long shielded its wildlife from many of the world's most destructive wildlife diseases. H5N1 avian influenza, responsible for mass mortality events in wild bird and mammal populations across Europe, North and South America, and Antarctica, has reached Australian shores. Because so much of Australia's wildlife exists nowhere else on Earth, an outbreak here carries a distinct risk: catastrophic population losses that can't be replenished from elsewhere.

This site tracks the Australian species considered most at risk, combining official government risk assessments with sourced, citation-backed research on each species' conservation status, distribution, and current infection status.

As of 30 September 2026, 338 species are tracked, with 18 having confirmed H5N1 infections.

Latest species with confirmed H5N1 infections

View all 18 →

JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0

Black-faced cormorant

Phalacrocorax fuscescens

UniqueConfirmed infected

JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0

Australian magpie

Gymnorhina tibicen

Confirmed infected

Brisbane City Council, CC BY 2.0

Australian Boobook

Ninox boobook

Confirmed infected

Shylu007, CC BY-SA 4.0

Red fox

Vulpes vulpes

Confirmed infected

Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) via https://bie.ala.org.au/species/

Whistling Kite

Haliastur sphenurus

Confirmed infected

Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) via https://bie.ala.org.au/species/

Pacific Gull

Larus pacificus

Confirmed infected