New Guinean and northern Australian bird of the family Ptilonorhynchidae, order Passeriformes, related to the bird of paradise. The males are dull-coloured, and build elaborate bowers of sticks and grass, decorated with shells, feathers, or flowers, and even painted with the juice of berries, to attract the females. There are 17 species.
The Union Jack marks Australia's historical links with Britain. The Southern Cross helped guide early European navigators to the continent. Effective date: 15 April 1954.