All Victorian native wildlife is protected by law, and it is illegal to harass or harm native birds and other wildlife without authorisation.

Swooping birds can be a frightening experience. However, not all birds swoop to protect their eggs and young during breeding season, so don't be concerned simply because there are magpies or other common swooping birds in the area.

To easily identify swooping birds, see our list of common swooping birds, or check out our Flickr gallery.

Victoria's Swooping Bird Map

Being aware of swooping areas can also help us to avoid venturing into the territories of these birds and take extra precautions while they are protecting their nests and young.

The Victorian Swooping Bird Map shows locations where people were swooped, mainly during the annual spring breeding season.

You can toggle between two map layers showing swoop incidents for the current and for the last year.

To toggle between map layers, click on the cog to the left of the "Find Location" field and select which year you want to view and which background map.

To add a new swoop site, click on the magpie to the right of the "Find Location" bar, and then find and click the location you were swooped on the map.