High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Queensland is the second-largest State in Australia but has the greatest biodiversity, with over 630 species of bird recorded (far more than closest-rivals New South Wales or West Australia with both around 550) The sum total for continental Australia (including Tasmania) is approximately 815 species. The high avian biodiversity is probably a reflection of the wide variety of habitats, from deserts to rainforests, mangroves to mulga, Queensland is a birders paradise.