BetterBirding

Australian Bird Guide

Discover all of Australia's birds and where to find them.

Search through the same Australian bird guide used inside the BetterBirding app. Every species page includes photos, sounds, a hotspot map, habitat details, and field notes.

Species Information

All birds

828 species
Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicenOne of Australia's most recognisable songbirds, known for its complex warbling carols and fearless territorial defence.Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleucaFiercely territorial during breeding season, it will dive-bomb and attack its own reflection in windows and car mirrors.Rainbow LorikeetTrichoglossus moluccanusFamiliar, large lorikeet.Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosaThe now- extinct Mariana mallard was probably originally derived from hybrids between this species and the mallard , which came to the islands during migration and settled there.Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxenaDark above, pale below, with a rusty breast and face.Willie-wagtailRhipidura leucophrysAmong the Kamilaroi, it is thirrithirri.Noisy MinerManorina melanocephalaA highly social and aggressively territorial honeyeater that lives in colonies and mobs intruders relentlessly.Superb FairywrenMalurus cyaneusA socially monogamous species where pairs often stay together for life, defending a territory year-round.GalahEolophus roseicapillaLarge gray parrot with pink underparts and a light cap.Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galeritaWithin Australia, sulphur-crested cockatoos of the nominate race have also been introduced to Perth , which is far outside the natural range.Australian IbisThreskiornis moluccaOften called the 'bin chicken' in urban Australia for its habit of scavenging in rubbish bins and city parks.Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculataThe largest honeyeater in Australia, named for the distinctive red wattles hanging from its cheeks.Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineaeIts famous laughing chorus is a territorial call, often delivered by several family members at dawn and dusk.European StarlingSturnus vulgarisIn some instances, a wild starling has been observed to mimic a sound it has heard only once.Maned DuckChenonetta jubataAlso known as the Australian Wood Duck, it is one of the few duck species that regularly grazes on grass like a goose.Gray FantailRhipidura albiscapaNesting Most bird species typically build one nest, whereas grey fantails commonly build more than one nest before egg-laying, and seven nests have been recorded as the highest number in a breeding season.Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucosThe smallest of the three black-and-white cormorants found in Australia, easily recognised by its short yellow bill and compact size.Masked LapwingVanellus milesNamed for the bright yellow facial wattles that form a mask, it fiercely defends its nest with noisy swooping attacks.Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotesThe erect black crest and the metallic wing whistle in flight make this common pigeon unmistakable.White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiaeSmall gray heron with a white face and yellowish legs.Pied CurrawongStrepera graculinaA bold and intelligent songbird that forms large winter flocks and is known for its distinctive ringing calls.Common MynaAcridotheres tristisAn omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct, the common myna has adapted extremely well to urban environments.Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiaeAustralia's most widespread gull, it thrives along coasts and inland waterways and readily adapts to towns, parks, and other places where people provide food.Australian RavenCorvus coronoidesThe largest and most familiar raven of eastern Australia, with long throat hackles and a distinctive wailing call.Eurasian CootFulica atraThe juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old.Little RavenCorvus melloriA small social raven of eastern Australia, often seen in flocks around farmland and urban fringes.Gray ButcherbirdCracticus torquatusThe grey butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) is a widely distributed species endemic to Australia.Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotusThey display phenotypic characteristics typical of rails: relatively short wings and strong, elongated bills, adapted to its semi-aquatic lifestyle in wetlands.Dusky MoorhenGallinula tenebrosaDark waterhen with white edges to the under tail.Gray ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonicaThe grey shrikethrush or grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica), formerly commonly known as grey thrush, is a songbird of Australasia.Gray TealAnas gracilisOne of the most numerous ducks in Australia, capable of forming enormous flocks exceeding a hundred thousand birds.SilvereyeZosterops lateralisNamed for the distinctive white ring around its eye, this tiny bird undertakes one of the longest regular migrations of any Australian passerine.Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatusEnormous bill with characteristic throat pouch.Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiaeLarge slender bird, pale gray above, paler below, with distinctive black mask and throat.Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostrisA field study at two storage lakes, Lake Cargelligo and Lake Brewster, in south-western New South Wales found that the introduced common carp made up over half of its food intake.Black SwanCygnus atratusA monogamous breeder where both partners share incubation and cygnet-rearing duties.Little PenguinEudyptula minorTiny blue-gray penguin with pale eye.Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merulaBreeding The male common blackbird attracts the female with a courtship display consisting of oblique runs combined with head-bowing movements, an open beak, and a "strangled" low song.Brown ThornbillAcanthiza pusillaOne of Australia's most common and widespread thornbills, found in forest and woodland across the south and east.Torresian CrowCorvus orruThe default crow of northern and western Australia; its nasal calls distinguish it from the Australian Raven.Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensisA common garden bird throughout much of Asia, found in open forests, fields, and parks; introduced to several regions around the world. Often tame and approachable. Plumage shows slight regional variation: western birds have dark centers to wing feathers, lacking in eastern birds. Turtle-doves are larger, have black centers to wing feathers and stripes rather than spots on the neck. Coos loudly and often: “coo-a-roooo”.Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiaeCan be abundant; typically on freshwater ponds and lakes.House SparrowPasser domesticusHowever, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches invertebrates such as insects and their larvae, caterpillars , and many other natural foods.Striated PardalotePardalotus striatusTiny colorful bird with white stripes on the wing.Crimson RosellaPlatycercus elegansThe main distinction between these is size: nigrescens is the smallest of the three and melanoptera is the largest; both are slightly darker than the nominate race.Chestnut TealAnas castaneaUnlike many duck species, it nests in tree hollows, sometimes high above the ground in old eucalypts.Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurusThe function of this mimicry is unknown.Eastern RosellaPlatycercus eximiusOccurs in open forests and woodlands and may also be found in parks and gardens. Normal range is south eastern Australia and Tasmania. Introduced populations occur in New Zealand.New Holland HoneyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiaeDistinctive honeyeater found in coastal heath and gardens. Underparts white with black streaking. Back, wings, and head black with yellow panels on tail and wings. Distinguished from the similar White-cheeked Honeyeater by presence of two smaller white patches on side of face, rather than one large patch. Often found near flowering Banksia.Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventrisBreeding in monogamous pairs, both males and females incubate their eggs and care for their young.White-browed ScrubwrenSericornis frontalisFound in small groups, it is sedentary and engages in cooperative breeding .White-plumed HoneyeaterPtilotula penicillataThe white-plumed honeyeater ( Ptilotula penicillata , formerly Lichenostomus penicillatus ) is a small passerine bird endemic to Australia .Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollisStraw-necked ibises are commonly found throughout Australia , nesting at least occasionally in all mainland states and territories, except in the arid interior.Yellow-faced HoneyeaterCaligavis chrysopsThey form socially monogamous pairs and lay two or three eggs in a delicate cup-shaped nest .Rock PigeonColumba liviaDescended from the wild Rock Dove, feral pigeons now thrive in cities worldwide, including every Australian capital.Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australisBreeding takes place in the spring and, as with many Australian birds, is often communal.Brown HoneyeaterLichmera indistinctaGrayish overall, with yellowish panels in the wings and tail, and a dark smudge around the eye.Little CorellaCacatua sanguineaIt was known as Birdirra among the Yindjibarndi people of the central and western Pilbara .Lewin's HoneyeaterMeliphaga lewiniiA medium-sized olive-gray honeyeater with a pale yellow cheek patch and a relatively stout bill.Spotted PardalotePardalotus punctatusNote that the very front of the eyebrow is white (compare Striated Pardalote).Great EgretArdea albaDistributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, it builds tree nests in colonies close to water.Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatusThe young bee-eaters fledge after 28 to 31 days and are fed by both parents, as well as by any other members of the communal group.Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiaeOften seen swimming with only its long snake-like neck above water, earning it the nickname 'snakebird'.Bar-shouldered DoveGeopelia humeralisGray face and neck, with a pinkish belly.Red-browed FiretailNeochmia temporalisNamed for the vivid red plumage earned by males only after their second year and bred extensively in captivity worldwide.Pied ButcherbirdCracticus nigrogularisThe pied butcherbird engages in cooperative breeding , with a mated pair sometimes assisted by several helper birds.Peaceful DoveGeopelia placidaNamed for its soft, peaceful cooing call; one of the most familiar small doves in suburban gardens across northern and eastern Australia.Australasian FigbirdSphecotheres vieillotiUnusually for a songbird, females are more brightly coloured than males, with vivid red facial skin.MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceumBreeding Mistletoebirds conduct elaborate courtship and nuptial displays where, with a horizontal body, the male sways from side to side fluttering its wings, flicking its tail and displaying flashes of red.HardheadAythya australisThe hardhead (Aythya australis), also known as the white-eyed duck, is the only true diving duck found in Australia.Little WattlebirdAnthochaera chrysopteraEasily distinguished from Red Wattlebird by the lack of pink wattles below the eye and by the lack of a yellow lower belly.Eastern WhipbirdPsophodes olivaceusThe bird became commonly known as coachwhip bird or stockwhip bird.Eastern SpinebillAcanthorhynchus tenuirostrisA small bird with a long curved bill.Pied StiltHimantopus leucocephalusNote black hind-neck.Common BronzewingPhaps chalcopteraIts wings produce a distinctive metallic whistle in flight, and the iridescent wing panels flash green and bronze in sunlight.White-throated TreecreeperCormobates leucophaeaA dark gray-brown treecreeper with very pale throat and chest.Red-rumped ParrotPsephotus haematonotusIt has adapted well to rural and suburban areas and is commonly observed foraging on the ground for a variety of seeds.Australian PipitAnthus australisA small, pale brownish terrestrial bird with heavily streaked chest and back.Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroidesAustralia's smallest raptor, often seen hovering in place while scanning for prey on the ground.Golden WhistlerPachycephala pectoralisA notable exception is the Norfolk golden whistler (P. p. xanthoprocta) where the plumage of the male is female-like.Australian King-ParrotAlisterus scapularisA heavy-set and colorful forest parrot of eastern Australian woodlands, forests, and gardens.Great Crested TernThalasseus bergiiWhen not breeding, the greater crested tern will roost or rest on open shores, less often on boats, pilings, harbour buildings and raised salt mounds in lagoons.Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboThey are tied as the second largest extant species of cormorant after the flightless cormorant , with the Japanese cormorant averaging at a similar size.Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regiaConspicuous large white bird with a long, spoon-shaped bill, black facial skin, legs.Noisy FriarbirdPhilemon corniculatusNamed for its incessant, raucous calls; its bare black head is an adaptation for probing deep into flowers for nectar.Blue-faced HoneyeaterEntomyzon cyanotisLarge and conspicuous honeyeater with striking patch of bare facial skin: blue in adults, green in juveniles.WeebillSmicrornis brevirostrisUpperparts gray-brown, underparts variably cream and yellow, with pale eyebrow and pale eye.Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctusCommon and widespread kingfisher with a buff spot in front of the eyes that can extend back over the eye as a thin brow.Black KiteMilvus migransVaries considerably across range, but always note tail fork (can disappear when tail is fully open), and short head and neck.Yellow-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza chrysorrhoaNoticeably larger than other Australian thornbills.Hoary-headed GrebePoliocephalus poliocephalusSmall ducklike bird that rides low in the water.Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformisParasitises small passerine birds, especially thornbills; its descending trill call is a common sound of east-coast forests.Australian BrushturkeyAlectura lathamiBuilds enormous nest mounds of leaves and mulch; the heat from decomposition incubates the eggs without parental sitting.Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax variusLarger and longer-billed than the Little Pied Cormorant, this species is usually seen singly or in pairs along sheltered coasts.Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostrisPied oystercatchers frequent sandy coastlines, where they feed mainly on bivalve molluscs , which are prised apart with their specially adapted bill.Yellow ThornbillAcanthiza nanaThe yellow thornbill ( Acanthiza nana ), formerly known as the little thornbill, is a tiny passerine bird endemic to the eastern coast of Australia .Olive-backed OrioleOriolus sagittatusA summer migrant to southern Australia, travelling north to New Guinea and Indonesia each winter.Spiny-cheeked HoneyeaterAcanthagenys rufogularisIts heavily streaked plumage, large pale cinnamon throat patch and upper-chest are notable.Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricansSmall swallow dark above, pale below, with grayish rump and notched tail.White-breasted WoodswallowArtamus leucorynchusTheir completely black tail makes them the only woodswallow lacking white on the tail.White-bellied Sea-EagleIcthyophaga leucogasterIn flight note black and white underwing pattern, short tail.Singing HoneyeaterGavicalis virescensBaker (1996) showed, the birds of the mainland did not respond to the songs of singing honeyeaters found on Rottnest Island , an island off Australia's west coast.Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillarisOften seen hovering above open grassland while hunting, a distinctive behaviour among Australian raptors.Scaly-breasted LorikeetTrichoglossus chlorolepidotusNote bright red bill and orange-red underwings.Brown FalconFalco berigoraLarge-headed falcon with variable brownish plumage ranging from dark chocolate brown, to reddish, to tan.Fairy MartinPetrochelidon arielFairy martins breed from August through to January in colonies usually of a few tens of nests, but the largest known site had 700 nests.Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoidesThe female has a striking white eye-ring and face patch, while the male's head is entirely dark.Australian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus australisIts forceful, varied song is often the first sign that this unobtrusive brown bird has returned to a reedbed for spring.Yellow-tailed Black-CockatooZanda funereaA slow-breeding cockatoo with a distinctive wailing call, migrating seasonally in noisy family groups.Spangled DrongoDicrurus bracteatusAdult has bright red eye, young birds dark-eyed.Golden-headed CisticolaCisticola exilisKnown as the "finest tailor of all birds", it constructs nests out of plants and spider threads.Double-barred FinchStizoptera bichenoviiSmall white, gray, and black bird with a white rump and black tail.Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audaxIn flight, identified by very long diamond-shaped tail.Scarlet MyzomelaMyzomela sanguinolentaTiny honeyeater.Plumed EgretArdea plumiferaOften confusing and difficult to identify, this bird is truly intermediate between potential confusion species.European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisJuvenile (seen in late summer and autumn) has a plain head but is told easily by bold wing pattern.Magpie GooseAnseranas semipalmataThe sole living representative of an ancient waterfowl family, with fossils dating back over 30 million years.Satin BowerbirdPtilonorhynchus violaceusDecorates its bower exclusively with blue objects, meticulously arranging them to impress visiting females.Long-billed CorellaCacatua tenuirostrisA feral population resides in Perth , Western Australia as of the mid-1980s, which has conservation implications as this species may hybridize with the endangered western corella .White-winged ChoughCorcorax melanorhamphosIn flight, white in primaries very evident.Pacific HeronArdea pacificaThe tallest heron in Australia, standing motionless for long periods before striking with its spear-like bill.Medium EgretArdea intermediaLittle egrets have yellow-soled feet and black bills.Little FriarbirdPhilemon citreogularisOften gathers noisily at flowering trees, where its smaller size lets it feed among foliage more nimbly than larger friarbirds.Swamp HarrierCircus approximansOne of the few Australian raptors that hunts by quartering low over marsh and grassland, owl-like.Little EgretEgretta garzettaAt one time common in Western Europe, it was hunted extensively in the 19th century to provide plumes for the decoration of hats and became locally extinct in northwestern Europe and scarce in the south.Variegated FairywrenMalurus lambertiMale wrens pluck yellow petals and display them to females as part of a courtship display.White-naped HoneyeaterMelithreptus lunatusDistinguished from White-throated Honeyeater by its white nape; the black cap extends only to the eye.Tawny FrogmouthPodargus strigoidesOften mistaken for a broken branch, this nocturnal bird relies on extraordinary camouflage to vanish in plain sight.Striated ThornbillAcanthiza lineataSmall bird with thin pointed bill.Red-backed FairywrenMalurus melanocephalusAs part of a courtship display , the male wren plucks red petals from flowers and displays them to females.Zebra FinchTaeniopygia guttataOne of the most widely studied birds in science; its song-learning and pair-bonding behaviour have been extensively researched.Gang-gang CockatooCallocephalon fimbriatumSmall and compact cockatoo found only in southeastern Australia.White-eared HoneyeaterNesoptilotis leucotisMedium-sized, olive-brown honeyeater with distinctive white “ears”.Red-capped PloverAnarhynchus ruficapillusSmall energetic plover with a fine bill, white underparts, and pale gray back.DollarbirdEurystomus orientalisArrives in northern Australia each summer from New Guinea; its broad, silvery underwings flash in flight.Australasian ShovelerSpatula rhynchotisThe wide, spoon-shaped bill is lined with fine lamellae that filter tiny aquatic organisms from the water.Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipesHowever, as the six species were so similar morphologically, keeping them within the one genus made more sense.Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaLargest tern in the world; widespread but typically uncommon.Bell MinerManorina melanophrysSmall birds that keep to the understory, like fairy-wrens, scrubwrens and blackbirds are often not driven out, but small birds that typically forage in the midstory or canopy or share similar foods, like pardalotes, are not allowed access within the territory.Leaden FlycatcherMyiagra rubeculaNesting success is low, with only 23% of nests successfully fledging a chick.White-throated HoneyeaterMelithreptus albogularisForages actively in the upper canopy of eucalypt forests across southern and eastern Australia.Brown GoshawkTachyspiza fasciataFiercely protective of its nest and will dive-bomb intruders, including humans, with powerful feet.Pink-eared DuckMalacorhynchus membranaceusOften feeds by spinning in tight circles on the water surface, creating a vortex to bring food particles to the surface.Dusky WoodswallowArtamus cyanopterusThey roost communally, usually nocturnally.Pacific KoelEudynamys orientalisThe type locality is Ambon Island , one of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.Varied TrillerLalage leucomelaSmall songbird with short, fine bill.Musk DuckBiziura lobataThe male produces a distinctive deep whistling call and inflates a large pendulous throat lobe during courtship display.Channel-billed CuckooScythrops novaehollandiaeThe world's largest brood parasite, laying its eggs almost exclusively in the nests of crows and currawongs.Restless FlycatcherMyiagra inquietaThe restless flycatcher builds a cup-shaped nest from shredded bark and grasses, matted and bound with spider-webbing.Little GrassbirdPoodytes gramineusA small brown songbird that skulks in reed-beds and dense vegetation near water.Pacific GullLarus pacificusThey also commonly eat Platycephalus bassensis (sand flatheads) and cephalopods, both of which are sourced from their regular consumption of waste from fish which have been cleaned on wharves and beaches.Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollisThese birds are among the smallest of waders, very similar to the little stint , Calidris minuta , with which they were once considered conspecific.Pale-headed RosellaPlatycercus adscitusIts preferred habitat is open forest, but has adapted well to human modification of the rural landscape and may even become a pest to orchards and cereal crops.White-bellied CuckooshrikeCoracina papuensisIn Indonesia the white-bellied cuckooshrike is commonly found in the northern Moluccas and occasionally found in Eastern Wallacea .Brown Cuckoo-DoveMacropygia phasianellaIts diet consists of berries from both native plants and introduced weed species.Australian Rufous FantailRhipidura rufifronsAlthough their population is thought to be declining, their relatively large range and abundance make them a species of least concern according to the IUCN.Brown GerygoneGerygone moukiIts high-pitched tinkling song is often heard before the bird is seen in coastal and inland forests.Red-capped RobinPetroica goodenoviiSmall Australian robin.Black-browed AlbatrossThalassarche melanophrisA common and widespread albatross of the southern oceans; often seen from shore and ferries.Gray CurrawongStrepera versicolorIt builds nests high in trees, which has limited the study of its breeding habits.EmuDromaius novaehollandiaeAustralia's tallest native bird, reaching up to 1.9 metres and capable of running at 50 km/h.Australian RingneckBarnardius zonariusExcept for extreme tropical and highland areas, the species has adapted to all conditions.White-winged TrillerLalage tricolorA nomadic species whose movements follow insect outbreaks, sometimes arriving in large numbers after rains.Yellow-throated MinerManorina flavigulaCommon mynas are an aggressive introduced pest in Australia , which causes some confusion with the native aggressive miners.Horsfield's Bronze-CuckooChalcites basalisNamed after John Horsfield, this cuckoo is one of the most widespread brood parasites in Australia.Striped HoneyeaterPlectorhyncha lanceolataAlthough a honeyeater, the striped honeyeater relies on insects as its major food source, and its bill has been adapted to an insect diet.Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataSharp-tailed sandpipers are strongly migratory , breeding solely in eastern Siberia from the Taymyr Peninsula to Chaunskaya Bay in Chukotka.White-fronted ChatEpthianura albifronsFemales have a gray head with white below the bill and a smaller black patch on the breast.Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicusRoosts communally in trees during the day and forages alone at night, stalking prey in shallow water.Whiskered TernChlidonias hybridaBreeding adult has distinctive dark smoky gray body and contrasting white cheeks (can look like broad whiteSuperb LyrebirdMenura novaehollandiaeOne of the world's largest songbirds , the superb lyrebird is renowned for its elaborate tail and courtship displays, and for its excellent mimicry.Red-winged ParrotAprosmictus erythropterusBright pale-green parrot with a red shoulder patch; note blue rump in flight.Brahminy KiteHaliastur indusBoth parents take part in nest building and feeding, but likely only the female incubates.BrolgaAntigone rubicundaRenowned for its elaborate courtship dance involving leaping, wing-flapping, bowing, and trumpeting calls.White-throated GerygoneGerygone olivaceaThe western counterpart of the Brown Gerygone, restricted to tall eucalypt forests of southwestern Australia.Jacky-winterMicroeca fascinansThe jacky winter (Microeca fascinans) is a small grey-brown robin found commonly throughout Australia and also in Papua New Guinea.Wonga PigeonLeucosarcia melanoleucaA large ground pigeon of eastern rainforests whose deep, repetitive 'wonk-wonk' call is a familiar forest sound.Brown TreecreeperClimacteris picumnusNesting The brown treecreeper breeds cooperatively and usually forms a long-term socially monogamous pair.Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaVery pale overall with black cap in breeding plumage.Brown-headed HoneyeaterMelithreptus brevirostrisSmall honeyeater with brown cap.Adelie PenguinPygoscelis adeliaeThe beak is largely covered with black feathers, leaving only the tip exposed; this is primarily black, though it can show indistinct reddish-brown markings.Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaBreeding plumage is dark brick-red below (male) or pale orangey (female); nonbreeding plumage is overall gray-brown with white belly; compare to Black-tailed Godwit.Forest RavenCorvus tasmanicusThe only raven restricted to closed forest habitats in Tasmania, southern Victoria, and far south-eastern Australia.Forest KingfisherTodiramphus macleayiiThe forest kingfisher watches from a high perch, dives to the ground or water to seize its prey (sally-pouncing), then returns directly to the perch.Rufous SonglarkCincloramphus mathewsiPlain brownish songbird with faint pale eyebrow and rust-colored rump.Red-tailed Black-CockatooCalyptorhynchus banksiiA long-lived cockatoo known to live over 50 years in the wild and form enduring pair bonds.Tawny GrassbirdCincloramphus timoriensisIt is streaked above and has a distinctive rich brown cap. Its underside is paler and it has a long graduated tail. The term "grassbird" was used by Gould during the mid 19th century to signify a strong correlation to long grass habitats. The tawny grassbird has also been known as tawny sphenoeacus, grassbird, tawny or rufous-capped marshbird, rufous-capped grass-warbler and rufous-capped grassbird.Bush Thick-kneeBurhinus grallariusDuring the day stands or sits under small trees/shrubs, often in small groups.Pheasant CoucalCentropus phasianinusUnlike most cuckoos, this species builds its own nest and raises its own young instead of laying eggs in other birds' nests.Australasian GannetMorus serratorPotential and mated pairs engage in courtship and greeting displays.Shining Bronze-CuckooChalcites lucidusOne of the most southerly-ranging brood-parasitic birds in the world, breeding as far south as Tasmania and the subantarctic islands.Comb-crested JacanaIrediparra gallinaceaLike other jacana species, it is adapted to the floating vegetation of tropical freshwater wetlands.Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisOn the ground, note brown streaky plumage, distinct bushy crest, and broad, diffuse paler eyering.Far Eastern CurlewNumenius madagascariensisThis very large curlew wields a remarkable scimitar-like bill, used to extract invertebrates from deep burrows.Torresian Imperial-PigeonDucula spilorrhoaCrosses the Torres Strait each year, migrating between New Guinea and northern Australia to breed in coastal forests and mangroves.Buff-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza reguloidesThese birds are exceptional acrobats, displaying a remarkable ability to remain head downward.White-gaped HoneyeaterStomiopera unicolorA medium to large honeyeater with a sooty brown plumage and a bright pale patch between its eye and bill.Red-kneed DotterelErythrogonys cinctusAttractive plover, but contrary to its name, it does not have red knees.Chestnut-breasted MuniaLonchura castaneothoraxIn French Polynesia, it is well established as an introduced species, and its habits have developed somewhat differently, indicating the adaptability of the species.Australian TernGelochelidon macrotarsaThe Australian tern does not normally plunge dive for fish like the other white terns, and has a broader diet than most other terns.Musk LorikeetTrichoglossus concinnusMusk lorikeets are one of the few animals with the plasticity to survive and thrive in rapid urbanization.Scarlet RobinPetroica boodangBoth the male and the female participate in selecting the nesting site , but only the female constructs the nest, a task which takes four to ten days.Gray-crowned BabblerPomatostomus temporalisBabbler groups are more susceptible to stochastic events leading to local extinction.Brown QuailSynoicus ypsilophorusMore often flushed from almost underfoot than seen, this quail explodes from dense grass cover with whirring wings.Sooty OystercatcherHaematopus fuliginosusEntirely sooty black with a thick scarlet bill and bright red eye-ring, it is restricted to rocky coastlines.BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusFirst recorded in 1805, budgerigars are popular pets around the world due to their small size, low cost, and ability to mimic human speech.CockatielNymphicus hollandicusA small, nomadic cockatoo that follows rainfall across the arid interior to exploit seeding grasses.Plumed Whistling-DuckDendrocygna eytoniNamed for the long cream-coloured plumes on its flanks; unlike other ducks, it stands tall and upright when alert.Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusFairly common on lakes, reservoirs, and along larger rivers, mainly with bordering reeds where it builds a floating nest platform.ApostlebirdStruthidea cinereaApostlebirds are a socially living, cooperative breeding species with each breeding group generally containing only one breeding pair, the rest being either their helper offspring, kin or unrelated adult birds.Great BowerbirdChlamydera nuchalisOnly a male with a successful bower can attract mates.White-cheeked HoneyeaterPhylidonyris nigerBack, wings, and head black with yellow panels on tail and wings.Orange-footed MegapodeMegapodius reinwardtUses the heat generated by decomposing vegetation in its massive nest mound to incubate eggs, with the male monitoring and adjusting the temperature daily.Buff-banded RailGallirallus philippensisBarred belly with a smudged orange-buff chest band.Chestnut-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza uropygialisBrownish gray above, cream-colored below, with white eye, pale speckling on forecrown, pale-tipped dark tail, and vivid chestnut rump, often visible in flight.Australian HobbyFalco longipennisOne of Australia's fastest fliers, taking insects and small birds on the wing with spectacular aerial pursuits.Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachiiVery large kingfisher with a lot of blue in the wings and tail.White-browed BabblerPomatostomus superciliosusLives in cooperative family groups whose members forage together and help raise the breeding pair's young.Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusNote bold head stripes.Black-faced MonarchMonarcha melanopsisA slim songbird with rather long tail and substantial bill.Fairy PrionPachyptila turturThe smallest of the six prion species, the fairy prion is often seen making shallow dives or seizing food from the surface in large flocks at sea.Green OrioleOriolus flavocinctusForages in forested areas, gardens, and parks in northern Australia, usually singly or in pairs, singing frequently, a rich, throaty “yok-yok-yoddle.”Flame RobinPetroica phoeniceaA territorial bird, the flame robin employs song and plumage displays to mark out and defend its territory.Collared SparrowhawkTachyspiza cirrocephalaThe collared sparrowhawk mainly eats small birds, the crested pigeon and spotted bowerbird are the largest birds that sparrowhawks have been recorded taking.Sahul Brush CuckooCacomantis variolosusA recent split from the Brush Cuckoo complex; its repetitive descending whistle call is a familiar sound of northern and eastern forests.Large-billed ScrubwrenSericornis magnirostraIt constructs a rough, domed nest of bark, grass and moss, lined with feathers and set in creepers, tree-ferns or palm-fronds.MoreporkNinox novaeseelandiaeUncommon in drier eastern areas.Azure KingfisherCeyx azureusIt patrols up and down waterways and rivers from perch to perch flying very fast, and only a few meters off the water, typically making a loud high pitchedRed-necked AvocetRecurvirostra novaehollandiaePre-mating courtship involves bill crossing and bowing dances with the female indicating their readiness to mate by crouching low with wings spread, this usually occurs in shallow water.Yellow-throated HoneyeaterNesoptilotis flavicollisBack is olive green, head and breast are gray.Black-faced WoodswallowArtamus cinereusOf note, the black-vented woodswallows are more adapted to arid and semi-arid conditions, while the white-vented are adapted to tropical conditions.Diamond DoveGeopelia cuneataThe smallest dove in Australia, with a long pointed tail and distinctive red eye-ring.White-headed PigeonColumba leucomelaUnlike most pigeons, it is almost exclusively arboreal, feeding on fruit high in the canopy of rainforest trees.Red-collared LorikeetTrichoglossus rubritorquisEvery year at the end of the dry season in Darwin , many of them display symptoms of apparent drunkenness.Blue-billed DuckOxyura australisThe male's bill turns a vivid sky-blue during the breeding season, a striking contrast to its dark chestnut plumage.Western GerygoneGerygone fuscaJuvenile lacks red eye and has yellow gape (base of bill).Common GreenshankTringa nebulariaAmong them, these three species show all the basic leg and foot colours found in the shanks , demonstrating that this character is paraphyletic .Pallid CuckooHeteroscenes pallidusIts plaintive, ascending whistle call is one of the characteristic sounds of the Australian spring across much of the continent.Black-fronted DotterelThinornis melanopsEndemic to Australia, this small plover is often seen on the edges of inland and coastal wetlands.OspreyPandion haliaetusA large fish-eating raptor with long, angled wings, usually seen near water and often hovering before diving feet-first for prey.Latham's SnipeGallinago hardwickiiCourtship consists of display flights and drumming by the males.Dusky MyzomelaMyzomela obscuraBreeding takes place in the dry season (typically March to September).MallardAnas platyrhynchosMallards are differentiated in their mitochondrial DNA between North American and Eurasian populations, but the nuclear genome displays a notable lack of genetic structure.Yellow-plumed HoneyeaterPtilotula ornataThey are noisy and conspicuous, and will jointly defend nesting or feeding territories, by engaging in communal wing quivering displays.Red-whiskered BulbulPycnonotus jocosusIt has been introduced in many tropical areas of the world where populations have established themselves.Rose RobinPetroica roseaSmall arboreal Australian robin.Splendid FairywrenMalurus splendensMales moult into brilliant blue breeding plumage and carry yellow flower petals during courtship displays.Black-tailed NativehenTribonyx ventralisSmall waterhen with an erect black tail (no white edges) resembling that of a domestic chicken.Australian Spectacled MonarchSymposiachrus trivirgatusA small songbird with a modestly long tail and pale bill.Little HeronButorides atricapillaA small heron that is widespread and common across much of Africa, Asia, and Australia.Topknot PigeonLopholaimus antarcticusNamed for its distinctive swept-back crest, it often flies in large flocks high above the forest canopy.Wedge-tailed ShearwaterArdenna pacificaIt attends these colonies nocturnally , although nonbreeding wedge-tails are often seen at the surface throughout the day and breeding birds rest outside their burrows before laying.Glossy Black-CockatooCalyptorhynchus lathamiC. l. erebus, is listed under state legislation in Queensland only.Inland ThornbillAcanthiza apicalisThe default thornbill of mulga, acacia, and arid shrublands across inland Australia.Crescent HoneyeaterPhylidonyris pyrrhopterusThe female builds the nest and does most of the caring for the two to three young, which become independent within 40 days of laying its egg.White-browed WoodswallowArtamus superciliosusMale dark gray above, dark orange-brown below, with dark gray face and throat and white eyebrow.Laughing DoveSpilopelia senegalensisTail is strikingly long with white corners and a grey center, but is all white underneath.Sahul CicadabirdEdolisoma tenuirostreWoodland bird of eastern and northern Australia and New Guinea.Kelp GullLarus dominicanusAdults have black backs and wings with very little white in the flight feathers.Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusIt disappeared as a regular breeding bird in Spain in the early 20th century, but with legal protection re-established itself in 1993 and has since rapidly increased with thousands of pairs in several colonies.Tasmanian NativehenTribonyx mortieriiLarge flightless waterhen endemic to Tasmania.Black-necked StorkEphippiorhynchus asiaticusThe only stork breeding in Australia, gathering in large colonies in northern wetlands during the wet season.Green CatbirdAiluroedus crassirostrisChunky rainforest bird with emerald green upperparts, dark eye, and green-olive underparts with pale streaking.Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaSlightly larger than Dunlin, with longer and finer bill, longer legs.Little EagleHieraaetus morphnoidesThe little eagle ( Hieraaetus morphnoides ) is a very small eagle endemic to Australia .Crested BellbirdOreoica gutturalisGray songbird with a small erectable black crest, found across most of inland Australia, where its far-carrying song is one of the characteristic outback sounds.Purple-backed FairywrenMalurus assimilisA small bird with a very long blue tail that is held cocked.Speckled WarblerPyrrholaemus sagittatusUpperparts gray, underparts cream white, with black streaking on back, underparts, and crown.Varied SittellaDaphoenositta chrysopteraTiny, short-tailed bird with a thin, slightly upturned bill.Australian BoobookNinox boobookAustralia's smallest and most common owl, with a distinctive two-note 'boo-book' call that gives it its name.Australian Owlet-nightjarAegotheles cristatusIt is colloquially known as the moth owl or fairy owl and Jarlajirrpi by the Warlpiri people.Pacific Reef-HeronEgretta sacraThe reason for the colour variation or "morph", is unknown, though it is most commonly thought to be related to camouflage.Yellow HoneyeaterStomiopera flavaA medium-sized honeyeater with a short black bill.Wandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuataUnlike the Plumed Whistling-Duck, its cream flank plumes lie flat against the body rather than protruding.Fuscous HoneyeaterPtilotula fuscaTypically found in dry eucalypt forest; tends to move down from higher altitudes in the winter months. Found in eastern Australia.Helmeted FriarbirdPhilemon buceroidesThere are only slim differences between the male and female as well.Masked WoodswallowArtamus personatusAmong the few passerines that have powder down through their plumage.Spotted ScrubwrenSericornis maculatusSmall scrubwren with white eyebrow and pale iris.White-throated NeedletailHirundapus caudacutusA powerful-looking swift with long saber-shaped wings and a bullet-shaped body.Brown SonglarkCincloramphus cruralisBreeding males may display a cinnamon colour.Little TernSternula albifronsThe offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.Yellow-spotted HoneyeaterMeliphaga notataCan be confused with Lewin’s Honeyeater and Graceful Honeyeater, but note the shape of the cheek patch: oval on Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, crescent shaped on Lewin’s Honeyeater, and circular on Graceful Honeyeater.Wompoo Fruit-DoveMegaloprepia magnificaThe largest fruit-dove in Australia, its deep 'woom-poo' call echoing through the rainforest gives it its common name.Pacific Emerald DoveChalcophaps longirostrisAlso known as the Green-winged Pigeon, it forages quietly on the forest floor and explodes upward when startled.Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaDuring the breeding season, the Arctic tundra provides insects and berries for food, and effective camouflage for predator avoidance.Radjah ShelduckRadjah radjahUnlike most Australian ducks, this species rarely swims and is more often seen wading along muddy shorelines.Greater BluebonnetNorthiella haematogasterThe bluebonnet is a medium-sized inland parrot commonly found in the interior of southeastern and central-southern Australia.Australian CrakePorzana flumineaBrown above, blue-gray below black streaking and white specks, barred flanks, and black undertail with a thick white border (unlike Baillon’s Crake, which has fine barring).Mulga ParrotPsephotellus variusThe mulga parrot ( Psephotellus varius ) is endemic to arid scrublands and lightly timbered grasslands in the interior of southern Australia.Pale-yellow RobinEopsaltria capitoThe pale-yellow robin makes a trilling call when displaying or defending its territory.Crimson FinchNeochmia phaetonNests are also commonly established within hollow tree limbs.Mangrove GerygoneGerygone levigasterA number of cuckoo species are brood parasites of this species.Black ButcherbirdMelloria quoyiAs the only butcherbirds with wholly black bodies, they are sometimes confused with crows or currawongs , from which they are distinguished by their gray and hooked bills.European GreenfinchChloris chlorisFemale is much drabber, but shares male pattern; especially note the big, dull pinkish bill and yellow wing flash.Red-capped ParrotPurpureicephalus spuriusIn 1938, Australian ornithologist Dominic Serventy proposed that it was the sole survivor of a lineage of eastern Australian origin, with no close living relatives.Green RosellaPlatycercus caledonicusRestricted to Tasmania.Eastern Shrike-titFalcunculus frontatusGreen above, yellow below, with bold black-and-white head pattern.Yellow-throated ScrubwrenNeosericornis citreogularisBreeding twice or more in a long breeding season, it nests in large, suspended, pear-shaped structures.Diamond FiretailStagonopleura guttataWhile it is a small stocky bird it is one of the largest finches in Australia.Black-faced CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscescensThis is one of the largest cormorants found in south-western Australia and has pied plumage with the upper half of its body black and the undersides white.Eastern Cattle-EgretArdea coromandaOften seen riding on the backs of cattle or tractors, snapping up insects disturbed by large grazing animals.Yellow-tufted HoneyeaterLichenostomus melanopsA small to medium-sized honeyeater with a bright yellow chin and crown and bold black cheeks.Rose-crowned Fruit-DovePtilinopus reginaThis species calls frequently, and typically with a long series of gradually accelerating notes.White-winged FairywrenMalurus leucopterusAs part of a courtship display , the male wren plucks petals from flowers and displays them to female birds.Gray-tailed TattlerTringa brevipesA handsomely-marked medium-sized gray shorebird with a medium-length, straight bill.Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusThat makes it the world's most widespread raptor and one of the most widely found wild bird species .Bassian ThrushZoothera lunulataLarge thrush, greenish brown with black scallop marks above, pale with black scaly marks below.White-fronted HoneyeaterPurnella albifronsThe white-fronted honeyeater ( Purnella albifrons ) is a medium-sized bird species endemic to Australia .Freckled DuckStictonetta naevosaA nomadic duck that appears and disappears unpredictably across inland wetlands following rainfall events.Metallic StarlingAplonis metallicaNest in large colonies, typically seen in very large flocks that fly fast and low.Spotted HarrierCircus assimilisFlies low at slow speeds over open habitats.Yellow WattlebirdAnthochaera paradoxaA very large honeyeater.Little CrowCorvus bennettiThe smallest Australian corvid, with a proportionally shorter bill; widespread across the interior and west in large flocks.Hooded RobinMelanodryas cucullataDifferences primarily relate to size and plumage, with males displaying subtle differences in plumage of ventrum, upperparts and degree of white colouring on tail tips.Australian SwiftletAerodramus terraereginaePossible confusion with Tree Martin, which is much paler below with a paler rump, plumper body, and shorter wings.Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresBreeding plumage is particular striking with bright rusty upperparts and bold black-and-white pattern on head and neck.Pacific BazaAviceda subcristataA specialist predator of stick insects, plucking them from foliage during slow, deliberate flights through the canopy.Cape Barren GooseCereopsis novaehollandiaeEndemic to southern Australia, this large pale goose grazes on coastal pastures and islands in family groups.Spotless CrakeZapornia tabuensisUpperparts dark brown, underparts blue-gray, with red legs and short black bill.Paperbark FlycatcherMyiagra nanaGlossy black above, bright white below.Hooded PloverThinornis cucullatusA beach-nesting plover whose eggs and chicks are exceptionally well camouflaged against sand and shell.Flesh-footed ShearwaterArdenna carneipesEntirely the color of dark chocolate with a dark-tipped pink bill.Tasmanian ScrubwrenSericornis humilisSmall gray-brown bird with black-and-white shoulder patch, dull white eyebrow, and faint pale chin stripe.Stubble QuailCoturnix pectoralisHighly nomadic, irrupting in large numbers after heavy rain transforms the arid landscape.Green Pygmy-GooseNettapus pulchellusOne of the world's smallest waterfowl, barely larger than a starling, spending most of its time floating among aquatic vegetation.Red-backed KingfisherTodiramphus pyrrhopygiusDuring breeding season, the red-backed kingfisher will move to river courses to make use of the earthy banks to dig nesting burrows.Short-tailed ShearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisThese are among the larger species of shearwater, which have been moved to a separate genus, Ardenna based on a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA (Penhallurick & Wink, 2004).Rufous-throated HoneyeaterConopophila rufogularisSmall honeyeater with a distinctive red-brown throat patch, white underparts, gray head, brown back, and yellow wing patch.Little Bronze-CuckooChalcites minutillusLacks the dark stripe through the eye seen in Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo.Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosIn winter plumage, they are duller and have more conspicuous barring on the wings, though this is still only visible at close range.Snowy AlbatrossDiomedea exulansPlumage highly variable, starting chocolate-brown with a white face and gradually becoming whiter over many years.King PenguinAptenodytes patagonicusYellow: Aptenodytes patagonicus halli Green: breeding areas The king penguin ( Aptenodytes patagonicus ) is the second largest species of penguin , smaller than but somewhat similar in appearance to the emperor penguin .Southern WhitefaceAphelocephala leucopsisInhabits drier open woodlands and shrublands in southern Australia, where often forages on the ground in small flocks.Australian BustardArdeotis australisA brooding female will crouch and move away if disturbed, flightless juveniles will remain still and rely on the camouflage of their plumage to evade detection.Collared KingfisherTodiramphus chlorisAll of them have a greenish-blue crown, a white spot above the lores, a black mask extending down as a narrow band across the hindneck, and a white collar.Great KnotCalidris tenuirostrisIts sister species, the surfbird C. virgata and red knot C. canutus , are the next largest.Crimson ChatEpthianura tricolorIts only significant threat is being killed by predators.Snow PetrelPagodroma niveaFrequently lands to rest on icebergs, sometimes in small groups.Brown-backed HoneyeaterRamsayornis modestusSmall and brown with mostly white underparts; bill pinkish; clear, thin white line under the eye.Black-headed HoneyeaterMelithreptus affinisSmall honeyeater with entirely black head.Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilisNote the overall slim and elegant shape, with very long and slender greenish legs: suggests a much smaller Greenshank that’s been to ballet school.Australian LogrunnerOrthonyx temminckiiFemales have black-bordered orange throat, males white, both with gray sides and white underparts.Macleay's HoneyeaterXanthotis macleayanusUnderparts are olive with white streaking.Regent BowerbirdSericulus chrysocephalusFemales are light brown with scalloping on the breast and back; they are much smaller and more lightly built than big, plump Satin Bowerbirds.Lemon-bellied FlyrobinMicroeca flavigasterExcept in Kimberley subspecies, pale belly washed with lemon yellow.Gray-headed AlbatrossThalassarche chrysostomaThe IUCN classifies this bird as endangered due to rapidly declining numbers in South Georgia which holds around half the world's population.Noisy PittaPitta versicolorA distinctive bird with a chestnut crown.Shining FlycatcherMyiagra alectoA long-tailed, slender songbird with fine bill.Swift ParrotLathamus discolorColorful migratory parrot with long red pointed tail.Northern FantailRhipidura rufiventrisSmall songbird with long tail, slim bill.Blue-winged ParrotNeophema chrysostomaAttractive small parrot of southeastern Australia.Rufous-banded HoneyeaterConopophila albogularisFace is gray, back is brown, and belly is white.Banded LapwingVanellus tricolorElegantly patterned with a black breast band and white face; often seen in small flocks on inland plains.Powerful OwlNinox strenuaThe largest owl in Australia by weight; pairs mate for life and defend permanent territories in old-growth forest.Pintado PetrelDaption capenseFairly small and very distinctively patterned petrel of cool southern waters; regular migrant north to Humboldt Current.Macaroni PenguinEudyptes chrysolophusNumbering up to 100,000 individuals, the breeding colonies of the macaroni penguin are among the largest and densest of all penguin species.Gould's PetrelPterodroma leucopteraSmall gray-and-white gadfly petrel.Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataNative to India and Southeast Asia, with introduced populations scattered elsewhere around the world.Torresian KingfisherTodiramphus sordidusLarge kingfisher with variable plumage, but always appears as a much greener and browner bird than either Forest or Sacred kingfishers.Mangrove HoneyeaterGavicalis fasciogularisMedium-sized honeyeater found in coastal habitats of eastern Australia.Victoria's RiflebirdPtiloris victoriaeWhen the male begins to display, he erects the feathers of his throat and sides to accentuate the bright colours of his plumage in the shafts of sunlight that pierce the dimness of the rainforest.Double-banded PloverAnarhynchus bicinctusThe largest number nest on the braided riverbeds of Marlborough , Canterbury , Otago and Southland in the South Island.Black CurrawongStrepera fuliginosaAlthough crow -like in appearance and habits, currawongs are only distantly related to true crows, and are instead closely related to the Australian magpie and the butcherbirds .Eastern Barn OwlTyto javanicaVaries somewhat across a wide range, but always note white-and-black speckling on the upperparts, beautiful gray-and-tawny wings, and large round head with ghostly white facial disc.Spotted CatbirdAiluroedus maculosusThe other bowerbirds are polygynous and make various forms of bowers or create stages for mating.Striated FieldwrenCalamanthus fuliginosusStriated fieldwrens are more easily observed in the springtime even though they can camouflage themselves in the vegetation.Chestnut-crowned BabblerPomatostomus ruficepsThe chestnut-crowned babbler ( Pomatostomus ruficeps ) is a medium-sized bird that is endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of south-eastern Australia .Australian Yellow White-eyeZosterops luteusThe Zosterops [griseotinctus] group is an example of a "great speciator" inhabiting a vast area and showing a remarkable morphological differentiation on islands, some of which may be as close as 2 km (1.2 mi) apart.White-capped AlbatrossThalassarche cautaThe gray-green bill has a yellowish tip to both mandibles.Purple-crowned LorikeetPsitteuteles porphyrocephalusOccurs in dry eucalypt forests but is nomadic and follows the blossom of tree species.Little LorikeetPsitteuteles pusillusAlthough first exported to Europe in 1877, the little lorikeet is only very rarely seen outside Australia.Banded StiltCladorhynchus leucocephalusAdult has prominent copper-colored belly-band, lacking in juvenile.Spotted BowerbirdChlamydera maculataDecorates its bower with bones, shells, and green vegetation, and paints the walls with chewed plant matter.Little ShrikethrushColluricincla megarhynchaMajor geographical variation, ranging from mostly rich rufous birds in southern New Guinea to birds that are gray on the back and buffy below in the Australian portion of the range, to various shades of brown across the rest of New Guinea, and a pale bill on Waigeo.Australian PratincoleGlareola isabellaGreeting call — gently trilled pree or short phrase pree-pree-pippip-pip which is used during courtship display and when flying to mate.Double-eyed Fig-ParrotCyclopsitta diophthalmaTiny rainforest-dwelling parrot.Western WattlebirdAnthochaera lunulataOften found near flowering Banksia, where it is typically very active and vocal, with rough, loud, squawking calls.Beach Thick-kneeEsacus magnirostrisUnlikely to be encountered anywhere except coastal areas, particularly beaches, reefs, and estuaries; very unusual even a few hundred meters inland from these habitats.Tawny-crowned HoneyeaterGliciphila melanopsIt has become locally extinct in the urban Sydney area since 1971.Silver-crowned FriarbirdPhilemon argenticepsThe silvery crown that gives this friarbird its name can catch the light conspicuously as it moves through flowering canopy.Western SpinebillAcanthorhynchus superciliosusWith their long curved bills, western spinebills are the only honeyeaters able to gain nectar out of the tube-like flowers.Pied HeronEgretta picataA small, dark heron that darts actively through mangroves and muddy edges, often flicking its short tail.Large-billed GerygoneGerygone magnirostrisSmall bird with thin bill that is more substantial than most other gerygones’.Siberian Sand-PloverAnarhynchus mongolusMedium-sized plover with a pale throat, brown back, and white belly.Square-tailed KiteLophoictinia isuraUncommon, inconspicuous raptor with a fairly small bill.White-backed SwallowCheramoeca leucosternaWhite-backed swallows are endemic to Australia and have a wide population distribution on the continent.White-chinned PetrelProcellaria aequinoctialisCommon, rather large dark petrel of the Southern Ocean; regular migrant north into Humboldt Current.Baillon's CrakeZapornia pusillaBaillon's crakes are very secretive in the breeding season, and are then mostly heard rather than seen.Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetusThe offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.Satin FlycatcherMyiagra cyanoleucaMales dark bluish black above, white below, with a dark bib with concave lower edge (curves downward at edges).Brush BronzewingPhaps elegansInhabits dense vegetation, usually where a thick layer of bushes or scrub is present. This species is usually found alone or in pairs, and is often seen drinking at dawn or dusk.Red KnotCalidris canutusCombination of shape, overall color, and bill size usually distinctive.Australasian BitternBotaurus poiciloptilusIts streaky, beige, mottled plumage allows it to camouflage itself among the reeds and rushes of its habitat to avoid predators and hunt for prey, undetected.Black-chinned HoneyeaterMelithreptus gularisMedium-sized honeyeater with a black hood and tiny black mark on chin.Gilbert's HoneyeaterMelithreptus chloropsisSmall honeyeater of eucalypt forests of southwestern Australia.Greater Sand-PloverAnarhynchus leschenaultiiBill largest in the species; summer plumage with a moderate orange breast band.Fairy GerygoneGerygone palpebrosaA taxon known commonly as the fairy warbler, Gerygone flavida was described from the Herbert River in Queensland and initially treated as a separate species.Gray WhistlerPachycephala simplexTrim songbird with pointed bill, grayish above, pale below.Red-winged FairywrenMalurus elegansA variety of vocalisations and visual displays have been recorded for communication and courtship in this species.Gray-headed RobinHeteromyias cinereifronsBoth sexes olive brown above, with gray crown and breast, stark white throat, and white wing patch, prominent in flight.Southern Scrub-RobinDrymodes brunneopygiaLong-legged songbird found in semi-arid parts of southern Australia.Southern EmuwrenStipiturus malachurusCommonly known as the Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-wren (MLSREW), it is an endangered species under both the EPBC Act (Cwth) and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (SA).Black FalconFalco subnigerThe black falcon ( Falco subniger ) is a medium-large falcon that is endemic to Australia .Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaGregarious medium-sized wader with a long, slightly uptilted bill.Painted ButtonquailTurnix variusThe painted buttonquail became established on Rottnest Island around 2002.Red-browed TreecreeperClimacteris erythropsBelly strongly streaked white.Varied LorikeetPsitteuteles versicolorSmall green lorikeet with yellow streaking.Long-tailed FinchPoephila acuticaudaA small brownish bird with gray head, black throat, narrow black lores, very long black tail, and either a red bill (Northern Territory) or pale yellow bill (Western Australia).Yellow-tinted HoneyeaterPtilotula flavescensSmall honeyeater with pale yellow throat and face, as well as a distinct black neck patch.Muscovy DuckCairina moschataLarge, hefty duck that has wild and domestic types.Southern Giant-PetrelMacronectes giganteusGiant-Petrels are known as vultures of the Southern Ocean and can scavenge with gulls at sewage outflows or with albatrosses at fishing boats; often follows ships.Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensisJuvenile lesser crested terns resemble same-age Sandwich terns, but with a yellow-orange bill, and paler overall, with only faint dark crescents on the mantle feathers.Tasmanian ThornbillAcanthiza ewingiiEndemic to Tasmania and the only thornbill on the island, found in a wide range of forest and scrub habitats.Australian Fairy TernSternula nereisThey have a monogamous mating system , forming breeding pairs in which they mate, nest, and care for offspring.Varied HoneyeaterGavicalis versicolorBlack bill, yellow throat, and black patches over the eye.Gray-headed HoneyeaterPtilotula keartlandiOther vocalisations include a loud, single kwoyt and chee-toyt, which is possibly only emitted during breeding.Common TernSterna hirundoUp to three eggs may be laid, their dull colours and blotchy patterns providing camouflage on the open beach.Superb Fruit-DovePtilinopus superbusOne of Australia's most colourful pigeons, the male's vivid purple crown and orange belly make it unmistakable in the rainforest canopy.Little WoodswallowArtamus minorChunky bird with broad, triangular wings and short, decurved bill.Paradise RiflebirdPtiloris paradiseusThese specialized feathers are found adjacent to brightly colored patches, suggesting that they help create optical illusions during courtship displays by exaggerating the bright colors they are juxtaposed to.Common Diving-PetrelPelecanoides urinatrixVery small diving seabird, widespread in cold waters of the Southern Ocean; rarely seen from mainland.Sahul SunbirdCinnyris frenatusBoth sexes have a plain olive back, a yellow belly, and white tail edges that are flared out in flight.Black-naped TernSterna sumatranaAdults appear snow-white except for a thin black nape stripe that extends from the eye (often not very visible from a distance), black outer edge to outermost primary, and thin, long black bill.Terek SandpiperXenus cinereusAmong the Scolopacidae , Xenus is part of the shank - tattler - phalarope clade and less closely related to the calidrid sandpipers.Superb ParrotPolytelis swainsoniiLarge, elegant green parrot with long pointed tail, found in inland New South Wales region.Gilbert's WhistlerPachycephala inornataFemale grayish, paler under the tail (as opposed to yellow in Golden Whistler), with much shorter bill than Gray Shrikethrush.Olive WhistlerPachycephala olivaceaAn uncommon species, it is considered of least concern on the global IUCN Red List , but vulnerable in New South Wales due to habitat fragmentation and feral cats and foxes.Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaMedium-sized brownish wader with a white belly, varied pale spotting and spangling on back.White-eared MonarchCarterornis leucotisMostly black above and pale gray below, with white wing panels, and multiple white patches on face.Rufous TreecreeperClimacteris rufusDistinctive bird with massive feet, most often seen running up and down the sides of trees in eucalypt forest and shrubland of southwestern Australia to the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia.Bridled HoneyeaterBolemoreus frenatusMedium-sized sooty gray honeyeater.Little ButtonquailTurnix veloxSmall, pale buttonquail with pale eye and thick bill, found in grassland habitats across inland Australia.RedthroatPyrrholaemus brunneusGray-brown above, paler below.Yellow-breasted BoatbillMachaerirhynchus flaviventerAside from that, there are not many other notable differences between the sexes.Red-headed MyzomelaMyzomela erythrocephalaAdult females have small amounts of faint red on the face but lack the red rump.Pied HoneyeaterCerthionyx variegatusMale black with white belly, wing patches, and tail panels; distinctive patch of blue skin beneath eye.White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusNon-breeding and younger birds are white with gray patches and black “earmuffs.” In areas of overlap, juvenile told from Black Tern by dark back contrasting with lighter upperwings and white rump and by black marking above the shoulder.Antarctic PetrelThalassoica antarcticaOn petrels, one of these plates forms the hooked portion of the upper bill.Elegant ParrotNeophema elegansThe elegant parrot was called carteri , bilgir , or koolyederong by Aboriginal peoples.Pacific SwiftApus pacificusThe sexes are identically plumaged, and juveniles differ from the adults only in that the feathers show pale fringes, particularly on the wings .Spinifex PigeonGeophaps plumiferaEndemic to arid Australia, it runs with a distinctive bobbing gait across rocky spinifex-covered ground.Western RosellaPlatycercus icterotisThe damage attributed to the species at introduced fruit and grain crops saw them declared as a pest and permitted by the state to be killed or captured.Black HoneyeaterSugomel nigrumMale has completely black upperparts and black hood that extends down the center of the breast to a rough point.Light-mantled AlbatrossPhoebetria palpebrataPairs form committed pair-bonds which may last for decades, being renewed through complex courtship displays at the breeding site.Black-breasted KiteHamirostra melanosternonUsually only one chick per nest survives to fledge each season.Orange ChatEpthianura aurifronsBrightly colored, terrestrial songbird found in open and arid regions across much of inland Australia.Beautiful FiretailStagonopleura bellaDistribution and habitat The beautiful firetail is endemic to Southeastern Australia.Pink RobinPetroica rodinogasterSmall, plump Australian robin.Strong-billed HoneyeaterMelithreptus validirostrisMedium-sized honeyeater with short, thick bill.Turquoise ParrotNeophema pulchellaBrightly colored small parrot with yellow underbelly, green back, and a blue face and shoulder patch.Shy HeathwrenHylacola cautaSmall bird of open mallee and heathland in southwestern Australia and southern South Australia.Southern FulmarFulmarus glacialoidesBreeds around Antarctica, but regular migrant north to Chile, especially in winter.Pink CockatooCacatua leadbeateriIn flight, pink underwings evident.White-headed PetrelPterodroma lessoniiWhite-headed petrels breed alone or in colonies in burrows dug among tussocks and herbfields on the subantarctic Antipodes and Auckland Islands .Western ThornbillAcanthiza inornataEucalypt forest, woodland, and adjoining shrubland in southwestern Australia.Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatusImmature birds are entirely dark blackish with white spots on wings and a white undertail.Lewin's RailLewinia pectoralisCryptic rail with long, decurved bill.Barking OwlNinox connivensNamed for its distinctive dog-like double bark call, often heard at dusk and through the night.Regent ParrotPolytelis anthopeplusThe bird is found primarily in eucalyptus groves and other wooded areas of subtropical southwestern Australia , as well as in a smaller area of subtropical and temperate southeastern Australia.Carnaby's Black-CockatooZanda latirostrisCarnaby's black cockatoo (Zanda latirostris), also known as the short-billed black cockatoo, is a large black cockatoo endemic to southwest Australia.Russet-tailed ThrushZoothera heineiLarge thrush, adult rich brown marbled with dark marks above, pale with black scaly marks below.Bar-breasted HoneyeaterRamsayornis fasciatusBarring is less obvious in juvenile birds.Cotton Pygmy-GooseNettapus coromandelianusMales have a distinctive glossy dark crown and nape; in flight, the broad white wing panels flash conspicuously.Chirruping WedgebillPsophodes cristatusCommonly found in low shrublands in south-eastern inland Australia, the species is distinguished by its distinctive, chirruping call.Banded HoneyeaterCissomela pectoralisSmall black-and-white honeyeater found in drier woodlands of northern tropical Australia.Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarolaIn breeding season, shows striking black face and belly with bold black-and-white checkering on upperparts; note clean white undertail.Barred CuckooshrikeCoracina lineataMedium-sized slender bird with a short, pointed bill and bold yellow eye.Hutton's ShearwaterPuffinus huttoniA dark brown mottled collar extends down from the neck and fades into the white breast and underparts.Brown BoobySula leucogasterFlocks plunge-dive to take small fish, especially when these are driven near the surface by their predators.Fluttering ShearwaterPuffinus gaviaA brown cap expands over the eye and runs down the back of the neck, blurring into the white chin and breast.Graceful HoneyeaterMeliphaga gracilisOverlaps with the near-identical Cryptic Honeyeater in north-east Queensland; only recognised as separate species in recent decades.SanderlingCalidris albaSmall, sprightly shorebird.Spotted Quail-thrushCinclosoma punctatumHeavily patterned terrestrial bird of eastern Australia.Broad-billed FlycatcherMyiagra ruficollisDescription In northern Australia, the broad-billed flycatcher is commonly found in moist forests and scrub surrounding permanent and seasonal fresh water areas such as billabongs and wet season marshes.Black-eared CuckooChalcites osculansDuring courtship a call of pee-o-wit may be also heard.Roseate TernSterna dougalliiThe offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.Blue PetrelHalobaena caeruleaRather small, attractively patterned petrel of cold subantarctic waters; not seen from mainland.Rufous BristlebirdDasyornis broadbentiUpperparts rich reddish brown, especially wings and crown, underparts gray-brown with speckling.Singing BushlarkMirafra javanicaThe bush lark's wings lack the white trailing edge of the skylark while in flight, its tail is white-sided like the skylark and pipits, but is only half as long.Bower's ShrikethrushColluricincla boweriThe specific name boweri honors Thomas Henry Bowyer-Bower, curator of ornithology at the Western Australian Museum at the time.Buff-breasted Paradise-KingfisherTanysiptera sylviaThe most commonly heard call has been described as an ascending ch-kow, ch-kow, chop chop, chuga, chuga or tcherwill tcherwill repeated 4-5 times.Red-browed PardalotePardalotus rubricatusMousy gray brown above, creamy below, with white-speckled black crown, yellowish brow, red spot above the stubby bill, and pale eye.Gray GoshawkTachyspiza novaehollandiaeThe white morphs of this species and the closely related variable goshawk are the only birds of prey in the world to be entirely white.Pale-vented Bush-henAmaurornis moluccanaVery secretive medium-sized rail that inhabits dense vegetation around wetland habitats in northern and northeastern Australia.Dusky RobinMelanodryas vittataMedium-sized, rather long-tailed Australian robin, both sexes plain brown overall.Wilson's Storm-PetrelOceanites oceanicusSmall and fluttery.Red-eared FiretailStagonopleura oculataRed-eared firetails are usually only glimpsed briefly, if at all, as they move rapidly and discreetly through their habitat.Chestnut Quail-thrushCinclosoma castanotumFemale has white belly and gray chest, male white belly, gray flanks, and black chest and throat.White-throated NightjarEurostopodus mystacalisLarge nightjar of the eastern ranges of Australia, most commonly seen in the late evening when hawking over water or over clearings in forests.Bourke's ParrotNeopsephotus bourkiiIn the wild, Bourke's parakeets display an overall brown colouration with a pink abdomen, pinkish breast and a blue rump.Masked FinchPoephila personataA small brownish bird with a bright yellow bill, black face, black flanks, and a distinctive black tail and white rump.Eastern BristlebirdDasyornis brachypterusIn late 2021, it was estimated that there were only about 2,500 of the species left in the wild, existing in isolated populations in eastern New South Wales and southern Queensland .Lord Howe RailGallirallus sylvestrisAt the same time, feral pigs – deliberately introduced as an additional food source – likely competed with woodhens for food, and possibly preyed upon the birds or their eggs.RockwarblerOrigma solitariaTail held downward (not cocked like Pilotbird).Southern CassowaryCasuarius casuariusOne of Australia's heaviest land birds, with a dagger-like claw on each foot that can be used in defence.Spotted NightjarEurostopodus argusWell camouflaged against leaf litter by day; its large eyes and wide gape help it hunt moths and beetles at night.Red-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon rubricaudaThe red-tailed tropicbird eats fish—mainly flying fish and squid—after catching them by plunge-diving into the ocean.PilotbirdPycnoptilus floccosusSmall, chunky bird with a cocked tail, found in wet forested areas and heathland in eastern Victoria and southeastern New South Wales.Antipodean AlbatrossDiomedea antipodensisAmong the major experts, BirdLife International has split this species, Jim Clements has not yet, and the SACC has a proposal on the table to split it.Albert's LyrebirdMenura albertiThe total population of Albert's lyrebirds was estimated at only 3,500 breeding birds in 2000, with one of the smallest distributional ranges of any bird on the continent.Ground ParrotPezoporus wallicusPrimarily green, with yellow-green underparts and extensive black barring throughout.Northern Giant-PetrelMacronectes halliProcellariform birds have between seven and nine distinct horny plates for their bill, and in petrels one of these plates forms the hooked portion of their upper bill called the maxillary unguis.Brown NoddyAnous stolidusDark-bodied tern of tropical offshore waters, rarely seen from mainland.Papuan FrogmouthPodargus papuensisThis species was found to average 414 g (14.6 oz) in males and 314 g (11.1 oz) in females, with a total range of 290 to 570 g (10 to 20 oz). The Papuan frogmouth has a bulbous bill, red eye, cream eyebrow, long tail and dark wings. The male of the species is slightly larger, darker and marbled in appearance. The female is more rufous in appearance.Great-winged PetrelPterodroma macropteraThe great-winged petrel ( Pterodroma macroptera ) is a petrel living and breeding in the world's Southern Ocean .Painted HoneyeaterGrantiella pictaMedium-sized, distinctive honeyeater of open woodland and shrubland in inland eastern Australia, where usually associated with mistletoe.Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusIts members are typically found in open, lightly wooded, habitats, although several species, notably the house sparrow ( P. domesticus ) have adapted to human habitations.Gray-fronted HoneyeaterPtilotula plumulaCalls include rattling, rolling squeaks and a repeated loud piping.Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisThe distinctive head sports a strange bone-like casque and naked warty facial skin, which is colored white, blue, or red depending on geographic location.Providence PetrelPterodroma solandriMain in causes of death are predation by the endangered Lord Howe rail and flooding of burrows.Tooth-billed BowerbirdScenopoeetes dentirostrisCalls include wide range of whistles, hisses, and squeaks; known to mimic other birds.Indian Yellow-nosed AlbatrossThalassarche carteriA 2004 population estimate established that around a total of 65,000 adult birds are alive.Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusWhile it originated in the Indian subcontinent, it has since been introduced to many other parts of the world.Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaMedium-sized, dark brown shearwater with silvery flashes on underwings.Lovely FairywrenMalurus amabilisThis species is typically found on the edges of rainforests, mangroves, and dense vegetation in coastal far northern Queensland, where it is the onlySquatter PigeonGeophaps scriptaIt occurs in the drier parts of eastern Queensland, where it is much rarer in the south than the north. This species is usually observed on the ground, typically on the side of a dirt road.Green-backed GerygoneGerygone chloronotaDistinguished by its olive-green back and bright white throat; found in mangroves and coastal forests of northern Australia.Blue-breasted FairywrenMalurus pulcherrimusSmall bird with a very long blue-gray tail held cocked, found from southwestern Western Australia to the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia, where it prefers coastal heath and drier woodland areas.Gray-faced PetrelPterodroma gouldiOne of the largest threats to grey-faced petrels is at breeding grounds, where they are predated on by introduced mammals such as Norway rats .Painted FiretailEmblema pictumThis species, Emblema pictum, is currently the only one allied to the genus.White-browed RobinPoecilodryas superciliosaUsually carries tail cocked upright.MalleefowlLeipoa ocellataThe chicks are entirely independent at hatching, digging their way out of the mound and fending for themselves without any parental care.White-faced Storm-PetrelPelagodroma marinaIts distinctive grey-brown dorsal side plumage makes it one of the easier petrels to identify at sea from a distance.Western Yellow RobinEopsaltria griseogularisVery small songbird found in forests of southwestern Australia as well as the Eyrean Peninsula of South Australia.Western BowerbirdChlamydera guttataA dark, brownish, mottled, strongly marked bowerbird with warm brown tones overall and a small pink crest on the nape.Ground CuckooshrikeCoracina maximaThe white-bellied cuckoo-shrike ( Coracina papuensis ) is uncommon and only occurring in the northern parts of the Northern Territory, as well as most of Queensland, Victoria and eastern New South Wales.Chiming WedgebillPsophodes occidentalisEven though the exact size of the population isn't known, it's large enough to not worry about extinction.Pied MonarchArses kaupiWhite underparts except for black breast band, with black mask, tail, and wings, blue eyering, and back back with white band.Sooty OwlTyto tenebricosaSpends its days roosting in dense tree canopy or caves, emerging at night to hunt possums and gliders with near-silent flight.Antarctic PrionPachyptila desolataRegular visitor to New Zealand and Southern Australia during the austral winter. Very similar to other prion species, especially Salvin’s prion, with the Antarctic prion having a slightly brighter blue bill with straighter sides and a larger nail at the tip.Mangrove RobinMelanodryas pulverulentaSmall round songbird of dense mangrove areas, particularly the large stilt-rooted mangroves.Purple-gaped HoneyeaterLichenostomus cratitiusA fine purple line between the throat and ear coverts gives this understated mallee honeyeater its name.ChowchillaOrthonyx spaldingiiBuilds a bulky, dome-shaped stick-nest with a clutch of one, possibly sometimes two, white eggs.Northern RosellaPlatycercus venustusThe only rosella found in Northern Territory and northwestern Western Australia, where it inhabits open forests and woodlands, often near creeks and streams. Primarily pale yellow and black above, with blue wings and tail and red under the tail. Usually observed in pairs or small groups, generally difficult to find.Mountain ThornbillAcanthiza katherinaForages among leaves of forest canopy.Mangrove FantailRhipidura phasianaSmall pale gray flycatcher, exclusively coastal and usually observed in or very close to mangroves.Little KingfisherCeyx pusillusThis is one of the smallest kingfishers in the world; only the African dwarf kingfisher is smaller.Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusThe typical call of these birds is a nasal mewing sound, repeated a few times in display.Arafura FantailRhipidura dryasSmall songbird with long, pale-tipped tail, slim bill.Black NoddyAnous minutusSmaller and darker than Brown Noddy with a shorter tail, thinner bill, and more contrasting white cap.Chestnut-rumped HeathwrenHylacola pyrrhopygiaPale brown above, whitish below, with distinct pale supercilium, red-brown rump, small white patch at the base of primaries, fine dark chest streaking, and long, cocked tail.Large-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus macrurusAn intricately patterned nocturnal bird, usually found roosting on the ground or a low branch in open forest, secondary growth, and cultivated areas.Regent HoneyeaterAnthochaera phrygiaMedium-sized honeyeater found in dry forests of northeastern Victoria and seasonally in small numbers up the eastern coast to around Brisbane.Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosBrown-toned overall with yellowish legs.Rainbow PittaPitta irisPrimarily green upperparts, with underparts mostly black head and underparts.Rufous FieldwrenCalamanthus campestrisCurrent in print field guides highlight this division with the CSIRO The Australian Bird Guide (first printed 2018 and revised edition) only recognises the striated fieldwren and the rufous fieldwren.Rock ParrotNeophema petrophilaUnlike other grass parrots, it nests in burrows or rocky crevices mostly on offshore islands such as Rottnest Island .Buller's AlbatrossThalassarche bulleriThe nest is mound of soil, grass and roots and is set into depressions in the breeding area.Striated GrasswrenAmytornis striatusThe cooperative breeding seen in other Maluridae has not been recorded in the wild in striated grasswrens.Sarus CraneAntigone antigoneLike other cranes, they form long-lasting pair bonds and maintain territories within which they perform territorial and courtship displays that include loud trumpeting, leaps, and dance-like movements.SpinifexbirdPoodytes carteriA flat-crowned, plain brownish bird with a long tail found in arid spinifex/tussock grassland in inland Australia.Gouldian FinchChloebia gouldiaeThese tubercles are commonly (and incorrectly) described as phosphorescent in spite of much scientific evidence to the contrary.Atherton ScrubwrenSericornis keriBrownish above, grayish yellow below, with long pointed bill, long pinkish legs, and off-white eyering.White-browed TreecreeperClimacteris affinisThe white-browed treecreeper ( Climacteris affinis ) is one of 7 species of Australo-Papuan endemic treecreepers (Family: Climacteridae).Lesser FrigatebirdFregata arielThe smallest of the frigatebirds, but note that the female is larger than the male.Graylag GooseAnser anserThe ancestor of most domestic geese, it was one of the first birds domesticated by humans over 3,000 years ago.White-fronted TernSterna striataHas black cap and long pointed black bill which are separated by a white band.Flock BronzewingPhaps histrionicaA desert specialist that gathers in enormous flocks, sometimes in the thousands, to drink at waterholes at dawn and dusk.Partridge PigeonGeophaps smithiiDistinctive yellow or red facial skin makes this pigeon unmistakable; two colour forms exist in separate parts of northern Australia.Black-tailed TreecreeperClimacteris melanurusDistinctive very dark bird with large feet, most often seen running up and down the sides of trees in dry forest, savanna, and moist lowland forest of northern Australia, where it is the only treecreeper species.Great-billed HeronArdea sumatranaTypically restricted to the coast, where it inhabits mangroves, lagoons, and offshore islands, but infrequently seen inland.Brown SkuaStercorarius antarcticusSeveral subspecies vary in plumage from largely dark to mottled pale brown.Silver-backed ButcherbirdCracticus argenteusMedium-sized ambush-hunter with a long gray bill with a dark, hooked tip.Magnificent RiflebirdPtiloris magnificusMales are polygamous and perform solitary courtship displays on a 'dancing perch'.Cinnamon Quail-thrushCinclosoma cinnamomeumThe cinnamon quail-thrush ( Cinclosoma cinnamomeum ) is a small to medium-sized species of bird that is endemic to Australia .Australian Masked-OwlTyto novaehollandiaeRoosts in caves and tree hollows by day; its heart-shaped facial disc channels sound to asymmetrical ears for pinpoint hunting.Forty-spotted PardalotePardalotus quadragintusPrimarily greenish-gray.Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusBulky gull-like seabird; the largest and most barrel chested of the three jaegers.Hall's BabblerPomatostomus halliJuveniles are distinguishable from adults for only a short time after fledging, when they have a shorter all-black and less curved bill and conspicuous yellow rictal flange and palate.Wandering TattlerTringa incanaMedium-sized, gray shorebird with short yellow legs and straight bill.Gray FalconFalco hypoleucosThe grey falcon is one of the world's rarest falcons, and possibly the rarest of the Australian falcons, and may also have been historically uncommon.Australian Painted-SnipeRostratula australisBright white underparts, dark brown head and neck, and streaked olive upperparts, with distinctive curved white line extending from breast through the back.Inland DotterelPeltohyas australisA cryptic, nocturnal plover of the arid interior, so well camouflaged against red soil that it seems to vanish when it crouches.White-breasted RobinEopsaltria georgianaSmall plump songbird found in heavy vegetation along creeks in southwestern Australia.Black-eared CatbirdAiluroedus melanotisThey are named after their cat-like wails and black ear spot.Black-tailed WhistlerPachycephala melanuraChunky, rounded songbird with heavy thick bill.Tawny-breasted HoneyeaterXanthotis flaviventerBlack bill fairly long and decurved.White-breasted WhistlerPachycephala lanioidesWhite throat recalls similar Rufous Whistler.Black BitternBotaurus flavicollisExpert at remaining motionless among reeds, with its bill pointed skyward to blend with surrounding vegetation.Palm CockatooProbosciger aterrimusMales fashion sticks into drumsticks and beat them against hollow trees during courtship displays.Great FrigatebirdFregata minorThe long, forked tail may appear pointed when folded.Black-backed BitternBotaurus dubiusFormerly lumped with the little bittern, it is one of the smallest herons in the world.Buff-sided RobinPoecilodryas cerviniventrisSmall to medium-sized birds are the third most commonly consumed food group for feral cats in Australia.Tasmanian BoobookNinox leucopsisSmall brownish owl with dark ‘glasses’ surrounding eyes.ScrubtitAcanthornis magnaSmall, compact bird with decurved bill found in wet Tasmanian forests.Royal PenguinEudyptes schlegeliThe largest crested penguin, with a diagnostic whitish face.Hooded ParrotPsephotellus dissimilisA slender and long-tailed parrot restricted to a relatively small range in the Northern Territory, where it inhabits open woodlands.Sandstone ShrikethrushColluricincla woodwardiLarge terrestrial bird with rather long bill, long tail, and strong legs.Mallee EmuwrenStipiturus malleeThe mallee emu-wren moults yearly after breeding, and birds have only the one plumage.Western CorellaCacatua pastinatorCall a worried-sounding, wavering cry, slightly lower in pitch than Little Corella’s and less clipped than Long-billed Corella’s.Baudin's Black-CockatooZanda baudiniiThe Baudin's black cockatoo is one of two species of white-tailed black cockatoo endemic to south-western Australia which were only separated taxonomically in 1948.Rufous OwlNinox rufaFound across northern tropical Australia and New Guinea.Song ThrushTurdus philomelosAppreciably smaller, darker overall, and more compact than Mistle Thrush.Mottled PetrelPterodroma inexpectataChicks have been reintroduced to Maungaharuru, hills 24 km from the sea, in Hawke's Bay .Masked BoobySula dactylatraPotential and mated pairs engage in courtship and greeting displays.Golden BowerbirdPrionodura newtonianaConstructs elaborate two-walled stick bowers decorated with flowers, fruit, lichen, and moss to attract a mate.Oriental CuckooCuculus optatusDark bands on the breast average broader in Oriental.FernwrenOreoscopus gutturalisSmall scrubwren-like bird found in wet rainforests at higher elevations in the Atherton Tablelands of far northern Queensland.Gray-backed Storm-PetrelGarrodia nereisA very small seabird of southern oceans.Black-backed ButcherbirdCracticus mentalisMedium-sized black-and-white predator with a white chin.Tahiti PetrelPseudobulweria rostrataThreats include introduced rats, feral cats, pigs, dogs, nickel mining, and light pollution.Southern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea epomophoraAll ages can be separated from the Wandering Albatross complex (including Snowy, Tristan, Antipodean, and Amsterdam Albatrosses) at close range by diagnostic narrow black “lips” on cutting edge of bill.Yellow-billed KingfisherSyma torotoroSmall green kingfisher with orange head and bright yellow bill, found in wet rainforest on Cape York Peninsula and in New Guinea.Slaty-backed ThornbillAcanthiza robustirostrisSmall bird with thin pointed bill, uncommon in mulga woodland of arid inland temperate Australia.Little CurlewNumenius minutusSmallest of the Asian curlews, just larger than a snipe.Dusky GerygoneGerygone tenebrosaSmall bird with thin bill (longer than on most other gerygones), found only in dense mangroves along the northwestern Australian coast.Pictorella MuniaHeteromunia pectoralisThe pictorella mannikin, pictorella munia, or pictorella finch (Heteromunia pectoralis) is small brown and grey finch with a grey bill and distinctive scaly white breast plate which is endemic to northern Australia.Little ShearwaterPuffinus assimilisDespite the generic name, it is unrelated to the puffins , which are auks , the only similarity being that they are both burrow-nesting seabirds.Salvin's PrionPachyptila salviniAlthough numbers have declined on some islands where rats and feral cats have been introduced , the world population is estimated at 12 million birds.Slender-billed PrionPachyptila belcheriSlender-billed Prion has a very pale face, prominent white eyebrow, and very narrow black tip to the upper tail.Purple-crowned FairywrenMalurus coronatusLike other fairywrens, the purple-crowned fairywren is socially monogamous.Salvin's AlbatrossThalassarche salviniAdult has a dirty pale yellowish bill with duskier sides and a black spot near tip.Red-necked CrakeRallina tricolorSecretive crake of rainforest habitats where there is thick cover alongside a stream or pool.Kerguelen PetrelAphrodroma brevirostrisSmall- and stout-bodied overall, but with a large, “puffy”-looking head.Soft-plumaged PetrelPterodroma mollisAttractive petrel with a black mask, largely gray above and white below, with a diagnostic dark breast band.Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellusThe male performs an aerial display during courtship.Orange-bellied ParrotNeophema chrysogasterTaken as a whole, the captive population, an example of ex situ conservation , is termed an " insurance population " against extinction.Plains-wandererPedionomus torquatusThey have excellent camouflage and will first hide at any disturbance.Tropical ScrubwrenSericornis beccariiSmall bird of northern Cape York rainforests.Long-toed StintCalidris subminutaTiny and slender “peep” of inland and coastal wetlands, where it is often found in well-vegetated areas such as fields and flooded meadows.Blue-breasted QuailSynoicus chinensisOne of the smallest quail species in the world, weighing as little as 30 grams.Plum-headed FinchEmblema modestumSmall brown bird with finely barred front.Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensisAttractive ground-dwelling bird.Spotted Whistling-DuckDendrocygna guttataOne of the few duck species where both sexes look alike, with distinctive white spots across the neck and flanks.Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrushCinclosoma castaneothoraxThe nests are frequented by related mature and juvenile individuals; however, only the mature individuals feed the young.White-quilled Rock-PigeonPetrophassa albipennisIn flight shows white wing panels, and flies with a loud clattering of wings.Noisy Scrub-birdAtrichornis clamosusIncredibly elusive ground bird, restricted to a tiny range in southern Western Australia, where it inhabits dense forests with heavy understory and abundant leaf litter.Yellow ChatEpthianura croceaThe yellow chat ( Epthianura crocea ) is a small passerine bird endemic to Australia.Red-cheeked ParrotGeoffroyus geoffroyiDuring the breeding season the birds are usually found in pairs but there is little else known of their courtship behavior in the wild.Frill-necked MonarchArses lorealisCompletely white underparts, with black mask, tail, and wings, blue eyering, and back back with white band.Banded WhitefaceAphelocephala nigricinctaForages on the ground in small flocks; also perches on fence lines and on the top of small bushes.White-faced RobinEopsaltria leucopsTypically seen singly or in pairs; perches on low branches and on the side of tree trunks before flying down to the ground to capture prey.Star FinchEmblema ruficaudaIts red face, yellow belly, and densely spotted breast make adult birds distinctive within large finch flocks.Black-eared MinerManorina melanotisRare, medium-sized honeyeater found only in a few areas with dense intact mallee woodland (such as Gluepot Reserve).Gray PetrelProcellaria cinereaSilvery gray-brown above, with a white belly and pale throat.Red JunglefowlGallus gallusThis “original chicken” is smaller than its domestic descendants, and is widespread throughout South and Southeast Asia; can also be found as an introduced species in many regions around the world (especially prevalent on many Pacific Islands, including Hawaii).Chestnut-breasted CuckooCacomantis castaneiventrisTypically inhabits dense rainforest habitats.Black-throated FinchPoephila cinctaThe decline of this species in the Northern Territory is linked to changes in fire regime and grazing pressure.Kermadec PetrelPterodroma neglectaPlumage is highly variable (white-bodied and white-headed, dark-headed, or wholly dark), but all types have a white flash on the wingtip, including diagnostic white feather shafts on upperwing, which enhance this petrel’s resemblance to jaegers and skuas.Red-chested ButtonquailTurnix pyrrhothoraxThe female is polyandrous , initiating courtship among several males and expelling rival females from her territory.Northern Royal AlbatrossDiomedea sanfordiThey perform a very extensive mutual or group display, sometimes in the air or on the water.Chestnut RailGallirallus castaneoventrisSecretive, very large rail (approaching Australasian Swamphen in size), only likely to be seen in and near mangroves, foraging in the mud along tidal creeks and estuaries in northern Australia.Red-backed ButtonquailTurnix maculosusTiny secretive button-quail.Dusky GrasswrenAmytornis purnelliSmall rusty-brown bird with finely streaked plumage and long cocked tail, found in rocky areas and gorges around spinifex clumps of central Australia, including Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.Trumpet ManucodePhonygammus keraudreniiGlossy black large songbird with a red eye, long rounded tail, and small shaggy plumes on back of neck.Marbled FrogmouthPodargus ocellatusThe Conondale ranges in Queensland's Sunshine Coast is considered a stronghold for the plumed frogmouth; notable populations are within the Conondale National Park.Slender-billed ThornbillAcanthiza iredaleiSmall bird with thin pointed bill, found in coastal marshes, heath, and around salt lakes from southern Western Australia to southern South Australia.Western BristlebirdDasyornis longirostrisIts powerful, ringing song carries far across coastal heath even though the bird usually remains hidden in dense cover.Red-lored WhistlerPachycephala rufogularisThis red-lored whistler is shy, secretive and inconspicuous, with its cryptic behaviour making it difficult to see.Rufous-crowned EmuwrenStipiturus ruficepsDescription The rufous-crowned emu-wren is the smallest and most brightly coloured of the three emu-wren species.South Polar SkuaStercorarius maccormickiPlumage overall rather plain, dark gray-brown, suggesting a muscular immature gull but with big white wing flashes, like the smaller, more lightly built jaegers.Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaRarely seen away from breeding grounds on coastal islands or small ponds in the Arctic tundra.White-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon lepturusThe long white tail streamers are visible from a great distance.White-streaked HoneyeaterTrichodere cockerelliBlack above, paler with dark streaking below, with small grayish cheek patch, yellow spot behind the eye, messy white throat feathers, and large yellow wing panels.Rufous Scrub-birdAtrichornis rufescensIncredibly elusive bird of high-elevation rainforest, confined to a tiny range in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, where it skulks under ground cover in leaf litter.Chestnut-quilled Rock-PigeonPetrophassa rufipennisRestricted to the sandstone escarpments of Arnhem Land, this pigeon roosts on sheer cliff faces where it is safe from predators.Western Shrike-titFalcunculus leucogasterUses its strong stubby bill to strip bark and prise open twigs in search of insects in western and central Australia.RuffCalidris pugnaxPredators of wader chicks and eggs include mammals such as foxes , feral cats and stoats , and birds such as large gulls , crows and skuas .Blue-faced ParrotfinchErythrura trichroaAmong the birds found in Queensland , there was no significant difference in plumage , bill shapes, or genetic composition.GibberbirdAshbyia lovensisUnlike other chats, the gibberbird only has slight sexual dimorphisms between the male and female.Black-bellied Storm-PetrelFregetta tropicaStriking small seabird of cold subantarctic waters; some birds range farther north in winter (mainly May–August).Black-winged PetrelPterodroma nigripennisDistribution The black-winged petrel is a pelagic species native to the East Pacific Ocean, living out at sea and only coming to land in order to breed.Eungella HoneyeaterBolemoreus hindwoodiThis species is found only in a small area of plateau rainforest in the Clarke Range , west of Mackay, in Queensland .Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusSlender gull-like seabird; the smallest of the three jaegers.Western WhipbirdPsophodes nigrogularisTypically very shy and difficult to observe.Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarumOn 7 February 2004, 2.5 million oriental pratincoles were recorded by the Australasian Wader Studies Group on the Eighty Mile Beach in Australia's north-west.Red-footed BoobySula sulaThey perform elaborate greeting rituals, including harsh squawks and the male's display of his blue throat, also including short dances.Black-breasted ButtonquailTurnix melanogasterThe female makes a low-pitched oom call – a sequence of 5–7 notes that last 1.5–2.0 seconds each – which can be repeated 14–21 (or less commonly 1–4) times.Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidisDuring the breeding season males have a zigzagging flight display accompanied by regular "zit" calls that give it its English name.Sooty AlbatrossPhoebetria fuscaA beautiful smoky-brown albatross with bright white eye crescents and an orange line running down the bill that gives this otherwise regal bird a goofy appearance.Oriental PloverAnarhynchus veredusLarge, long-legged, elegantly slender plover of pastures, grasslands, and lakeshore flats.Fawn-breasted BowerbirdChlamydera cerviniventrisMedium-sized bowerbird found in a diverse range of habitats across northern Cape York and New Guinea, usually in tropical moist forest but also in shrubland, parks, and gardens.Copperback Quail-thrushCinclosoma clarumHeavily patterned terrestrial bird of Western Australia and western South Australia.Common RedshankTringa totanusStocky brown wader with bright red legs; compare with slenderer, far more gracile Spotted Redshank in juvenile and non-breeding plumage.Eyrean GrasswrenAmytornis goyderiThis is a cryptically plumaged and uncommon bird endemic to arid regions of Central Australia .Australasian Grass-OwlTyto longimembrisReclusive and rarely seen owl of cane fields, meadows, and other areas with tall grassy cover.Buller's ShearwaterArdenna bulleriIt neither dives out of flight very often, nor in a plunge off the water's surface.White-lined HoneyeaterMeliphaga albilineataCalls include loud, wavering, slurred whistles.Streaked ShearwaterCalonectris leucomelasThe streaked shearwater nests in burrows .Yellow-rumped MuniaLonchura flaviprymnaPale gray head contrasts with dark brown back and wings, underparts pale buff, and rump and tail dark yellowish tone.White-browed CrakePoliolimnas cinereusA delicate-looking inhabitant of densely vegetated wetlands, where it scrambles over floating plants and between the stems of standing ones.Northern Scrub-RobinDrymodes superciliarisVoice includes a variety of clear, thin whistled calls.Mute SwanCygnus olorAdults have a black knob on top of the bill.Green-backed HoneyeaterGlycichaera fallaxCompare Fairy Gerygone (with dark eye, shorter black bill).Fulmar PrionPachyptila crassirostrisBreeds on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, and Heard Island. Relatively sedentary and usually only seen around breeding colonies year-round. Very similar to the more abundant Fairy Prion and generally only distinguishable when in the hand. Fulmar Prion has a heavier bill with a larger hook and slightly darker tip to the underside of the tail.Thick-billed GrasswrenAmytornis modestusUpperparts pale brown, with even paler brown underparts.Black-winged MonarchMonarcha fraterSmall flycatcher of wet forested areas of New Guinea and Cape York.Nordmann's GreenshankTringa guttiferTheir nests are found in three primary locations among these habitats: 1) arboreal nests on larch branches, 2) ground nests at the base of sapling larch trees, and 3) ground nests at the base of mature larch trees .Black-banded Fruit-DovePtilinopus alligatorFound only in the sandstone escarpments of Arnhem Land, its deep booming call echoes through Kakadu's gorges.Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicusA long-tailed game bird introduced from Asia; males are strikingly colourful with iridescent plumage and red facial wattles.Red GoshawkErythrotriorchis radiatusExperts now group the red goshawk with the superficially dissimilar black-breasted buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon and square-tailed kite Lophoictinia isura as one of the Australasian old endemic raptors .Gray GrasswrenAmytornis barbatusThe grey grasswren is a rarely seen elusive bird that was first sighted in 1921 but not taxonomically described until 1968.Asian DowitcherLimnodromus semipalmatusCloser species The confusion species for this bird is not, as might be expected, one of the American dowitchers, which in any case do not overlap in range, because the Asian bird is much larger.Golden-shouldered ParrotPsephotellus chrysopterygiusA small parrot related to the more common hooded parrot ( P. dissimilis ) of the Northern Territory and the extinct paradise parrot of Queensland and New South Wales .Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaThe smallest godwit, overall rather dark.Gray NoddyAnous albivittaWhitish head and underparts contrast with gray back and wings when at rest.African Collared-DoveStreptopelia roseogriseaIt has also been introduced into the Americas where it has now colonised most of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, and is still spreading rapidly.Letter-winged KiteElanus scriptusThis species is also the only nocturnal species within the order Accipitriformes despite few differences found in its visual anatomy to other closely related kites.Papuan PittaErythropitta macklotiiA distinctive plump, short-tailed, long-legged bird with a bold red belly.Chestnut-backed ButtonquailTurnix castanotusIts existence in Queensland was only confirmed in 2020.Western GrasswrenAmytornis textilisIndividuals from both populations were reintroduced to Dirk Hartog Island in 2022.Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusThe nest is a grass-lined depression at the top of a small mound.Yellow-legged FlyrobinKempiella griseocepsSmall Australian robin of rainforests on Cape York Peninsula.Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriOne of the few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in disturbed habitats, it has withstood the onslaught of urbanisation and deforestation .Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaIt builds a cup nest from mud pellets in barns or similar structures and feeds on insects caught in flight.Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisOnly the pectoral sandpiper is a more common American shorebird visitor to Europe .Cook's PetrelPterodroma cookiiOn Great Barrier Island, introduced pigs, dogs, rats and cats attack nests and burrows, as do native weka (a flightless rail), preying on eggs and nestlings and reducing the population from an estimated 20,000 to 100 .Antarctic TernSterna vittataWhen a prey is located, the tern has two strategies: most of the time it will directly plunge dive and become completely submerged but if the water is too rough it will only submerge its bill whilst in flight.Western FieldwrenCalamanthus montanellusSmall bird of open arid shrubland and grasslands in southwestern Western Australia.Parkinson's PetrelProcellaria parkinsoniBreeds only on Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands in New Zealand. Migrates to coastal South America during nonbreeding period. Similar to White-chinned Petrel and Westland Petrel, but is smaller, with a darker-tipped, less robust bill; lacks the small white patch under the chin; and is found in northern New Zealand waters as opposed to the Cook Strait and the South Island.Chinstrap PenguinPygoscelis antarcticusThe chinstrap penguin's black back and white underside provide camouflage in the form of countershading when viewed from above or below, helping to avoid detection by its predators.Chestnut-breasted WhitefaceAphelocephala pectoralisIt is endemic to Australia . Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.White-necked PetrelPterodroma cervicalisIt formerly bred on Raoul Island , but has now been extirpated from this locality due to predation by rats and cats.Gray HoneyeaterConopophila whiteiCompare Western Gerygone, which has thinner bill and slight eyebrow.Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataHuge, spoon-shaped bill visible at a distance and in flight.Bulwer's PetrelBulweria bulweriiNests are built in burrows, vegetation, cliff caves/crevices, and under man-made debris and onshore driftwood.Western Quail-thrushCinclosoma marginatumFemale has buff chin, white belly, and pale gray chest, male a white moustache, black throat patch, rich red-brown chest fading into the flanks, and white-edged black belt above a white belly.White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisSlightly larger than other small sandpipers; noticeably elongated body and long wingtips.Nullarbor Quail-thrushCinclosoma alisteriDuring the breeding season a pair will defend a territory, but at other times they are found in groups of around individuals.Opalton GrasswrenAmytornis rowleyiThis species is found in habitat with large spinifex clumps, where it scurries around between clumps.Scarlet-chested ParrotNeophema splendidaTrue estimates of rarity or abundance are difficult to determine; although the bird is brightly coloured, it is secretive and easily overlooked.Westland PetrelProcellaria westlandicaRather large, wholly dark petrel.Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusLike the English name, this refers to its only partially webbed feet.White-bellied Storm-PetrelFregetta grallariaSources describe the white-bellied storm petrel as both nonmigratory and fully migrant reflecting perhaps how little is known or understood of this elusive sea bird.South Island OystercatcherHaematopus finschiShows a distinctive red eye, long thick reddish bill, and thick pale-pink feet and legs.Gentoo PenguinPygoscelis papuaAttractive, medium-sized penguin that is rarely seen away from well-known colony sites.Carpentarian GrasswrenAmytornis dorotheaeSmall, long-tailed, brown-and-black-streaked bird with white throat, rusty flanks, and black moustache.Ashy-bellied White-eyeZosterops citrinellaSmall songbird with bright yellowish upperparts and white “goggles.” Most subspecies have gray underparts; subspecies “unicus” of Sumbawa and Flores has a yellow belly.Little StintCalidris minutaVery rare vagrant in North America.Short-tailed GrasswrenAmytornis merrotsyiSmall, pale, streaked bird with darker face and long cocked tail (albeit a bit shorter than in other grasswrens), found in hilly areas and ridgelines with spinifex clumps in the Flinders and Gawler ranges in South Australia.Swinhoe's SnipeGallinago megalaExtremely difficult to distinguish from other species of snipe, especially Pin-tailed Snipe, and careful study and photography usually required to confirm identification.Common OstrichStruthio camelusMature males have black-and-white plumage, with pinkish skin, flushed in breeding plumage.Lesser NoddyAnous tenuirostrisA small dark tern which appears grayish-black and extremely slender.Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoAmong the largest birds in North America.American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaThe bird has one of the longest known migratory routes of over 40,000 km (25,000 mi).Naretha BluebonnetNorthiella narethaeBrown parrot with yellow belly, red undertail, and blue face, found in dry woodland habitats of the extreme southeastern part of Western Australia, on the western fringe of the Nullarbor Plain.Kimberley HoneyeaterMeliphaga fordianaMedium-sized honeyeater found in sandstone escarpment and gorge country of the western Kimberley region.Pilbara GrasswrenAmytornis whiteiSmall, long-tailed bird with black mustache and rufous-brown upperparts, found only in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, where it scampers between large spinifex clumps in dry open habitats.Northern Shrike-titFalcunculus whiteiMale has black chin, female dark greenish.Kalkadoon GrasswrenAmytornis ballaraeThe Kalkadoon grasswren has a restricted range, being endemic to spinifex covered hills in the Selwyn Range system of north-west Queensland .Collared Imperial-PigeonDucula mulleriiThe large, nomadic pigeon of mangroves and riverine forests.Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanMedium-sized gull with medium-gray upperparts.Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricillaSlender, medium-sized gull with long wings.Alexandrine ParakeetPsittacula eupatriaFemale lacks male’s pink-and-black ring around the neck.Princess ParrotPolytelis alexandraeMale has glorious blue and lilac crown, pink throat, baby-blue lower belly, lime-green wing coverts, and bright red bill; female similar but colors less intense and extensive.Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaThey are commonly found both in low coastal plains and in cold uplands with sparse vegetation, in open habitats with little or no plant cover, where they nest on the ground.Eastern Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes filholiEastern Rockhopper breeds on various subantarctic islands around New Zealand and in the southern Indian Ocean. Most often seen at breeding colonies, but singles or small groups can sometimes be found in the open ocean far from land. Compare with Erect-crested Penguin in the New Zealand subantarctic; note Eastern Rockhopper’s smaller size, smaller bill, and thinner yellow eyebrow. Compare with larger Macaroni Penguin in the Indian Ocean, which has a larger bill and deeper golden head plumes. Typically no range overlap with Northern or Western Rockhopper, but vagrants are possible anywhere in the Southern Ocean; note details of bill pattern and crest shape.California QuailCallipepla californicaOne of their daily communal activities is a dust bath.Black TernChlidonias nigerSmall tern with an entirely black body in breeding plumage with silvery wings.Abbott's BoobyPapasula abbottiDescription Abbott's booby is the largest of all booby species, and is adapted to long-distance flight.Christmas Island FrigatebirdFregata andrewsiOne of the largest of the frigatebirds; females are larger than males.Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusMedium-sized sandpiper with long legs and bill.Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNote large size, overall brown plumage, and long, decurved bill (appreciably shorter on juvenile).Singing StarlingAplonis cantoroidesLarge songbird of New Guinea and Solomon Islands, also on Boigu Island in the northern Torres Strait.Red-crowned ParakeetCyanoramphus novaezelandiaeNote distinctive red crown and small red patches behind the eyes.Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisThe only other large shearwaters in its range are the Cory's Shearwater and the all-dark Sooty Shearwater .House CrowCorvus splendensThe grayish nape and sides form a paler collar that contrasts with the glossy black body.Gray WagtailMotacilla cinereaThe male in display, makes short flights up into the air and descends slowly with fluttering flight accompanied by a rapid series of chipping high notes.Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreolaWidespread and fairly common over much of Asia; rare to western Europe.Fiordland PenguinEudyptes pachyrhynchusThe orange bill has no bare skin at the base.Hudsonian WhimbrelNumenius hudsonicusNote bold head stripes.White-throated GrasswrenAmytornis woodwardiDistinctive long-tailed, chestnut-and-black bird with a stark white throat, found only in the western Arnhem Plateau of Northern Territory, in areas with large spinifex clumps around large sandstone boulders.Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesThey are widely distributed in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Antilles, with the largest populations found wintering in these regions.Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusAll plumages have big white blaze on leading edge of wing.Broad-billed PrionPachyptila vittataThe largest of the six prion species, with an exceptionally wide bill that gives the head a chunky appearance.Sandhill GrasswrenAmytornis oweniUsually seen only with a dedicated search.Red-capped FlowerpeckerDicaeum geelvinkianumThe red-capped flowerpecker ( Dicaeum geelvinkianum ) is a small passerine bird endemic to, and widespread within, New Guinea and adjacent islands.White WagtailMotacilla albaIn urban areas, it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks.RedpollAcanthis flammeaThe female builds the nest, accompanied by the male, often low down in a tree or bush.Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusNote dull pinkish legs and large white forehead patch (in adults).Herald PetrelPterodroma heraldicaRaine Island is the only known Herald petrel breeding site in Australia.White-winged WidowbirdEuplectes albonotatusThe male is the only short-tailed widowbird in its region with white on its coverts .Black GrasswrenAmytornis houseiBlack grasswrens are not highly mobile and have possibly become locally extinct around Manning Creek due to fire before 2007.Northern PintailAnas acutaDespite this, the species is not globally threatened due to its large range and abundance.GarganeySpatula querquedulaHandsome male distinctive, with big white eyebrow on dark brown head, pale gray flanks; pale gray forewing striking in flight.Matsudaira's Storm-PetrelHydrobates matsudairaeIt breeds solely in the Volcano Islands in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and winters in the Indian Ocean.Norfolk Island ParakeetCyanoramphus cookiiAlso note electric blue wing lining.Robust White-eyeZosterops strenuusIt was endemic to the lowland forests of Lord Howe Island , east of Australia . It was a mainly green bird, around 7.6 cm (3.0 in) long, with a white belly and yellow throat, which separated it from other species of white-eye.Rosy-faced LovebirdAgapornis roseicollisEscapes from captivity are frequent in many parts of the world and feral birds dwell in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona , where they live in a variety of habitats, both urban and rural.Java SparrowPadda oryzivoraAlthough only about the size of a house sparrow , it may be the largest species in the estrildid family.Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusOf the three phalaropes, Red is the least likely to be seen inland.Canada GooseBranta canadensisCanada geese were eliminated in Ohio following the American Civil War but were reintroduced in 1956 with 10 pairs.Eastern Red-rumped SwallowCecropis dauricaBrightly-colored swallow with a deeply forked tail, pale orangish rump, black squared-off undertail coverts, and an incomplete orange collar.Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisAdult is dark-winged with a black and red tipped bill.Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSlender, long-winged gull, slightly smaller than Herring Gull.Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinusSmall pipit; adults distinctive with rusty-red face and throat (paler in winter), contrasting with streaked white belly.Chinese Pond-HeronArdeola bacchusOften mistaken for an egret in flight due to its all-white wings, but the dark head separates it from any egret.Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiOne of the best identification features is the long wings, which extend beyond the tail when the bird is on the ground.Blue-billed White-TernGygis candidaA medium-sized tern with entirely white plumage, a slightly forked tail, and glittering inky pools for eyes.Cryptic HoneyeaterMeliphaga imitatrixSo similar to the Graceful Honeyeater it was long overlooked; genetic studies confirmed it as a distinct species.Blue Rock-ThrushMonticola solitariusMedium-sized thrush-like bird, often seen on mountainsides, sea cliffs, quarries, ruins, and even towns.Chatham AlbatrossThalassarche eremitaBesides the sound they will put on a courtship display which includes fanning of the tail, mutual jousting of bills, and grunting.ChukarAlectoris chukarBoldly-patterned quail-like bird, often in small flocks on dry rocky slopes with sparse grass and brush.Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorThis bird, the largest of the phalaropes , breeds in the prairies of North America in western Canada and the western United States .Javan Pond-HeronArdeola speciosaStout heron with flashing white wings; can be mistaken for a egret in flight, but note darker head in all plumages.Green SandpiperTringa ochropusDark brown sandpiper with a snowy white belly; in flight looks black above with boldly contrasting white rump.Sabine's GullXema sabiniThe yellow-tipped black bill and notched tail are shared only with the swallow-tailed gull of the Galapagos .Arctic WarblerPhylloscopus borealisIt has established a foothold in North America, breeding in Alaska.Pin-tailed SnipeGallinago stenuraSexes are similar, and immatures differ only in minor plumage details.Island MonarchMonarcha cinerascensA medium-sized, big-billed pale ashy-gray songbird with a rufous belly.Red-billed TropicbirdPhaethon aethereusSpectacular seabird, very rarely seen from land but found locally around rocky islands near shore.Juan Fernandez PetrelPterodroma externaThe IUCN Red List lists the species as vulnerable due to its endemic status and threats from introduced predators.Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusIt calls on its nocturnal visits to the nesting burrows in flight, on the ground, and in the burrows, although moonlight depresses the amount of calling.Oriental Reed WarblerAcrocephalus orientalisIt breeds mainly in reedbeds and can also be found in marshes, paddy fields , grassland and scrub where it forages for insects and other invertebrates .Papuan SpinetailMearnsia novaeguineaeWings display hooked ends, and are widest at the middle before tapering into the body.Amsterdam AlbatrossDiomedea amsterdamensisThe only Wandering-type albatross that shows narrow black “lips” on cutting edge of bill.Papuan EclectusEclectus polychlorosRobust, big-headed, and rather short-tailed parrot endemic to Papua and Cape York (Australia) and introduced to Solomon Islands, where it inhabits lowland and foothill forests.Swinhoe's Storm-PetrelHydrobates monorhisHabits and observation This storm petrel is strictly nocturnal at the breeding sites to avoid predation by gulls and skuas, and will even avoid coming to land on clear moonlit nights.Yellow BitternBotaurus sinensisVery small heron of marshy, well-vegetated water bodies.Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticoraxOne to eight (mostly two to four) long slender white plumes, erected in greeting and courtship displays, extend from the back of the head.Atlantic PetrelPterodroma incertaOften flaps its wings at the top of glides.Common GullLarus canusDark-eyed and long-winged with a rounded head.Erect-crested PenguinEudyptes sclateriAlso look for pale blue skin at the base of the bill.Purple HeronArdea purpureaOften more retiring than Gray Heron and rarely seen in open situations.Tristan AlbatrossDiomedea dabbenenaAmong the major experts, BirdLife International has split this species, Diomedea refers to Diomedes , whose companions turned to birds.Imperial CormorantLeucocarbo atricepsStriking, locally common black-and-white cormorant with blue eye-ring and yellow caruncle, of colder coastal waters.Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusAs such colouration provides less camouflage, feral birds are usually of wild-type colouration.Tiger ShrikeLanius tigrinusSmall, short-tailed shrike with a heavy-headed appearance.DunlinCalidris alpinaThe call is a typical sandpiper "chreep", and the display song a harsh trill.Cinnamon BitternBotaurus cinnamomeusThe neck is stretched perpendicularly, bill pointing skyward, while the bird freezes and becomes very hard to see among the surrounding reeds.Moseley's Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes moseleyiA small black-and-white penguin with a wild, bushy yellow crest.Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusOnly a small percentage can be identified by this character alone.Snares PenguinEudyptes robustusBreeds exclusively on the Snares Islands with a total population of about 25,000 breeding pairs.Night ParrotPezoporus occidentalisShy, elusive, and very rare nocturnal ground-dwelling parrot of inhabit arid environments, where it nests inside large spinifex clumps.Orange-bellied Fruit-DovePtilinopus iozonusThe common, small fruit-dove of more open wooded areas in the lowlands and foothills.Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusStriking breeding plumage dark overall.Variable GoshawkTachyspiza hiogasterA common, mid-sized raptor of forest edge in the lowlands and foothills.Atlantic Yellow-nosed AlbatrossThalassarche chlororhynchosThe largest threat is from longline fishing, as harvesting of chicks and adults has been outlawed.
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