The list scope includes outlying islands:
    1. Cocos (Keeling) Islands
    2. Christmas Island
    3. Ashmore Reef
    4. Torres Strait Islands
    5. Lord Howe Island
    6. Norfolk Island
    7. Macquarie Island
    8. Heard Island and McDonald Islands

This is a list of the wild birds found in Australia including its outlying islands and territories, but excluding the Australian Antarctic Territory. The outlying islands covered include: Christmas, Cocos (Keeling), Ashmore, Torres Strait, Coral Sea, Lord Howe, Norfolk, Macquarie and Heard/McDonald. The list includes introduced species, common vagrants and recently extinct species. It excludes species only present in captivity. 975 extant and extinct species are listed.

There have been three comprehensive accounts: the first was John Gould's Birds of Australia, the second Gregory Mathews, and the third was the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (1990-2006).

The taxonomy originally followed is from Christidis and Boles, 2008.[1] Their system has been developed over nearly two decades[2] and has strong local support,[3] but deviates in important ways from more generally accepted schemes. Supplemental updates follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.

[4][5] This list uses British English throughout. Bird names and other wording follows that convention.


Ostriches

Order: Struthioniformes   Family: Struthionidae

1 species recorded [1 introduced]
This order is not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species have become established in South Australia and possibly on the New South Wales/Victoria border.

Common name Binomial Notes
Common ostrichStruthio camelusintroduced

Cassowaries and emu

Order: Casuariiformes   Family: Casuariidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
This family of flightless ratite birds is represented by two living species in Australia. Another two species are found in New Guinea. The extinct, geographically isolated King and Kangaroo Island emus were historically considered to be separate species to mainland emus. However, genetic evidence from 2011 suggests that all three are conspecific.

Common name Binomial Notes
Southern cassowaryCasuarius casuarius
EmuDromaius novaehollandiae

Magpie goose

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anseranatidae

Magpie goose at Fogg Dam in the Northern Territory

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The family contains a single species, the magpie goose. It was an early and distinctive offshoot of the anseriform family tree, diverging after the screamers and before all other ducks, geese and swans, sometime in the late Cretaceous. The single species is found across Australia.

Common name Binomial Notes
Magpie gooseAnseranas semipalmata

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

30 species recorded [20 extant native, 3 introduced, 7 vagrant]
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are adapted for an aquatic existence, with webbed feet, bills that are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. In Australia, 30 species have been recorded, of which three have been introduced, and seven are vagrants.

Common name Binomial Notes
Spotted whistling-duckDendrocygna guttata
Plumed whistling-duckDendrocygna eytoni
Wandering whistling-duckDendrocygna arcuata
Canada gooseBranta canadensisvagrant, presumably from introduced NZ population
Domestic greylag gooseAnser anserintroduced
Cape Barren gooseCereopsis novaehollandiae
Freckled duckStictonetta naevosa
Mute swanCygnus olorintroduced
Black swanCygnus atratus
Radjah shelduckRadjah radjah
Australian shelduckTadorna tadornoides
Paradise shelduckTadorna variegatavagrant, Lord Howe Island & NSW
Green pygmy-gooseNettapus pulchellus
Cotton pygmy-gooseNettapus coromandelianus
Australian wood duckChenonetta jubata
GarganeySpatula querquedula
Australian shovelerSpatula rhynchotis
Northern shovelerSpatula clypeatavagrant
Eurasian wigeonMareca penelopevagrant
Pacific black duckAnas superciliosa
Northern mallardAnas platyrhynchosintroduced
Domestic mallard Anas platyrhynchos domesticus introduced
Pacific black duck × mallard hybrid Anas superciliosa × platyrhynchos native × introduced hybrid
Domestic muscovy duck Cairina moschata domesticus introduced
Northern pintailAnas acutavagrant
Green-winged tealAnas creccavagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Island
Grey tealAnas gracilis
Chestnut tealAnas castanea
Pink-eared duckMalacorhynchus membranaceus
HardheadAythya australis
Tufted duckAythya fuligulavagrant
Blue-billed duckOxyura australis
Musk duckBiziura lobata

Megapodes

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

3 species recorded [3 extant native]
Megapodiidae are represented by various species in the Australasian region, although only three species are found in Australia. They are commonly referred to as "mound-builders" due to their habit of constructing large mounds to incubate their eggs.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian brushturkeyAlectura lathami
MalleefowlLeipoa ocellata
Orange-footed scrubfowlMegapodius reinwardt

Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

1 species recorded [1 introduced]
Numididae are not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species exist in Queensland.

Common name Binomial Notes
Helmeted guineafowlNumida meleagrisintroduced

New World quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

1 species recorded [1 introduced]
Odontophoridae are not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species survive in external territories and possibly the mainland.

Common name Binomial Notes
California quailCallipepla californicaintroduced, Norfolk & King Island

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

8 species recorded [3 extant native, 5 introduced]
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Three species are native to Australia, and five commonly domesticated species are feral, with most established populations persisting on offshore islands.

Common name Binomial Notes
Indian peafowlPavo cristatusintroduced, King, Rottnest & Furneaux Islands
Brown quailCoturnix ypsilophora
Blue-breasted quailExcalfactoria chinensis
Stubble quailCoturnix pectoralis
Red junglefowlGallus gallusintroduced, Norfolk & Christmas Island
Green junglefowlGallus variusintroduced, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Ring-necked pheasantPhasianus colchicusintroduced, King, Flinders & Rottnest Island
Wild turkeyMeleagris gallopavointroduced, King, Flinders & Kangaroo Island

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

1 species recorded [1 vagrant]
Australia has only a single record of any flamingo species, from the North Keeling Island. Several prehistoric species are also known to have existed.

Common name Binomial Notes
Greater flamingoPhoenicopterus roseusvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

4 species recorded [3 extant native, 1 vagrant]
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Three species have been regularly recorded in Australia, and a fourth is a vagrant.

Common name Binomial Notes
Little grebeTachybaptus ruficollisvagrant
Australasian grebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
Hoary-headed grebePoliocephalus poliocephalus
Great crested grebePodiceps cristatus

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Crested pigeon and spinifex pigeon
Bar-shouldered dove in Darwin, Northern Territory

41 species recorded [27 extant native, 4 introduced, 7 vagrant, 2 extirpated native, 1 extinct native]
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. In Australian territory 41 species have been recorded, four of which have been introduced, and another six are vagrants. One has become extinct since European colonisation.

Common name Binomial Notes
Rock pigeonColumba liviaintroduced
Metallic pigeonColumba vitiensisextirpated, Lord Howe Island
White-headed pigeonColumba leucomela
Oriental turtle-doveStreptopelia orientalisvagrant
Barbary doveStreptopelia risoriaintroduced
Red collared-doveStreptopelia tranquebaricavagrant, Christmas Island
Spotted doveSpilopelia chinensisintroduced
Laughing doveSpilopelia senegalensisintroduced
Brown cuckoo-doveMacropygia phasianella
Asian emerald doveChalcophaps indicaChristmas Island
Pacific emerald doveChalcophaps longirostris
Stephan's doveChalcophaps stephanivagrant
Norfolk ground doveAlopecoenas norfolciensisextinct, Norfolk Island
Common bronzewingPhaps chalcoptera
Brush bronzewingPhaps elegans
Flock bronzewingPhaps histrionica
Crested pigeonOcyphaps lophotes
Spinifex pigeonGeophaps plumifera
Squatter pigeonGeophaps scripta
Partridge pigeonGeophaps smithii
Chestnut-quilled rock-pigeonPetrophassa rufipennis
White-quilled rock-pigeonPetrophassa albipennis
Wonga pigeonLeucosarcia melanoleuca
Diamond doveGeopelia cuneata
Peaceful doveGeopelia placida
Bar-shouldered doveGeopelia humeralis
Nicobar pigeonCaloenas nicobaricavagrant
Black-banded fruit-dovePtilinopus alligator
Wompoo fruit-dovePtilinopus magnificus
Orange-fronted fruit-dovePtilinopus aurantiifronsvagrant
Superb fruit-dovePtilinopus superbus
Rose-crowned fruit-dovePtilinopus regina
Orange-bellied fruit-dovePtilinopus iozonusvagrant, Torres Strait
Elegant imperial-pigeonDucula concinnavagrant
Island imperial-pigeonDucula pistrinaria
Christmas Island imperial-pigeonDucula whartoniChristmas Island
Collared imperial-pigeonDucula mullerii
Torresian imperial-pigeonDucula spilorrhoa
Topknot pigeonLopholaimus antarcticus
New Zealand pigeonHemiphaga novaeseelandiaeextirpated, Norfolk Island

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian bustardArdeotis australis

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

21 species recorded [14 extant native, 7 vagrant]
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Common name Binomial Notes
Lesser coucalCentropus bengalensisvagrant, Ashmore Reef
Pheasant coucalCentropus phasianinus
Chestnut-winged cuckooClamator coromandusvagrant
Asian koelEudynamys scolopaceusvagrant, Christmas, Barrow Island, WA & Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Pacific koelEudynamys orientalis
Long-tailed koelUrodynamis taitensisvagrant, Lord Howe & Norfolk Island
Channel-billed cuckooScythrops novaehollandiae
Long-billed cuckooChrysococcyx megarhynchus
Horsfield's bronze-cuckooChrysococcyx basalis
Black-eared cuckooChrysococcyx osculans
Shining bronze-cuckooChrysococcyx lucidus
Little bronze-cuckooChrysococcyx minutillus
Pallid cuckooCacomantis pallidus
Chestnut-breasted cuckooCacomantis castaneiventris
Fan-tailed cuckooCacomantis flabelliformis
Brush cuckooCacomantis variolosus
Square-tailed drongo-cuckooSurniculus lugubrisvagrant
Large hawk-cuckooHierococcyx sparverioidesvagrant, Christmas Island
Hodgson's hawk-cuckooHierococcyx nisicolorvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Indian cuckooCuculus micropterusvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Oriental cuckooCuculus optatus

Frogmouths

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Podargidae

3 species recorded [3 extant native]
The frogmouths are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from India across southern Asia to Australia. Three species are found in Australia.

Common name Binomial Notes
Tawny frogmouthPodargus strigoides
Marbled frogmouthPodargus ocellatus
Papuan frogmouthPodargus papuensis

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

5 species recorded [3 extant native, 2 vagrant]
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Common name Binomial Notes
Spotted nightjarEurostopodus argus
White-throated nightjarEurostopodus mystacalis
Grey nightjarCaprimulgus jotakavagrant, Ashmore Reef
Large-tailed nightjarCaprimulgus macrurus
Savanna nightjarCaprimulgus affinisvagrant, Christmas Island

Owlet-nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Aegothelidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The owlet-nightjars are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from the Maluku Islands and New Guinea to Australia and New Caledonia. One species is found in Australia.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian owlet-nightjarAegotheles cristatus

Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

9 species recorded [4 extant native, 5 vagrant]
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Nine species recorded in Australian territory, five of which are vagrants.

Common name Binomial Notes
Papuan spine-tailed swiftMearnsia novaeguineaevagrant, Torres Strait
White-throated needletailHirundapus caudacutus
Christmas Island swiftletCollocalia natalisChristmas Island
Glossy swiftletCollocalia esculentavagrant
Australian swiftletAerodramus terraereginae
Uniform swiftletAerodramus vanikorensisvagrant
Mossy-nest swiftletAerodramus salanganavagrant
Pacific swiftApus pacificus
Common swiftApus apusvagrant
House swiftApus affinisvagrant

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

24 species recorded [15 extant native, 7 vagrant, 1 extirpated, 1 extinct native]
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Common name Binomial Notes
Corn crakeCrex crexvagrant
Lewin's railLewinia pectoralis
Chestnut railGallirallus castaneoventris
WekaGallirallus australisextirpated introduced population on Macquarie Island
Lord Howe woodhenGallirallus sylvestrisLord Howe Island
Buff-banded railGallirallus philippensis
Black-tailed nativehenTribonyx ventralis
Tasmanian nativehenTribonyx mortierii
Spotted crakePorzana porzanavagrant
Australian crakePorzana fluminea
Eurasian moorhenGallinula chloropusvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dusky moorhenGallinula tenebrosa
Eurasian cootFulica atra
Australasian swamphenPorphyrio melanotus
Lord Howe swamphenPorphyrio albusextinct, Lord Howe Island
WatercockGallicrex cinereavagrant, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands & Ashmore Reef
White-breasted waterhenAmaurornis phoenicurusvagrant, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Pale-vented bush-henAmaurornis moluccana
White-browed crakePoliolimnas cinereus
Red-necked crakeRallina tricolor
Red-legged crakeRallina fasciatavagrant
Ruddy-breasted crakeZapornia fuscavagrant, Christmas Island
Baillon's crakeZapornia pusilla
Spotless crakeZapornia tabuensis

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Common name Binomial Notes
Sarus craneAntigone antigone
BrolgaAntigone rubicunda

Sheathbills

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Chionidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The sheathbills are scavengers of the Antarctic regions. They have white plumage and look plump and dove-like but are believed to be similar to the ancestors of the modern gulls and terns.

Common name Binomial Notes
Black-faced sheathbillChionis minorHeard Island; mainland vagrant

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Common name Binomial Notes
Bush thick-kneeBurhinus grallarius
Beach thick-kneeEsacus magnirostris

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Red-necked avocet

3 species recorded [3 extant native]
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin straight bills.

Common name Binomial Notes
Pied stiltHimantopus leucocephalus
Banded stiltCladorhynchus leucocephalus
Red-necked avocetRecurvirostra novaehollandiae

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

3 species recorded [2 extant native, 1 vagrant]
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Common name Binomial Notes
Pied oystercatcherHaematopus longirostris
South Island oystercatcherHaematopus finschivagrant
Sooty oystercatcherHaematopus fuliginosus

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Double-banded plover non-breeding plumage

21 species recorded [15 extant native, 6 vagrant]
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Common name Binomial Notes
Black-bellied ploverPluvialis squatarola
European golden-ploverPluvialis apricaria
American golden-ploverPluvialis dominicavagrant
Pacific golden-ploverPluvialis fulva
Grey-headed lapwingVanellus cinereusvagrant
Banded lapwingVanellus tricolor
Masked lapwingVanellus miles
Lesser sand-ploverCharadrius mongolus
Greater sand-ploverCharadrius leschenaultii
Caspian ploverCharadrius asiaticusvagrant
Double-banded ploverCharadrius bicinctus
Red-capped ploverCharadrius ruficapillus
Kentish ploverCharadrius alexandrinusvagrant
Common ringed ploverCharadrius hiaticulavagrant
Semipalmated ploverCharadrius semipalmatusvagrant
Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
Oriental ploverCharadrius veredus
Red-kneed dotterelErythrogonys cinctus
Hooded ploverThinornis cucullatus
Black-fronted dotterelElseyornis melanops
Inland dotterelPeltohyas australis

Plains-wanderer

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Pedionomidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The plains-wanderer is a quail-like ground bird. They are excellent camouflagers, and will first hide at any disturbance. If they're approached too close, they will run as opposed to flying, which they are very poor at.

Common name Binomial Notes
Plains-wandererPedionomus torquatus

Painted-snipe

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
Painted-snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian painted-snipeRostratula australis

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 vagrant]
The jacanas are a group of waders found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

Common name Binomial Notes
Comb-crested jacanaIrediparra gallinacea
Pheasant-tailed jacanaHydrophasianus chirurgusvagrant

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

47 species recorded [29 extant native, 18 vagrant]
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Common name Binomial Notes
Upland sandpiperBartramia longicaudavagrant
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Little curlewNumenius minutus
Far Eastern curlewNumenius madagascariensis
Eurasian curlewNumenius arquatavagrant
Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponica
Black-tailed godwitLimosa limosa
Hudsonian godwitLimosa haemasticavagrant
Ruddy turnstoneArenaria interpres
Great knotCalidris tenuirostris
Red knotCalidris canutus
RuffCalidris pugnax
Broad-billed sandpiperCalidris falcinellus
Sharp-tailed sandpiperCalidris acuminata
Stilt sandpiperCalidris himantopusvagrant
Curlew sandpiperCalidris ferruginea
Temminck's stintCalidris temminckiivagrant
Long-toed stintCalidris subminuta
Red-necked stintCalidris ruficollis
SanderlingCalidris alba
DunlinCalidris alpinavagrant
Baird's sandpiperCalidris bairdiivagrant
Little stintCalidris minutavagrant
White-rumped sandpiperCalidris fuscicollisvagrant
Buff-breasted sandpiperCalidris subruficollisvagrant
Pectoral sandpiperCalidris melanotos
Asian dowitcherLimnodromus semipalmatus
Short-billed dowitcherLimnodromus griseusvagrant
Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusvagrant
Latham's snipeGallinago hardwickii
Pin-tailed snipeGallinago stenura
Swinhoe's snipeGallinago megala
Terek sandpiperXenus cinereus
Wilson's phalaropePhalaropus tricolorvagrant
Red-necked phalaropePhalaropus lobatus
Red phalaropePhalaropus fulicariusvagrant
Common sandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Green sandpiperTringa ochropusvagrant
Grey-tailed tattlerTringa brevipes
Wandering tattlerTringa incana
Spotted redshankTringa erythropusvagrant
Common greenshankTringa nebularia
Nordmann's greenshankTringa guttifervagrant
Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesvagrant
Marsh sandpiperTringa stagnatilis
Wood sandpiperTringa glareola
Common redshankTringa totanus

Buttonquail

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

7 species recorded [7 extant native]
The buttonquails are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

Common name Binomial Notes
Red-backed buttonquailTurnix maculosus
Black-breasted buttonquailTurnix melanogaster
Chestnut-backed buttonquailTurnix castanotus
Buff-breasted buttonquailTurnix olivii
Painted buttonquailTurnix varius
Red-chested buttonquailTurnix pyrrhothorax
Little buttonquailTurnix velox

Pratincoles and coursers

Australian pratincole at Fogg Dam in the Northern Territory

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

3 species recorded [2 extant native, 1 vagrant]
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings, and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings, and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian pratincoleStiltia isabella
Collared pratincoleGlareola pratincolavagrant
Oriental pratincoleGlareola maldivarum

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

5 species recorded [5 extant native]
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

Common name Binomial Notes
South polar skuaStercorarius maccormickivagrant
Brown skuaStercorarius antarcticus
Pomarine jaegerStercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaegerStercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaegerStercorarius longicaudavagrant

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

37 species recorded [25 extant native, 12 vagrant]
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

Common name Binomial Notes
Sabine's gullXema sabinivagrant
Silver gullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae
Black-headed gullChroicocephalus ridibundusvagrant
Laughing gullLeucophaeus atricillavagrant
Franklin's gullLeucophaeus pipixcanvagrant
Black-tailed gullLarus crassirostrisvagrant
Pacific gullLarus pacificus
Mew gullLarus canusvagrant, Christmas Island
Lesser black-backed gullLarus fuscusvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands & possibly mainland
Slaty-backed gullLarus schistisagusvagrant
Kelp gullLarus dominicanus
Brown noddyAnous stolidus
Black noddyAnous minutus
Lesser noddyAnous tenuirostris
Grey noddyAnous albivitta
Blue-grey noddyAnous ceruleus
White ternGygis albaLord Howe, Norfolk & Cocos (Keeling) Islands; mainland vagrant
Sooty ternOnychoprion fuscata
Grey-backed ternOnychoprion lunatusvagrant
Bridled ternOnychoprion anaethetus
Aleutian ternOnychoprion aleuticusvagrant
Little ternSternula albifrons
Australian fairy ternSternula nereis
Saunders's ternSternula saundersiCocos (Keeling) Islands
Gull-billed ternGelochelidon niloticais a mainland vagrant
Caspian ternHydroprogne caspia
Black ternChlidonias nigervagrant
White-winged ternChlidonias leucopterus
Whiskered ternChlidonias hybrida
Black-fronted ternChlidonias albostriatusvagrant
Roseate ternSterna dougallii
White-fronted ternSterna striata
Black-naped ternSterna sumatrana
Common ternSterna hirundo
Arctic ternSterna paradisaeavagrant
Antarctic ternSterna vittataMacquarie & Heard Island; mainland vagrant
Greater crested ternThalasseus bergii
Lesser crested ternThalasseus bengalensis

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

3 species recorded [2 extant native, 1 vagrant]
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head. Three species have been recorded from Australian waters.

Common name Binomial Notes
White-tailed tropicbirdPhaethon lepturus
Red-billed tropicbirdPhaethon aethereusvagrant, Ashmore Reef & Lord Howe Island
Red-tailed tropicbirdPhaethon rubricauda

Penguins

Order: Sphenisciformes   Family: Spheniscidae

A wild Australian little penguin returning to its burrow to feed its chicks on Bruny Island

15 species recorded [7 extant native, 8 vagrant]
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Only one species, the Australian little penguin, breeds on the Australian coast.

Common name Binomial Notes
King penguinAptenodytes patagonicusMacquarie & Heard Island; mainland vagrant
Emperor penguinAptenodytes forsterivagrant, Macquarie & Heard Island
Adélie penguinPygoscelis adeliaevagrant, TAS, Macquarie & Heard Island
Gentoo penguinPygoscelis papuaMacquarie & Heard Island; mainland vagrant
Chinstrap penguinPygoscelis antarcticusvagrant, VIC, TAS, Macquarie & Heard Island
Australian little penguinEudyptula novaehollandiae
Magellanic penguinSpheniscus magellanicusvagrant
Fiordland penguinEudyptes pachyrhynchus
Erect-crested penguinEudyptes sclaterivagrant
Macaroni penguinEudyptes chrysolophusvagrant; Macquarie Island; Heard Island
Royal penguinEudyptes schlegeliMacquarie Island; mainland vagrant
Southern rockhopper penguinEudyptes chrysocomeMacquarie & Heard Island; mainland vagrant
Moseley's rockhopper penguinEudyptes moseleyivagrant
Snares penguinEudyptes robustusvagrant

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

13 species recorded [11 extant native, 2 vagrant]
The albatrosses are a family of large seabird found across the Southern and North Pacific Oceans. The largest are among the largest flying birds in the world. Thirteen species are seen to varying degrees in Australian waters, with two recorded as vagrants.

Common name Binomial Notes
Yellow-nosed albatrossThalassarche chlororhynchos
Grey-headed albatrossThalassarche chrysostoma
Buller's albatrossThalassarche bulleri
White-capped albatrossThalassarche cauta
Salvin's albatrossThalassarche salvini
Chatham albatrossThalassarche eremitavagrant
Campbell albatrossThalassarche impavida
Black-browed albatrossThalassarche melanophris
Sooty albatrossPhoebetria fusca
Light-mantled albatrossPhoebetria palpebrata
Royal albatrossDiomedea epomophora
Wandering albatrossDiomedea exulans

Southern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

7 species recorded [5 extant native, 2 vagrant]
The southern storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Common name Binomial Notes
Wilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicus
Grey-backed storm-petrelGarrodia nereis
White-faced storm-petrelPelagodroma marina
White-bellied storm-petrelFregetta grallaria
New Zealand storm-petrelFregetta maorianavagrant
Black-bellied storm-petrelFregetta tropica
Polynesian storm-petrelNesofregetta fuliginosavagrant

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

5 species recorded [2 extant native, 3 vagrant]
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.

Common name Binomial Notes
Leach's storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousvagrant
Swinhoe's storm-petrelHydrobates monorhis
Band-rumped storm-petrelHydrobates castrovagrant
Matsudaira's storm-petrelHydrobates matsudairae
Tristram's storm-petrelHydrobates tristramivagrant

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

61 species recorded [41 native extant, 19 vagrant, 1 extirpated]
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium nasal septum, and a long outer functional primary flight feather.

Common name Binomial Notes
Southern giant-petrelMacronectes giganteus
Northern giant-petrelMacronectes halli
Southern fulmarFulmarus glacialoides
Antarctic petrelThalassoica antarcticavagrant
Cape petrelDaption capense
Snow petrelPagodroma niveavagrant, Heard & Macquarie Island
Kerguelen petrelAphrodroma brevirostris
Great-winged petrelPterodroma macroptera
Grey-faced petrelPterodroma gouldivagrant
Kermadec petrelPterodroma neglectavagrant; Lord Howe Island; Norfolk Island
Trindade petrelPterodroma arminjonianavagrant
Herald petrelPterodroma heraldica
Providence petrelPterodroma solandri
Soft-plumaged petrelPterodroma mollis
Barau's petrelPterodroma barauivagrant
White-headed petrelPterodroma lessonii
Mottled petrelPterodroma inexpectata
Juan Fernandez petrelPterodroma externavagrant
Atlantic petrelPterodroma incertavagrant
White-necked petrelPterodroma cervicalis
Black-winged petrelPterodroma nigripennis
Cook's petrelPterodroma cookii
Gould's petrelPterodroma leucoptera
Collared petrelPterodroma brevipesvagrant
Stejneger's petrelPterodroma longirostrisvagrant
Pycroft's petrelPterodroma pycroftiextirpated, Norfolk Island; possible vagrant
Vanuatu petrelPterodroma occultavagrant
Blue petrelHalobaena caerulea
Fairy prionPachyptila turtur
Broad-billed prionPachyptila vittata
Salvin's prionPachyptila salvini
Antarctic prionPachyptila desolata
Slender-billed prionPachyptila belcheri
Fulmar prionPachyptila crassirostrisvagrant; Heard Island
Bulwer's petrelBulweria bulwerii
Jouanin's petrelBulweria fallax
Tahiti petrelPseudobulweria rostrata
Grey petrelProcellaria cinerea
White-chinned petrelProcellaria aequinoctialis
Parkinson's petrelProcellaria parkinsoni
Westland petrelProcellaria westlandica
Streaked shearwaterCalonectris leucomelas
Cory's shearwaterCalonectris borealisvagrant
Pink-footed shearwaterArdenna creatopusvagrant
Flesh-footed shearwaterArdenna carneipes
Great shearwaterArdenna gravisvagrant
Wedge-tailed shearwaterArdenna pacifica
Buller's shearwaterArdenna bulleri
Sooty shearwaterArdenna grisea
Short-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostris
Manx shearwaterPuffinus puffinusvagrant
Hutton's shearwaterPuffinus huttoni
Newell's shearwaterPuffinus newellivagrant
Fluttering shearwaterPuffinus gavia
Little shearwaterPuffinus assimilis
Subantarctic shearwaterPuffinus elegans
Tropical shearwaterPuffinus baillonivagrant
Persian shearwaterPuffinus persicuspossible vagrant
Heinroth's shearwaterPuffinus heinrothivagrant
Common diving-petrelPelecanoides urinatrix
South Georgian diving-petrelPelecanoides georgicusMacquarie & Heard Island; mainland vagrant

Storks

Black necked stork (jabiru) and juvenile pied heron in flight at Fogg Dam in the Northern Territory

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years.

Common name Binomial Notes
Black-necked storkEphippiorhynchus asiaticus

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

3 species recorded [3 extant native]
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

Common name Binomial Notes
Lesser frigatebirdFregata ariel
Christmas Island frigatebirdFregata andrewsiChristmas Island; mainland vagrant
Great frigatebirdFregata minor

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

6 species recorded [5 extant native, 1 vagrant]
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. Six species have been recorded from Australian territory.

Common name Binomial Notes
Masked boobySula dactylatra
Brown boobySula leucogaster
Red-footed boobySula sula
Abbott's boobyPapasula abbottiChristmas Island; mainland vagrant
Cape gannetMorus capensisvagrant
Australasian gannetMorus serrator

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 vagrant]
Anhingas or darters are cormorant-like water birds with long necks and long, straight bills. They are fish eaters which often swim with only their neck above the water. One species is found in Australia.

Common name Binomial Notes
Oriental darterAnhinga melanogastervagrant
Australasian darterAnhinga novaehollandiae

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

10 species recorded [7 extant native, 2 vagrant]
Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed, a distinguishing feature among the order Pelecaniformes. Nine species occur in Australian territory, with two as vagrants.

Common name Binomial Notes
Little pied cormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
Great cormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Spotted shagPhalacrocorax punctatusvagrant
Little black cormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
Pied cormorantPhalacrocorax varius
Black-faced cormorantPhalacrocorax fuscescens
Imperial shagLeucocarbo atricepsHeard & Macquarie Island
Kerguelen shagLeucocarbo verrucosusvagrant
Macquarie shagLeucocarbo purpurascens
Heard Island shagLeucocarbo nivalis

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
Pelicans are large water birds with distinctive pouches under their bills. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes. One species has been recorded in Australia.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian pelicanPelecanus conspicillatus

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

Australian little egret
Pacific reef heron, dark morph

25 species recorded [15 extant native, 10 vagrant]
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australasian bitternBotaurus poiciloptilus
Yellow bitternIxobrychus sinensisvagrant
Black-backed bitternIxobrychus dubius
Schrenck's bitternIxobrychus eurhythmusvagrant, Christmas Island
Cinnamon bitternIxobrychus cinnamomeusvagrant
Black bitternIxobrychus flavicollis
Grey heronArdea cinereavagrant
Pacific heronArdea pacifica
Great-billed heronArdea sumatrana
Purple heronArdea purpureavagrant
Great egretArdea alba
Intermediate egretArdea intermedia
White-faced heronEgretta novaehollandiae
Little egretEgretta garzetta
Western reef-heronEgretta gularispossibly Cocos (Keeling) Islands but likely hybridised with E. sacra
Pacific reef-heronEgretta sacra
Pied heronEgretta picata
Cattle egretBubulcus ibis
Chinese pond-heronArdeola bacchusvagrant
Javan pond-heronArdeola speciosavagrant
Striated heronButorides striatus
Black-crowned night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands & Ashmore Reef
Nankeen night-heronNycticorax caledonicus
Japanese night-heronGorsachius goisagivagrant, Christmas Island
Malayan night-heronGorsachius melanolophusvagrant, Christmas Island

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Royal spoonbill

5 species recorded [5 extant native]
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

Common name Binomial Notes
Glossy ibisPlegadis falcinellus
Australian ibisThreskiornis moluccus
Straw-necked ibisThreskiornis spinicollis
Royal spoonbillPlatalea regia
Yellow-billed spoonbillPlatalea flavipes

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Common name Binomial Notes
OspreyPandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

22 species recorded [17 extant native, 5 vagrant]
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

Common name Binomial Notes
Black-shouldered kiteElanus axillaris
Letter-winged kiteElanus scriptus
Oriental honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusvagrant
Black-breasted kiteHamirostra melanosternon
Long-tailed honey-buzzardHenicopernis longicaudavagrant
Square-tailed kiteLophoictinia isura
Pacific bazaAviceda subcristata
Little eagleHieraaetus morphnoides
Gurney's eagleAquila gurneyivagrant, Torres Strait
Wedge-tailed eagleAquila audax
Swamp harrierCircus approximans
Spotted harrierCircus assimilis
Chinese sparrowhawkAccipiter soloensisvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands & Ashmore Reef
Grey goshawkAccipiter novaehollandiae
Brown goshawkAccipiter fasciatus
Japanese sparrowhawkAccipiter gularisvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands & Ashmore Reef
Collared sparrowhawkAccipiter cirrocephalus
Red goshawkErythrotriorchis radiatus
Black kiteMilvus migrans
Whistling kiteHaliastur sphenurus
Brahminy kiteHaliastur indus
White-bellied sea eagleHaliaeetus leucogaster

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

4 species recorded [4 extant native]
Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Common name Binomial Notes
Greater sooty owlTyto tenebricosa
Lesser sooty owlTyto multipunctata
Australian masked-owlTyto novaehollandiae
Australasian grass-owlTyto longimembris
Barn owlTyto alba

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

10 species recorded [6 extant native, 4 vagrant]
The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Common name Binomial Notes
Oriental scops-owlOtis suniavagrant, Barrow Island, WA
Buffy fish-owlKetupa ketupuvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Rufous owlNinox rufa
Powerful owlNinox strenua
Barking owlNinox connivens
Southern boobookNinox boobook
Tasmanian boobookNinox leucopsis
Brown boobookNinox scutulatavagrant
Northern boobookNinox japonicavagrant
Christmas Island boobookNinox natalisChristmas Island

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

1 species recorded [1 vagrant]
Hoopoes have black, white, and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

Common name Binomial Notes
Eurasian hoopoeUpupa epopsvagrant

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

15 species recorded [11 extant native, 4 vagrant]
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

Common name Binomial Notes
Common kingfisherAlcedo atthisvagrant, Christmas & Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Azure kingfisherCeyx azureus
Little kingfisherCeyx pusillus
Laughing kookaburraDacelo novaeguineae
Blue-winged kookaburraDacelo leachii
Black-capped kingfisherHalcyon pileatavagrant
Red-backed kingfisherTodiramphus pyrrhopygia
Forest kingfisherTodiramphus macleayii
Torresian kingfisherTodiramphus sordidus
Sacred kingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
Collared kingfisherTodiramphus chloris
Yellow-billed kingfisherSyma torotoro
Little paradise-kingfisherTanysiptera hydrocharisvagrant, Torres Strait
Common paradise-kingfisherTanysiptera galateavagrant, Torres Strait
Buff-breasted paradise-kingfisherTanysiptera sylvia

Bee-eaters

Rainbow bee-eater

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

Common name Binomial Notes
Rainbow bee-eaterMerops ornatus

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 vagrant]
Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

Common name Binomial Notes
European rollerCoracias garrulusvagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
DollarbirdEurystomus orientalis

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

7 species recorded [6 extant native, 1 vagrant]
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Australian hobby
Common name Binomial Notes
Nankeen kestrelFalco cenchroides
Amur falconFalco amurensisvagrant
Eurasian hobbyFalco subbuteovagrant
Australian hobbyFalco longipennis
Brown falconFalco berigora
Grey falconFalco hypoleucos
Black falconFalco subniger
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinus

New Zealand parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Nestoridae

1 species recorded [1 extinct native]
The family diverged from the other parrots around 82 million years ago when New Zealand broke off from Gondwana, while the ancestors of the genera Nestor and Strigops diverged from each other between 60 and 80 million years ago.

Common name Binomial Notes
Norfolk kākāNestor productusextinct, Norfolk Island

Cockatoos

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae

14 species recorded [14 extant native]
The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable headcrest.

Pink cockatoo
Common name Binomial Notes
Palm cockatooProbosciger aterrimus
Red-tailed black-cockatooCalyptorhynchus banksii
Glossy black-cockatooCalyptorhynchus lathami
Yellow-tailed black-cockatooZanda funerea
Carnaby's black-cockatooZanda latirostris
Baudin's black-cockatooZanda baudinii
Gang-gang cockatooCallocephalon fimbriatum
Pink cockatooLophochroa leadbeateri
GalahEolophus roseicapilla
Long-billed corellaCacatua tenuirostris
Western corellaCacatua pastinator
Little corellaCacatua sanguinea
Sulphur-crested cockatooCacatua galerita
CockatielNymphicus hollandicus

Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

44 species recorded [42 extant native, 1 extirpated native, 1 extinct native]
Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Common name Binomial Notes
Superb parrotPolytelis swainsonii
Regent parrotPolytelis anthopeplus
Princess parrotPolytelis alexandrae
Australian king-parrotAlisterus scapularis
Red-winged parrotAprosmictus erythropterus
Eclectus parrotEclectus roratus
Red-cheeked parrotGeoffroyus geoffroyi
Ground parrotPezoporus wallicus
Night parrotPezoporus occidentalis
Bourke's parrotNeopsephotus bourkii
Blue-winged parrotNeophema chrysostoma
Elegant parrotNeophema elegans
Rock parrotNeophema petrophila
Orange-bellied parrotNeophema chrysogaster
Turquoise parrotNeophema pulchella
Scarlet-chested parrotNeophema splendida
Swift parrotLathamus discolor
Red-crowned parakeetCyanoramphus novaezelandiaeextirpated, Macquarie Island
Norfolk Island parakeetCyanoramphus cookiiNorfolk Island
Australian ringneckBarnardius zonarius
Green rosellaPlatycercus caledonicus
Crimson rosellaPlatycercus elegans
Northern rosellaPlatycercus venustus
Eastern rosellaPlatycercus eximius
Pale-headed rosellaPlatycercus adscitus
Western rosellaPlatycercus icterotis
Greater bluebonnetNorthiella haematogaster
Naretha bluebonnetNorthiella narethae
Red-rumped parrotPsephotus haematonotus
Mulga parrotPsephotellus varius
Hooded parrotPsephotellus dissimilis
Golden-shouldered parrotPsephotellus chrysopterygius
Paradise parrotPsephotellus pulcherrimusextinct
Red-capped parrotPurpureicephalus spurius
Double-eyed fig-parrotCyclopsitta diophthalma
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus
Musk lorikeetGlossopsitta concinna
Little lorikeetParvipsitta pusilla
Purple-crowned lorikeetParvipsitta porphyrocephala
Varied lorikeetPsitteuteles versicolor
Coconut lorikeetTrichoglossus haematodusTorres Strait
Red-collared lorikeetTrichoglossus rubritorquis
Rainbow lorikeetTrichoglossus moluccanus
Scaly-breasted lorikeetTrichoglossus chlorolepidotus

Pittas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

6 species recorded [3 extant native, 3 vagrant]
Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails, and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects, and similar invertebrates.

Common name Binomial Notes
Papuan pittaErythropitta macklotii
Blue-winged pittaPitta moluccensisvagrant
Fairy pittaPitta nymphavagrant
Hooded pittaPitta sordidavagrant, Barrow Island, WA
Noisy pittaPitta versicolor
Rainbow pittaPitta iris

Lyrebirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Menuridae

2 species [2 extant native]
Lyrebirds are most notable for their superb ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment, and the striking beauty of the male bird's huge tail when it is fanned out in courtship display.

Common name Binomial Notes
Albert's lyrebirdMenura alberti
Superb lyrebirdMenura novaehollandiae

Scrub-birds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Atrichornithidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
The scrub-bird family is ancient and is understood to be most closely related to the lyrebirds, and probably also the bowerbirds and treecreepers.

Common name Binomial Notes
Rufous scrub-birdAtrichornis rufescens
Noisy scrub-birdAtrichornis clamosus

Bowerbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptilonorhynchidae

11 species recorded [11 extant native]
The bowerbirds are small to medium-sized passerine birds. The males notably build a bower to attract a mate. Depending on the species, the bower ranges from a circle of cleared earth with a small pile of twigs in the centre to a complex and highly decorated structure of sticks and leaves.

Common name Binomial Notes
Spotted catbirdAiluroedus maculosus
Black-eared catbirdAiluroedus melanotis
Green catbirdAiluroedus crassirostris
Tooth-billed bowerbirdScenopoeetes dentirostris
Golden bowerbirdAmblyornis newtonianus
Regent bowerbirdSericulus chrysocephalus
Satin bowerbirdPtilonorhynchus violaceus
Western bowerbirdPtilonorhynchus guttatus
Spotted bowerbirdPtilonorhynchus maculatus
Great bowerbirdPtilonorhynchus nuchalis
Fawn-breasted bowerbirdPtilonorhynchus cerviniventris

Australasian treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Climacteridae

6 species recorded [6 extant native]
The Climacteridae are medium-small, mostly brown-coloured birds with patterning on their underparts.

Common name Binomial Notes
White-throated treecreeperCormobates leucophaea
White-browed treecreeperClimacteris affinis
Red-browed treecreeperClimacteris erythrops
Brown treecreeperClimacteris picumnus
Black-tailed treecreeperClimacteris melanura
Rufous treecreeperClimacteris rufa

Fairywrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Maluridae

27 species recorded [27 extant native]
Maluridae is a family of small, insectivorous passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. They are socially monogamous and sexually promiscuous, meaning that although they form pairs between one male and one female, each partner will mate with other individuals and even assist in raising the young from such pairings.

Common name Binomial Notes
Grey grasswrenAmytornis barbatus
Rufous grasswrenAmytornis whitei
Opalton grasswrenAmytornis rowleyi
Striated grasswrenAmytornis striatus
White-throated grasswrenAmytornis woodwardi
Carpentarian grasswrenAmytornis dorotheae
Short-tailed grasswrenAmytornis merrotsyi
Western grasswrenAmytornis textilis
Thick-billed grasswrenAmytornis modestus
Black grasswrenAmytornis housei
Eyrean grasswrenAmytornis goyderi
Dusky grasswrenAmytornis purnelli
Kalkadoon grasswrenAmytornis ballarae
Southern emuwrenStipiturus malachurus
Rufous-crowned emuwrenStipiturus ruficeps
Mallee emuwrenStipiturus mallee
Purple-crowned fairywrenMalurus coronatus
Red-winged fairywrenMalurus elegans
Blue-breasted fairywrenMalurus pulcherrimus
Purple-backed fairywrenMalurus assimilis
Variegated fairywrenMalurus lamberti
Lovely fairywrenMalurus amabilis
Splendid fairywrenMalurus splendens
Superb fairywrenMalurus cyaneus
White-winged fairywrenMalurus leucopterus
Red-backed fairywrenMalurus melanocephalus

Honeyeaters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

76 species recorded [76 extant native]
The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea. They are nectar feeders and closely resemble other nectar-feeding passerines.

Common name Binomial Notes
Eastern spinebillAcanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Western spinebillAcanthorhynchus superciliosus
Pied honeyeaterCerthionyx variegatus
Yellow-spotted honeyeaterMeliphaga notata
Lewin's honeyeaterMeliphaga lewinii
White-lined honeyeaterTerritornis albilineata
Kimberley honeyeaterTerritornis fordiana
Graceful honeyeaterMicroptilotis gracilis
Cryptic honeyeaterMicroptilotis imitatrix
Yellow honeyeaterStomiopera flava
White-gaped honeyeaterStomiopera unicolor
White-fronted honeyeaterPurnella albifrons
Yellow-faced honeyeaterCaligavis chrysops
Yellow-tufted honeyeaterLichenostomus melanops
Purple-gaped honeyeaterLichenostomus cratitius
Bell minerManorina melanophrys
Noisy minerManorina melanocephala
Yellow-throated minerManorina flavigula
Black-eared minerManorina melanotis
Bridled honeyeaterBolemoreus frenatus
Eungella honeyeaterBolemoreus hindwoodi
Spiny-cheeked honeyeaterAcanthagenys rufogularis
Little wattlebirdAnthochaera chrysoptera
Western wattlebirdAnthochaera lunulata
Regent honeyeaterAnthochaera phrygia
Red wattlebirdAnthochaera carunculata
Yellow wattlebirdAnthochaera paradoxa
Varied honeyeaterGavicalis versicolor
Mangrove honeyeaterGavicalis fasciogularis
Singing honeyeaterGavicalis virescens
Yellow-plumed honeyeaterPtilotula ornata
White-plumed honeyeaterPtilotula penicillata
Yellow-tinted honeyeaterPtilotula flavescens
Fuscous honeyeaterPtilotula fusca
Grey-headed honeyeaterPtilotula keartlandi
Grey-fronted honeyeaterPtilotula plumula
Brown-backed honeyeaterRamsayornis modestus
Bar-breasted honeyeaterRamsayornis fasciatus
Rufous-banded honeyeaterConopophila albogularis
Rufous-throated honeyeaterConopophila rufogularis
Grey honeyeaterConopophila whitei
GibberbirdAshbyia lovensis
Yellow chatEpthianura crocea
Crimson chatEpthianura tricolor
Orange chatEpthianura aurifrons
White-fronted chatEpthianura albifrons
Black honeyeaterSugomel nigrum
Dusky honeyeaterMyzomela obscura
Red-headed honeyeaterMyzomela erythrocephala
Scarlet honeyeaterMyzomela sanguinolenta
Tawny-crowned honeyeaterGliciphila melanops
Green-backed honeyeaterGlycichaera fallax
Banded honeyeaterCissomela pectoralis
Brown honeyeaterLichmera indistincta
Crescent honeyeaterPhylidonyris pyrrhoptera
New Holland honeyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiae
White-cheeked honeyeaterPhylidonyris niger
White-streaked honeyeaterTrichodere cockerelli
White-eared honeyeaterNesoptilotis leucotis
Yellow-throated honeyeaterNesoptilotis flavicollis
Blue-faced honeyeaterEntomyzon cyanotis
White-throated honeyeaterMelithreptus albogularis
Gilbert's honeyeaterMelithreptus chloropsis
White-naped honeyeaterMelithreptus lunatus
Black-headed honeyeaterMelithreptus affinis
Brown-headed honeyeaterMelithreptus brevirostris
Black-chinned honeyeaterMelithreptus gularis
Strong-billed honeyeaterMelithreptus validirostris
Tawny-breasted honeyeaterXanthotis flaviventer
Macleay's honeyeaterXanthotis macleayana
Striped honeyeaterPlectorhyncha lanceolata
Painted honeyeaterGrantiella picta
Little friarbirdPhilemon citreogularis
Helmeted friarbirdPhilemon buceroides
Silver-crowned friarbirdPhilemon argenticeps
Noisy friarbirdPhilemon corniculatus

Bristlebirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dasyornithidae

3 species recorded [3 extant native]
Bristlebirds are long-tailed, sedentary, ground-frequenting birds. The common name of the family is derived from the presence of prominent rictal bristles - three stiff, hair-like feathers curving downwards on either side of the gape.

Common name Binomial Notes
Western bristlebirdDasyornis longirostris
Eastern bristlebirdDasyornis brachypterus
Rufous bristlebirdDasyornis broadbenti

Pardalotes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pardalotidae

4 species recorded [4 extant native]
Pardalotes spend most of their time high in the outer foliage of trees, feeding on insects, spiders, and above all lerps (a type of sap-sucking insect).

Common name Binomial Notes
Spotted pardalotePardalotus punctatus
Forty-spotted pardalotePardalotus quadragintus
Red-browed pardalotePardalotus rubricatus
Striated pardalotePardalotus striatus

Thornbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acanthizidae

45 species recorded [44 extant native, 1 extinct native]
Thornbills are small passerine birds, similar in habits to the tits.

Common name Binomial Notes
PilotbirdPycnoptilus floccosus
RockwarblerOrigma solitaria
FernwrenOreoscopus gutturalis
Yellow-throated scrubwrenNeosericornis citreogularis
White-browed scrubwrenSericornis frontalis
Spotted scrubwrenSericornis maculatus
Tasmanian scrubwrenSericornis humilis
Atherton scrubwrenSericornis keri
Tropical scrubwrenSericornis beccarii
Large-billed scrubwrenSericornis magnirostra
ScrubtitAcanthornis magna
RedthroatPyrrholaemus brunneus
Speckled warblerPyrrholaemus sagittatus
Rufous fieldwrenCalamanthus campestris
Western fieldwrenCalamanthus montanellus
Striated fieldwrenCalamanthus fuliginosus
Chestnut-rumped heathwrenHylacola pyrrhopygia
Shy heathwrenHylacola cauta
Buff-rumped thornbillAcanthiza reguloides
Western thornbillAcanthiza inornata
Slender-billed thornbillAcanthiza iredalei
Mountain thornbillAcanthiza katherina
Brown thornbillAcanthiza pusilla
Tasmanian thornbillAcanthiza ewingii
Inland thornbillAcanthiza apicalis
Yellow-rumped thornbillAcanthiza chrysorrhoa
Chestnut-rumped thornbillAcanthiza uropygialis
Slaty-backed thornbillAcanthiza robustirostris
Yellow thornbillAcanthiza nana
Striated thornbillAcanthiza lineata
WeebillSmicrornis brevirostris
Green-backed gerygoneGerygone chloronota
Fairy gerygoneGerygone palpebrosa
White-throated gerygoneGerygone olivacea
Yellow-bellied gerygoneGerygone chrysogaster
Large-billed gerygoneGerygone magnirostris
Dusky gerygoneGerygone tenebrosa
Brown gerygoneGerygone mouki
Western gerygoneGerygone fusca
Mangrove gerygoneGerygone levigaster
Norfolk Island gerygoneGerygone modestaNorfolk Island
Lord Howe gerygoneGerygone insularisextinct, Lord Howe Island
Southern whitefaceAphelocephala leucopsis
Chestnut-breasted whitefaceAphelocephala pectoralis
Banded whitefaceAphelocephala nigricincta

Pseudo-babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pomatostomidae

4 species recorded [4 extant native]
The pseudo-babblers are small to medium-sized birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. They are ground-feeding omnivores and highly social

Common name Binomial Notes
Grey-crowned babblerPomatostomus temporalis
White-browed babblerPomatostomus superciliosus
Hall's babblerPomatostomus halli
Chestnut-crowned babblerPomatostomus ruficeps

Logrunners

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Orthonychidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
The Orthonychidae is a family of birds with a single genus, Orthonyx, which comprises two types of passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea, the logrunners and the chowchilla. Both use stiffened tails to brace themselves when feeding.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian logrunnerOrthonyx temminckii
ChowchillaOrthonyx spaldingii

Quail-thrushes and jewel-babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclosomatidae

7 species recorded [7 extant native]
The Cinclosomatidae is a family containing jewel-babblers and quail-thrushes.

Common name Binomial Notes
Spotted quail-thrushCinclosoma punctatum
Chestnut quail-thrushCinclosoma castanotum
Copperback quail-thrushCinclosoma clarum
Chestnut-breasted quail-thrushCinclosoma castaneothorax
Western quail-thrushCinclosoma marginatum
Cinnamon quail-thrushCinclosoma cinnamomeum
Nullarbor quail-thrushCinclosoma alisteri

Cuckooshrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

8 species recorded [7 extant native, 1 extirpated native]
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

Common name Binomial Notes
Ground cuckooshrikeCoracina maxima
Barred cuckooshrikeCoracina lineata
Black-faced cuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
White-bellied cuckooshrikeCoracina papuensis
Long-tailed trillerLalage leucopygaextirpated, Norfolk Island
White-winged trillerLalage tricolor
Varied trillerLalage leucomela
Common cicadabirdEdolisoma tenuirostre

Sittellas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Neosittidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
The sittellas are a family of small passerine birds found only in Australasia. They resemble treecreepers, but have soft tails.

Common name Binomial Notes
Papuan sittellaDaphoenositta papuensis
Varied sittellaDaphoenositta chrysoptera

Whipbirds and wedgebills

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Psophodidae

5 species recorded [5 extant native]
The Psophodidae is a family containing whipbirds and wedgebills.

Common name Binomial Notes
Eastern whipbirdPsophodes olivaceus
Black-throated whipbirdPsophodes nigrogularis
White-bellied whipbirdPsophodes leucogaster
Chiming wedgebillPsophodes occidentalis
Chirruping wedgebillPsophodes cristatus

Australo-Papuan bellbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oreoicidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The three species contained in the family have been moved around between different families for fifty years. A series of studies of the DNA of Australian birds between 2006 and 2001 found strong support for treating the three genera as a new family, which was formally named in 2016.

Common name Binomial Notes
Crested bellbirdOreoica gutturalis

Shrike-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Falcunculidae

3 species recorded [3 extant native]
The shrike-tits have a parrot-like bill, used for distinctive bark-stripping behaviour, which gains it access to invertebrates.

Common name Binomial Notes
Eastern shrike-titFalcunculus frontatus
Western shrike-titFalcunculus leucogaster
Northern shrike-titFalcunculus whitei

Whistlers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

14 species recorded [14 extant native]
The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and some of the pitohuis.

Common name Binomial Notes
Sandstone shrikethrushColluricincla woodwardi
Bower's shrikethrushColluricincla boweri
Grey shrikethrushColluricincla harmonica
Arafura shrikethrushColluricincla megarhyncha
Rufous shrikethrushColluricincla rufogaster
Olive whistlerPachycephala olivacea
Red-lored whistlerPachycephala rufogularis
Gilbert's whistlerPachycephala inornata
Golden whistlerPachycephala pectoralis
Western whistlerPachycephala fuliginosa
Black-tailed whistlerPachycephala melanura
Grey whistlerPachycephala simplex
Rufous whistlerPachycephala rufiventris
White-breasted whistlerPachycephala lanioides

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

3 species recorded [3 extant native]
The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

Common name Binomial Notes
Olive-backed orioleOriolus sagittatus
Green orioleOriolus flavocinctus
Australasian figbirdSphecotheres vieilloti

Boatbills

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Machaerirhynchidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The boatbills have affinities to woodswallows and butcherbirds, and are distributed across New Guinea and northern Queensland.

Common name Binomial Notes
Yellow-breasted boatbillMachaerirhynchus flaviventer

Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

15 species recorded [15 extant native]
The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. The cracticids: currawongs, bellmagpies and butcherbirds, are similar to the other corvids. They have large, straight bills and mostly black, white or grey plumage. All are omnivorous to some degree.

Common name Binomial Notes
White-breasted woodswallowArtamus leucorynchus
Masked woodswallowArtamus personatus
White-browed woodswallowArtamus superciliosus
Black-faced woodswallowArtamus cinereus
Dusky woodswallowArtamus cyanopterus
Little woodswallowArtamus minor
Black-backed butcherbirdCracticus mentalis
Grey butcherbirdCracticus torquatus
Silver-backed butcherbirdCracticus argenteus
Pied butcherbirdCracticus nigrogularis
Black butcherbirdMelloria quoyi
Australian magpieGymnorhina tibicen
Pied currawongStrepera graculina
Black currawongStrepera fuliginosa
Grey currawongStrepera versicolor

Fantails

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

7 species recorded [6 extant native, 1 extirpated]
The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.

Common name Binomial Notes
Northern fantailRhipidura rufiventris
Willie-wagtailRhipidura leucophrys
Rufous fantailRhipidura rufifrons
Arafura fantailRhipidura dryas
Grey fantailRhipidura albiscapaincludes the Norfolk fantail R. a. pelzeni, which may be a subspecies of R. fuliginosa
Mangrove fantailRhipidura phasiana
New Zealand fantailRhipidura fuliginosaextirpated, Lord Howe Island; surviving Norfolk birds may be this species

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 vagrant]
The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

Common name Binomial Notes
Crow-billed drongoDicrurus annectensvagrant
Spangled drongoDicrurus bracteatus

Birds-of-paradise

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paradisaeidae

4 species recorded [4 extant native]
The birds-of-paradise are best known for the striking plumage possessed by the males of most species, in particular highly elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the tail, wings or head. These plumes are used in courtship displays to attract females.

Common name Binomial Notes
Trumpet manucodePhonygammus keraudrenii
Paradise riflebirdPtiloris paradiseus
Victoria's riflebirdPtiloris victoriae
Magnificent riflebirdPtiloris magnificus

Monarch flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

15 species recorded [13 extant native, 2 vagrant]
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

Common name Binomial Notes
White-eared monarchCarterornis leucotis
Island monarchMonarcha cinerascensvagrant
Black-faced monarchMonarcha melanopsis
Black-winged monarchMonarcha frater
Spectacled monarchSymposiachrus trivirgatus
Frilled monarchArses telescophthalmusvagrant, Torres Strait
Frill-necked monarchArses lorealis
Pied monarchArses kaupi
Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleuca
Leaden flycatcherMyiagra rubecula
Broad-billed flycatcherMyiagra ruficollis
Satin flycatcherMyiagra cyanoleuca
Restless flycatcherMyiagra inquieta
Paperbark flycatcherMyiagra nana
Shining flycatcherMyiagra alecto

White-winged chough and apostlebird

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corcoracidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
They are found in open habitat in eastern Australia, mostly open eucalypt woodlands and some forest that lacks a closed canopy. They are highly social, spend much of their time foraging through leaf litter with a very distinctive gait, calling to one another almost constantly

Common name Binomial Notes
White-winged choughCorcorax melanorhamphos
ApostlebirdStruthidea cinerea

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

2 species recorded [2 vagrant]
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Common name Binomial Notes
Tiger shrikeLanius tigrinusvagrant
Brown shrikeLanius cristatusvagrant, Christmas Island & Ashmore Reef

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

6 species recorded [5 extant native, 1 vagrant]
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Common name Binomial Notes
House crowCorvus splendensvagrant, introduced and now extirpated[6]
Torresian crowCorvus orru
Little crowCorvus bennetti
Australian ravenCorvus coronoides
Little ravenCorvus mellori
Forest ravenCorvus tasmanicus

Australasian robins

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Petroicidae

23 species recorded [23 extant native]
Most species of Petroicidae have a stocky build with a large rounded head, a short straight bill and rounded wingtips. They occupy a wide range of wooded habitats, from subalpine to tropical rainforest, and mangrove swamp to semi-arid scrubland. All are primarily insectivores, although a few supplement their diet with seeds.

Common name Binomial Notes
Jacky-winterMicroeca fascinans
Lemon-bellied flycatcherMicroeca flavigaster
Yellow-legged flycatcherMicroeca griseoceps
Scarlet robinPetroica boodang
Flame robinPetroica phoenicea
Rose robinPetroica rosea
Pink robinPetroica rodinogaster
Norfolk robinPetroica multicolorNorfolk Island
Red-capped robinPetroica goodenovii
Hooded robinMelanodryas cucullata
Dusky robinMelanodryas vittata
White-faced robinTregellasia leucops
Pale-yellow robinTregellasia capito
Eastern yellow robinEopsaltria australis
Western yellow robinEopsaltria griseogularis
White-breasted robinEopsaltria georgiana
Mangrove robinPeneonanthe pulverulenta
White-browed robinPoecilodryas superciliosa
Buff-sided robinPoecilodryas cerviniventris
Ashy robinHeteromyias albispecularis
Grey-headed robinHeteromyias cinereifrons
Northern scrub-robinDrymodes superciliaris
Southern scrub-robinDrymodes brunneopygia

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 introduced]
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Common name Binomial Notes
Horsfield's bushlarkMirafra javanica
Eurasian skylarkAlauda arvensisintroduced

Cisticolas and allies

Golden-headed cisticola

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Common name Binomial Notes
Zitting cisticolaCisticola juncidis
Golden-headed cisticolaCisticola exilis

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 vagrant]
The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Common name Binomial Notes
Oriental reed warblerAcrocephalus orientalisvagrant
Australian reed warblerAcrocephalus australis

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

8 species recorded [5 extant native, 3 vagrant]
Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

Common name Binomial Notes
SpinifexbirdPoodytes carteri
Little grassbirdPoodytes gramineus
Brown songlarkCincloramphus cruralis
Rufous songlarkCincloramphus mathewsi
Tawny grassbirdCincloramphus timoriensis
Gray's grasshopper warblerHelopsaltes fasciolatusvagrant, Ashmore Reef & possibly mainland
Pallas's grasshopper warblerHelopsaltes certhiolavagrant, Christmas Island & Ashmore Reef
Middendorff's grasshopper warblerHelopsaltes ochotensisvagrant

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

7 species recorded [6 extant native, 1 vagrant]
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Common name Binomial Notes
Barn swallowHirundo rustica
Welcome swallowHirundo neoxena
Red-rumped swallowCecropis daurica
Fairy martinPetrochelidon ariel
Tree martinPetrochelidon nigricans
Asian house-martinDelichon dasypusvagrant, Christmas & Cocos (Keeling) Islands
White-backed swallowCheramoeca leucosternus

Bulbuls

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

2 species recorded [1 introduced, 1 extirpated]
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

Common name Binomial Notes
Red-vented bulbulPycnonotus jocosusextirpated
Red-whiskered bulbulPycnonotus jocosusintroduced

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

6 species recorded [6 vagrant]
Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

Common name Binomial Notes
Yellow-browed warblerPhylloscopus inornatusvagrant, Ashmore Reef
Dusky warblerPhylloscopus fuscatusvagrant, Christmas Island
Willow warblerPhylloscopus trochilusvagrant, Ashmore Reef
Eastern crowned warblerPhylloscopus coronatusvagrant, Ashmore Reef
Arctic warblerPhylloscopus borealisvagrant
Kamchatka leaf warblerPhylloscopus examinandusvagrant, Ashmore Reef

Bush warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

1 species recorded [1 vagrant]
The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.[7]

Common name Binomial Notes
Asian stubtailUrosphena squameicepsvagrant, Ashmore Reef

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

8 species recorded [6 extant native, 1 possibly extinct native, 1 extinct native]
The white-eyes are small birds of rather drab appearance, the plumage above being typically greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast, or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As the name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

Common name Binomial Notes
Christmas Island white-eyeZosterops natalisChristmas Island
Lemon-bellied white-eyeZosterops chloris
Ashy-bellied white-eyeZosterops citrinella
Australian yellow white-eyeZosterops luteus
Slender-billed white-eyeZosterops tenuirostrisNorfolk Island
Robust white-eyeZosterops strenuusextinct, Lord Howe Island
White-chested white-eyeZosterops albogularispossibly extinct, Norfolk Island
SilvereyeZosterops lateralis

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

8 species recorded [2 extant native, 2 introduced, 3 vagrant, 1 extinct native]
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Common name Binomial Notes
Metallic starlingAplonis metallica
Singing starlingAplonis cantoroidesTorres Strait
Norfolk starlingAplonis fuscaextinct, Lord Howe & Norfolk Island
European starlingSturnus vulgarisintroduced
Rosy starlingPastor roseusvagrant
Daurian starlingAgropsar sturninusvagrant, Christmas & Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Chestnut-cheeked starlingAgropsar philippensisvagrant, Ashmore Reef
Common mynaAcridotheres tristisintroduced

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

7 species recorded [3 extant native, 2 introduced, 2 vagrant]
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Common name Binomial Notes
Bassian thrushZoothera lunulata
Russet-tailed thrushZoothera heinei
Siberian thrushGeokichla sibiricavagrant, Ashmore Reef
Song thrushTurdus philomelosintroduced
Eurasian blackbirdTurdus merulaintroduced
Eye-browed thrushTurdus obscurusvagrant
Island thrushTurdus poliocephalusChristmas Island

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

9 species recorded [9 vagrant]
Old World flycatchers are a large group of small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Common name Binomial Notes
Grey-streaked flycatcherMuscicapa griseistictavagrant, Ashmore Reef & Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dark-sided flycatcherMuscicapa sibiricavagrant
Asian brown flycatcherMuscicapa dauuricavagrant, Ashmore Reef, Browse & Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Blue-and-white flycatcherCyanoptila cyanomelanavagrant
Siberian blue robinLarvivora cyanevagrant, Ashmore Reef
Siberian rubythroatCalliope calliopevagrant
Narcissus flycatcherFicedula narcissinavagrant, Ashmore Reef, Barrow Island, WA & Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Mugimaki flycatcherFicedula mugimakivagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Blue rock-thrushMonticola solitariusvagrant
Amur stonechatSaxicola stejnegerivagrant
Isabelline wheatearOenanthe isabellinavagrant

Flowerpeckers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

2 species recorded [2 extant native]
The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills, and tubular tongues.

Common name Binomial Notes
Red-capped flowerpeckerDicaeum geelvinkianumTorres Strait
MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceum

Sunbirds and spiderhunters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

1 species recorded [1 extant native]
The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Their flight is fast and direct on short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Common name Binomial Notes
Olive-backed sunbirdNectarinia jugularis

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

22 species recorded [18 extant native, 3 introduced, 1 vagrant]
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.

Common name Binomial Notes
Painted firetailEmblema pictum
Beautiful firetailStagonopleura bella
Red-eared firetailStagonopleura oculata
Diamond firetailStagonopleura guttata
Red-browed finchNeochmia temporalis
Crimson finchNeochmia phaeton
Star finchBathilda ruficauda
Plum-headed finchAidemosyne modesta
Zebra finchTaeniopygia guttata
Double-barred finchStizoptera bichenovii
Masked finchPoephila personata
Long-tailed finchPoephila acuticauda
Black-throated finchPoephila cincta
Blue-faced parrotfinchErythrura trichroa
Gouldian finchChloebia gouldiae
Scaly-breasted muniaLonchura punctulataintroduced, mainland; vagrant, Ashmore Reef
Chestnut muniaLonchura atricapillaintroduced
Pale-headed muniaLonchura pallidavagrant, Ashmore Reef
Yellow-rumped muniaLonchura flaviprymna
Chestnut-breasted muniaLonchura castaneothorax
Java sparrowPadda oryzivoraintroduced, Christmas Island
Pictorella muniaHeteromunia pectoralis

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

2 species recorded [2 introduced]
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds, typically small, plump, brown or grey with short tails and short powerful beaks. They are seed-eaters, but also consume small insects.

Common name Binomial Notes
House sparrowPasser domesticusintroduced
Eurasian tree sparrowPasser montanusintroduced

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

10 species recorded [4 extant native, 6 vagrant]
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails and comprises the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. These are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

Common name Binomial Notes
Forest wagtailDendronanthus indicusvagrant
Grey wagtailMotacilla cinereavagrant
Western yellow wagtailMotacilla flava
Eastern yellow wagtailMotacilla tschutschensis
Citrine wagtailMotacilla citreolavagrant
White wagtailMotacilla albavagrant
Australian pipitAnthus australis
Tree pipitAnthus trivialisvagrant
New Zealand pipitAnthus novaeseelandiaevagrant
Pechora pipitAnthus gustavivagrant, Ashmore Reef & Browse Island
Red-throated pipitAnthus cervinusvagrant

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

5 species recorded [4 introduced, 1 introduced vagrant]
Finches are small to moderately large seed-eating passerine birds with a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have 12 tail feathers and nine primary flight feathers. Finches have a bouncing flight, alternating bouts of flapping with gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Common name Binomial Notes
Common chaffinchFringilla coelebsvagrant from introduced NZ population, Macquarie, Lord Howe & Norfolk Island
European greenfinchChloris chlorisintroduced
Common redpollAcanthis flammeaintroduced, Macquarie Island & vagrant, Lord Howe Island; in both cases, from introduced NZ population
Lesser redpollAcanthis cabaretintroduced
European goldfinchCarduelis carduelisintroduced

Old World buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

2 species recorded [1 introduced vagrant, 1 vagrant]
The emberizids are a large family of seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Common name Binomial Notes
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellavagrant from introduced NZ population, Lord Howe Island & possibly Macquarie Island
Yellow-breasted buntingEmberiza aureolavagrant

See also

References

  1. Christidis, Leslie; Boles, Walter (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne: CSIRO. ISBN 978-0-643-09602-8.
  2. Christidis, Leslie; Boles, Walter (1994). The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. ISBN 978-1-875122-06-6.
  3. "Birds Australia Checklist". Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  4. Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Australia". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  5. "Birds of Western Australia, the complete checklist". WICE (World Institute for Conservation and Environment). Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  6. BirdLife International (2018). "Corvus splendens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22705938A131944731. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22705938A131944731.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  7. Gill, F. and D. Donsker (Eds). 2019. IOC World Bird List (v 9.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.9.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ retrieved 22 June 2019.
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