bird database

Australasian Darter

Anhinga novaehollandiae

A large, slim water bird with a long snake-like neck, sharp pointed bill, and long, rounded tail. Males are dark brownish black with glossy black upperwings, streaked and spotted white, silver-grey and brown. Females and immatures are grey-brown above, pale grey to white below, with a white neck stripe that is less distinct in young birds. Often seen swimming with only the snake-like neck visible above the water or drying its wings while perched on a tree or stump over water. The Darter catches fish with its sharp bill partly open while diving in water deeper than 60 cm. The fish is pierced from underneath, flicked onto the water's surface and then swallowed head first.

678

Common

Australasian Grebe

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

A small waterbird with two distinct plumage phases. The non-breeding plumage is dark grey-brown above and mostly silver-grey below, with a white oval patch of bare skin at the base of the bill. During the breeding season, both sexes have a glossy-black head and a rich chestnut facial stripe which extends from just behind the eye through to the base of the neck. When approached, Australasian Grebes usually dive under water. Food consists mainly of small fish and water insects. Prey is normally caught during deep underwater dives, but some is taken on the surface.

568

Common

Australian King-Parrot

Alisterus scapularis

Male Australian King-Parrots are the only Australian parrots with a completely red head. Females are similar to males except that they have a completely green head and breast. Both sexes have a red belly and a green back, with green wings and a long green tail. Normally encountered in pairs or family groups. Mostly forages in trees for seeds and fruit.

354

Common

Australian White Ibis

Threskiornis molucca

Identified by its almost entirely white body plumage and black head and neck. The head is featherless and its black bill is long and down-curved. During the breeding season the small patch of skin on the under-surface of the wing changes from dull pink to dark scarlet. Adult birds have a tuft of cream plumes on the base of the neck. Females differ from males by being slightly smaller, with shorter bills. Young birds are similar to adults, but have the neck covered with black feathers. Its food includes both land and water invertebrates and human scraps. 

560

Common

Australian Wood Duck

Chenonetta jubata

A medium-sized 'goose-like' duck with a dark brown head and a pale grey body with two black stripes along the back. Males have the darker head and a small dark mane, with a speckled brown-grey breast and a black lower belly and undertail. The females have a paler head with two white stripes, above and below the eye, a speckled breast and flanks, with a white lower belly and undertail. In flight, the wings are pale grey above, contrasting with black wingtips, and have a noticeable white bar on the underside (the secondaries). They walk easily on land and may be seen perching on logs and in trees. They will only take to open water when disturbed. Eats grasses, clover and other herbs, and occasionally, insects. 

718

Common

Azure Kingfisher

Ceyx azureus

A small kingfisher with a long slender black bill and a short tail. The head, neck, upper parts and breast sides are deep azure blue with a violet (purplish) sheen. The neck has a distinctive orange stripe on each side and there is a small orange spot before each eye. The throat is pale orange-white, grading to orange-reddish on belly and undertail. The flanks and sides of the breast are washed purple to violet. The legs and feet are red. The sexes are similar. Young birds have a darker cap and are generally duller. It plunges from overhanging perches into water to catch prey such as fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects and other invertebrates, and, sometimes, frogs. 

674

Uncommon

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Coracina novaehollandiae

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes have a black face and throat, blue-grey back, wings and tail, and white underparts. They are slender, attractive birds. They have a curious habit of shuffling their wings upon landing, a practice that gave rise to the name "Shufflewing", which is often used for this species. This shuffling is also carried out by most other species in this family. Young birds resemble the adults, except the black facial mask is reduced to an eye stripe. Feeds on insects and other invertebrates which may be caught in the air, taken from foliage or caught on the ground. Also eats some fruits and seeds.

616

Common

Black-shouldered Kite

Elanus axillaris

Black-shouldered Kites are medium to small raptors (birds of prey), and are mostly pale grey above, with a pure white head, body and tail and black shoulders. The wings are white underneath, with black wing tips and the wing span is 80 cm to 100 cm. Females are larger than males. The red eye is marked by a black comma that extends behind it. The nostrils are yellow and the legs and feet are also yellow. It has a direct flight with quick shallow wing beats interspersed with glides on upswept wings (like a seagull), and is often seen hovering, with feet dangling. Feeds mainly on rodents and insects such as grasshoppers. It prefers to hunt during the day, particularly early morning and late afternoon, often hovering with its wings held upright in a V-shape, before dropping down and grabbing prey with its talons. Prey items are eaten while flying or on a perch.

869

Less Common

Brown Thornbill

Acanthiza pusilla

A small bird; one of the medium-sized and more common of the thornbills. It has olive-brown to grey upperparts, with a warm reddish-brown forehead scalloped with paler markings. The rump has a reddish-brown patch, the tail is grey-brown with a black band and a pale tip, and the underparts are off-white, streaked blackish on the chin, throat and chest. The eye is dark red. The sexes are similar and young birds are only slightly different to adults, with a duller eye. Feeds mainly on insects, but may sometimes eat seeds, nectar or fruit. They feed, mainly in pairs, at all levels from the ground up, but mostly in understorey shrubs and low trees.

651

Common

Buff-banded Rail

Gallirallus philippensis

A medium-sized and stout rail with short legs. It has a distinctive grey eyebrow and an orange-brown band on its streaked breast. The lores, cheek and hindneck are rich chestnut. The chin and throat are grey, the upperparts streaked brown, and the underparts barred black and white. The eye is red. Young birds are much paler to white underneath, with indistinct bars and only a faint orange-brown tint on the breast. Walks slowly, with tail raised and flicking constantly.  Feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, insects, seeds, fruit, frogs, carrion and refuse. It mostly feeds early in the morning and the evening.

610

Uncommon

Chestnut Teal

Anas castanea

A small dabbling duck with a high forehead and rounded head. Males have a distinctive glossy green head, chestnut brown neck, breast and flanks, dark brown upper body and wings, and a black undertail with contrasting white patch. Females are mottled dark brown and grey, with a pale throat streaked brown and a dark eye stripe. In both sexes the eye is a deep red, the bill is blue-grey and the legs and feet are green-grey. The wings have a dark glossy green to purple speculum (panel) edged white and the underwing is brown, with white wing pits. It eats seeds and insects, along with some vegetation, as well as molluscs and crustaceans. It mainly feeds at the water's edge and also dabbles for food while swimming in the water, up-ends to bottom feed or takes food from the surface.

786

Common

Common Bronzewing

Phaps chalcoptera

A medium-sized, heavily built pigeon. The male has a yellow-white forehead and pink breast. Both sexes have a clear white line below and around the eye and patches of green, blue and red in the wing, characteristic of all bronzewings. It is a cautious pigeon, and rarely allows close approach. If startled, it flies away with a clatter, keeping low to the ground while moving in a steady, direct manner. Young Common Bronzewings are duller and browner than the adults. The metallic wing patch is absent or not easily seen. They feed on seeds and other vegetable matter, on the ground and in small parties.

605

Common

Crimson Rosella

Platycercus elegans

The Crimson Rosella has mostly crimson (red) plumage and bright blue cheeks. The feathers of the back and wing coverts are black broadly edged with red. The flight feathers of the wings have broad blue edges, and the tail is blue above and pale blue below and on the outer feathers. Young Crimson Rosellas have the characteristic blue cheeks, but the remainder of the body plumage is green-olive to yellowish olive (occasionally red in some areas). The young bird gradually attains the adult plumage over a period of 15 months. They are normally encountered in small flocks and are easily attracted to garden seed trays. Once familiar with humans, they will accept hand-held food. Natural foods include seeds of eucalypts, grasses and shrubs, as well as insects and some tree blossoms.

785

Common

Dusky Moorhen

Gallinula tenebrosa

A medium-sized, dark grey-black water bird with a white undertail. It has a red bill with a yellow tip and a red facial shield. Young birds are much duller and browner than adults, with a greenish bill and face shield. It feeds in the water and on land on algae, water plants and grasses, as well as seeds, fruits, molluscs and other invertebrates. It will also eat carrion (dead animals) and the droppings of other birds. It does not dive when feeding; its tail is always visible above the water when upended.

510

Common

Eastern Rosella

Platycercus eximius

A medium-sized colourful parrot with distinctive white cheek patches. It has a red head, neck and breast, with yellowish to greenish upper parts, a yellow underbody and a yellow-green to blue-green rump, with a red undertail. The shoulders are bright blue. Females are usually similar to males, but sometimes duller and young birds are even duller and can be aged by their bill colour, which is yellow or orange, changing to off-white when mature. It mainly feeds on the ground, especially amongst grasses in lawns, pastures and other clearings. Also feeds in trees and bushes. Main dietary items include: seeds, fruits, buds, flowers, nectar and insects.

655

Common

Eastern Yellow Robin

Eopsaltria australis

A medium sized robin with a grey back and head, and yellow underparts. Southern birds have an olive-yellow rump, while in northern birds it is brighter yellow. The throat is off-white and, in flight, there is a pale off-white wing bar. The bill is black. Both sexes are similar in plumage colour and pattern, but the female is slightly smaller. Young Eastern Yellow Robins are rufous-brown. The plumage has some paler streaks, which are confined to the wings when the birds are a little older. They feed on insects, spiders and other arthropods. These are caught mostly on the ground, and are pounced on from a low perch. Some handouts are also taken at picnic areas. Birds normally feed alone, but may also be seen in pairs or small family groups.

749

Common

Eurasian Coot

Fulica atra

The Eurasian Coot is recognised by its snowy white bill and forehead shield. The remainder of the bird is dark sooty grey, except for its bright red eye. Immature birds are generally paler than adults with a white wash on the throat. Nestlings are downy, black with fine yellow tips. The head is orange-red and the bill is red with a cream-white tip. They feed almost entirely on vegetable matter, supplemented with only a few insects, worms and fish. Food is mainly obtained during underwater dives, lasting up to 15 seconds and ranging down to 7 m in depth. Birds also graze on the land and on the surface of the water.

622

Common

Galah

Eolophus roseicapillus

Easily identified by its rose-pink head, neck and underparts, with paler pink crown, and grey back, wings and undertail. Galahs have a bouncing acrobatic flight, but spend much of the day sheltering from heat in the foliage of trees and shrubs. Huge noisy flocks of birds congregate and roost together at night. Galahs form huge, noisy flocks which feed on seeds, mostly from the ground. Seeds of grasses and cultivated crops are eaten, making these birds agricultural pests in some areas. Birds may travel large distances in search of favourable feeding grounds.

563

Common

Golden Whistler

Pachycephala pectoralis

The adult male is bright yellow on the underside, olive-green on the back and wings, and black on the head with a bright yellow collar. The throat is white, separated from the yellow chest by a broad black band. The bill and legs are black. Females lack bright plumage. They are generally grey above, with a pale olive tinge, and paler grey below, with a buff wash. The bill is dark brown and the legs grey-brown. The eye is red-brown in adults of both sexes. Young Golden Whistlers are rufous. As they mature, the plumage comes to resemble that of the female other than rufous edges to some wing feathers. These are later replaced as the bird matures. They feed on insects, spiders and other small arthropods. Berries are also eaten. Feeding is usually done alone and most food is obtained from the lower or middle tree level, where it is picked from leaves and bark.

868

Common

Great Egret

Ardea modesta

Overall plumage is white, and, for most of the year, when not breeding, the bill and facial skin are yellow. The feet are dark olive-grey or sooty black, as are the legs. During the breeding season, the bill turns mostly black and the facial skin becomes green. Also at this time, long hair-like feathers (nuptial plumes) hang across the lower back, and the legs become pinkish-yellow at the top. Young Great Egrets are similar to the adults but have a blackish tip to the bill. It usually feeds alone on molluscs, amphibians, aquatic insects, small reptiles, crustaceans and occasionally other small animals, but fish make up the bulk of its diet. The Great Egret usually hunts in water, wading through the shallows, or standing motionless before stabbing at prey.

766

Common

Grey Butcherbird

Cracticus torquatus

The adult has a black crown and face and a grey back, with a thin white collar. The wings are grey, with large areas of white and the underparts are white. The grey and black bill is large, with a small hook at the tip of the upper bill. The eye is dark brown, and the legs and feet are dark grey. Both sexes are similar in plumage, but the females are slightly smaller than the males. Young Grey Butcherbirds resemble adults, but have black areas replaced with olive-brown and a buff wash on the white areas. The bill is completely dark grey and often lacks an obvious hook. They are sometimes mistaken for small kingfishers. Grey Butcherbirds are aggressive predators. They prey on small animals, including birds, lizards and insects, as well as some fruits and seeds. Uneaten food may be stored in the fork or a branch or impaled.

833

Common

Grey Fantail

Rhipidura albiscapa

The Grey Fantail is most easily recognised by its constantly fanned tail and agile aerial twists and turns. Both sexes are similar in appearance: grey above, with white eyebrow, throat and tail edges. This species is quite inquisitive and will closely approach an observer. It feeds on flying insects, which it catches by chasing them from the edge of foliage at all levels in the canopy.

388

Common

Grey Shrike-thrush

Colluricincla harmonica

A rather drab coloured bird, with mostly grey plumage, with an olive-grey back, and pale grey-white cheeks and underparts. Adult males are browner on the mantle than the female and young birds have varying amounts of rufous on the cheeks and wings. It searches for food on the ground, generally around fallen logs, and on the limbs and trunks of trees. It has a varied diet consisting of insects, spiders, small mammals, frogs and lizards, and birds' eggs and young, and some birds have been observed feeding on carrion. Fruits and seeds may also be eaten on occasion.

568

Common

Latham's Snipe

Gallinago hardwickii

The largest snipe in Australia, with cryptic, mainly brown, plumage. The bill is long and straight, the wings rather short and pointed and the tail is long. It has short legs and when folded, the wings project well past the tail, giving a pointed look. The upper body is boldly patterned with black, brown and white. There is a bold narrow dark brown cheek stripe and dark line through the eye. The sexes are similar and, unlike most migratory waders, do not show a lot of seasonal variation. The eyes are set well back on the distinctive rounded head. Snipe are very shy and wary and burst from cover when disturbed, zig-zaggingg off with a very fast flight, with a 'crek' call, before dropping to cover again. This is often the first indication that they are around, as they are usually well-camouflaged when still. This species is also known as the Japanese Snipe. It feeds by thrusting their long bill into mud with an up and down 'sewing machine' action in soft mudflats or shallow water. They roost in the day and feed at night, early morning or evening. They are omnivorous, eating seeds and plant material, worms, spiders and insects, some molluscs, isopods and centipedes.

1181

Seasonal

Little Black Cormorant

Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

A small, slim, totally black cormorant with a greenish sheen to the back and a slender grey hooked bill. In the breeding season, adults have fine white flecks on the head and neck and the green tinge becomes more bronze. This species congregates in larger flocks than other cormorants and flies in V-shaped formations. It feeds on fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects and catches prey underwater, by diving and swimming using its large, fully webbed feet for propulsion. It has special nictitating membranes that cover and protect the eyes underwater. As their feathers are not waterproof, cormorants are regularly seen perched with their wings outstretched to dry after fishing.

680

Common