List_of_Western_Australian_birds

List of birds of Western Australia

List of birds of Western Australia

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This is a list of the wild birds found in Western Australia. The list includes introduced species, common vagrants, recently extinct species, extirpated species, some very rare vagrants (seen once) and species only present in captivity. 629 species are listed.[1][2]

The taxonomy is based on Christidis and Boles, 2008.[3] Their system has been developed over nearly two decades[4] and has strong local support,[5] but deviates in important ways from more generally accepted schemes.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.[6] All of the birds below are included in the total bird count for Western Australia.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.

  • (A) Accidental – a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Western Australia
  • (E) Endemic – a species endemic to Western Australia
  • (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Western Australia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
  • (Ex) Extirpated – a species that no longer occurs in Western Australia although populations exist elsewhere
  • (X) Extinct – a species or subspecies that no longer exists.


Ostriches

Order: Struthioniformes   Family: Struthionidae

This order is not native to Western Australia, but feral populations of one species have become established.

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Cassowaries and emu

Order: Casuariiformes   Family: Dromaiidae

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.

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Magpie goose

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anseranatidae

Magpie goose

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.

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Plumed whistling ducks
Musk duck
Black swan
Pink-eared duck
Pacific black duck

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.

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Megapodes

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

Malleefowl

Megapodiidae are represented by various species in the Australasian region. They are commonly referred to as "mound-builders" due to their habit of constructing large mounds to incubate their eggs.

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Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

Numididae are not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species exist in Western Australia.

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Brown quail

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.

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Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Australasian grebe

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.

Australasian grebe
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Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Crested pigeon and spinifex pigeon

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

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Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

Channel-billed cuckoo
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Frogmouths

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Podargidae

The frogmouths are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from India across southern Asia to Australia.

Tawny frogmouth
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Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Owlet-nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Aegothelidae

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.

Australian owlet-nightjar
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Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

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.

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Australasian swamphen
Australian crake
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Red-necked avocet
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Masked lapwing
Double-banded plover non-breeding plumage
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Painted-snipes

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Australian painted-snipe
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 vagrant]

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Sanderling
Red knot
Sharp-tailed sandpiper
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Buttonquail

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Little tern with Great crested terns
Pacific gull
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Red-tailed tropicbird

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.

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Penguins

Order: Sphenisciformes   Family: Spheniscidae

A wild little penguin returning to its burrow to feed its chicks

Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Only one species, the little penguin, breeds on the Australian coast.

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Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

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.

White-capped albatross
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Southern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

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.

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

Short-tailed shearwater

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.

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Storks

Black necked stork (jabiru) and juvenile pied heron in flight

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Great frigatebird
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

Australasian gannet

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

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Anhingas

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

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.

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Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

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.

Little pied cormorant
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Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with distinctive pouches under their bills. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

Pacific heron
Australian little egret
Pacific reef-heron, dark morph
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Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Royal spoonbill
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Gray goshawk
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Australian masked-owl
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Laughing kookaburra
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Bee-eaters

Rainbow bee-eater

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Cockatoos

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Rainbow lorikeet
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Pittas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Scrub-birds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Atrichornithidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Bowerbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptilonorhynchidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Australasian treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Climacteridae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Fairywrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Maluridae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Honeyeaters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

New Holland honeyeater
Little friarbird
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Bristlebirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dasyornithidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Pardalotes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pardalotidae

Spotted pardalote
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Thornbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acanthizidae

White-browed scrubwren
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Pseudo-babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pomatostomidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Quail-thrushes and jewel-babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclosomatidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Cuckooshrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Sittellas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Neosittidae

Varied sittella
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Whipbirds and wedgebills

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Psophodidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Australo-Papuan bellbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oreoicidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Shrike-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Falcunculidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Whistlers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Fantails

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

Spangled drongo
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Monarch flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

Leaden flycatcher
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Australasian robins

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Petroicidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Cisticolas and allies

Golden-headed cisticola

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

Australian reed warbler
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Little grassbird
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

Fairy martin
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Bulbuls

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Bush warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies

Silvereye

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Flowerpeckers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

Double-barred finch
Red-browed firetail
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Australian pipit chicks
More information Common name, Binomial ...

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

More information Common name, Binomial ...

See also


References

  1. Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Western Australia". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. "Birds of Western Australia, the complete checklist". WICE (World Institute for Conservation and Environment). Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. Christidis, Leslie; Boles, Walter (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne: CSIRO. ISBN 978-0-643-09602-8.
  4. 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.
  5. "Birds Australia Checklist". Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  6. Clements, James F. (2022). Birds of the World: A Checklist (6th ed.). Cornell University Press.
  • Serventy, D.L.; Whittell, H.M. (1976) [1948]. A Handbook of the Birds of Western Australia. Perth, WA, Australia: University Press of Western Australia.
  • Johnstone, R.E.; Storr, G.M. (1998). Handbook of Western Australian Birds. Volume 1 – Non-Passerines (Emu to Dollarbird). Oxford University Press.

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