List of birds of South Australia

South Australia is a state in Australia with 487 species of bird recorded.

This list is based on the 1996 classification by Sibley and Monroe (though there has been a recent (2008) extensive revision of Australian birds by Christidis and ^[1]), which has resulted in some lumping and splitting.^[2] Their system has been developed over nearly two decades^[3] and has strong local support, but deviates in important ways from more generally accepted schemes. Supplemental updates follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2021 edition.^[4][5]

This list also uses British English throughout. Any bird names or other wording follows that convention. 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 South Australia
• (E) Endemic - a species endemic to South Australia
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to South Australia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions

Ostriches[]

Order: Struthioniformes   Family: Struthionidae

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

• Common ostrich, Struthio camelus (I)

Cassowaries and emu[]

Order: Casuariiformes   Family: Casuariidae

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.

• Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae

Magpie goose[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anseranatidae

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.

• Magpie goose, Anseranas semipalmata (A)

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

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.

Megapodes[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

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.

• Australian brushturkey, Alectura lathami (I)
• Malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

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.

• Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I)
• Brown quail, Synoicus ypsilophora (A)
• Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis
• Stubble quail, Coturnix pectoralis

Grebes[]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

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, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
• Hoary-headed grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus
• Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus

Pigeons and doves[]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

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

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
• Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis (I)
• Common bronzewing, Phaps chalcoptera
• Brush bronzewing, Phaps elegans
• Flock bronzewing, Phaps histrionica
• Crested pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes
• Spinifex pigeon, Geophaps plumifera
• Diamond dove, Geopelia cuneata
• Peaceful dove, Geopelia placida

Bustards[]

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

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.

• Australian bustard, Ardeotis australis

Cuckoos[]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

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.

• Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus
• Pacific koel, Eudynamys orientalis
• Channel-billed cuckoo, Scythrops novaehollandiae (A)
• Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis
• Black-eared cuckoo, Chrysococcyx osculans
• Shining bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus
• Pallid cuckoo, Cuculus pallidus
• Fan-tailed cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis
• Brush cuckoo, Cacomantis variolosus (A)

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, Podargus strigoides

Nightjars and allies[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

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.

• Spotted nightjar, Eurostopodus argus

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, Aegotheles cristatus

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.

• White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus
• Pacific swift, Apus pacificus
• House swift, Apus nipalensis (A)

Rails, gallinules, and coots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

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.

• Lewin's rail, Lewinia pectoralis
• Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis
• Black-tailed nativehen, Tribonyx ventralis
• Australian crake, Porzana fluminea
• Dusky moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
• Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
• Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus
• Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla
• Spotless crake, Zapornia tabuensis

Cranes[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

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".

• Brolga, Antigone rubicunda

Thick-knees[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

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.

• Bush thick-knee, Burhinus grallarius
• Beach thick-knee, Esacus magnirostris

Stilts and avocets[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

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.

• Pied stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus
• Banded stilt, Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
• Red-necked avocet, Recurvirostra novaehollandiae

Oystercatchers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

• Pied oystercatcher, Haematopus longirostris
• Sooty oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus

Plovers and lapwings[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

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.

Plains-wanderer[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Pedionomidae

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.

• Plains-wanderer, Pedionomus torquatus

Painted-snipes[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.

• Australian painted-snipe, Rostratula australis

Sandpipers and allies[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

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.

Buttonquail[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

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.

• Painted buttonquail, Turnix varius
• Red-chested buttonquail, Turnix pyrrhothorax
• Little buttonquail, Turnix velox

Pratincoles and coursers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

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.

• Australian pratincole, Stiltia isabella
• Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)

Skuas and jaegers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

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.

• South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A)
• Brown skua, Stercorarius antarcticus (A)
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

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.

Tropicbirds[]

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

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

• Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda (A)

Penguins[]

Order: Sphenisciformes   Family: Spheniscidae

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.

• King penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus (A)
• Little penguin, Eudyptula minor
• Fiordland penguin, Eudyptes pachyrhynchus (A)
• Erect-crested penguin, Eudyptes sclateri (A)
• Macaroni penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus (A)
• Royal penguin, Eudyptes schlegeli (A)
• Southern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome (A)
• Moseley's rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes moseleyi (A)
• Snares penguin, Eudyptes robustus (A)

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.

• Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos
• Grey-headed albatross, Thalassarche chrysostoma (A)
• Buller's albatross, Thalassarche bulleri (A)
• White-capped albatross, Thalassarche cauta
• Salvin's albatross, Thalassarche salvini (A)
• Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris
• Sooty albatross, Phoebetria fusca (A)
• Light-mantled albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata (A)
• Royal albatross, Diomedea epomophora
• Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans

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.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
• Grey-backed storm-petrel, Garrodia nereis
• White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina
• Black-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta tropica (A)

Shearwaters and petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

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.

Boobies and gannets[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

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

• Australasian gannet, Morus serrator

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.

• Australasian darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae

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, Microcarbo melanoleucos
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• Little black cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
• Pied cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius
• Black-faced cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscescens

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.

• Australian pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus

Herons, egrets, and bitterns[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

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.

• Australasian bittern, Botaurus poiciloptilus
• Black-backed bittern, Ixobrychus dubius
• Pacific heron, Ardea pacifica
• Great egret, Ardea alba
• Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
• White-faced heron, Egretta novaehollandiae
• Little egret, Egretta garzetta
• Pacific reef-heron, Egretta sacra
• Pied heron, Egretta picata
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Nankeen night-heron, Nycticorax caledonicus

Ibises and spoonbills[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

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.

• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• Australian ibis, Threskiornis moluccus
• Straw-necked ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis
• Royal spoonbill, Platalea regia
• Yellow-billed spoonbill, Platalea flavipes

Osprey[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

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.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Barn-owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Australian masked-owl, Tyto novaehollandiae
• Australasian grass-owl, Tyto longimembris (A)
• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

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.

• Powerful owl, Ninox strenua
• Barking owl, Ninox connivens
• Southern boobook, Ninox boobook
• Morepork, Ninox novaeseelandiae

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

• Azure kingfisher, Ceyx azureus
• Laughing kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae '
• Red-backed kingfisher, Todiramphus pyrrhopygius
• Sacred kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus

Bee-eaters[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

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.

• Rainbow bee-eater, Merops ornatus

Rollers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

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.

• Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis

Falcons and caracaras[]

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

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.

• Nankeen kestrel, Falco cenchroides
• Australian hobby, Falco longipennis
• Brown falcon, Falco berigora
• Grey falcon, Falco hypoleucos
• Black falcon, Falco subniger
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Cockatoos[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae

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.

• Red-tailed black-cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus banksii
• Glossy black-cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus lathami
• Yellow-tailed black-cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus funereus
• Gang-gang cockatoo, Callocephalon fimbriatum (I)
• Pink cockatoo, Lophochroa leadbeateri
• Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla
• Long-billed corella, Cacatua tenuirostris
• Little corella, Cacatua sanguinea
• Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Cacatua galerita
• Cockatiel, Nymphicus hollandicus

Old World parrots[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

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.

Bowerbirds[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptilonorhynchidae

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 center to a complex and highly decorated structure of sticks and leaves.

• Western bowerbird, Chlamydera guttata
• Spotted bowerbird, Chlamydera maculata (A)

Australasian treecreepers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Climacteridae

The Climacteridae are medium-small, mostly brown-coloured birds with patterning on their underparts.

• White-throated treecreeper, Cormobates leucophaea
• White-browed treecreeper, Climacteris affinis
• Brown treecreeper, Climacteris picumnus
• Rufous treecreeper, Climacteris rufus

Fairywrens[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Maluridae

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.

Honeyeaters[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

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.

Bristlebirds[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dasyornithidae

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.

• Rufous bristlebird, Dasyornis broadbenti

Pardalotes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pardalotidae

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).

• Spotted pardalote, Pardalotus punctatus
• Red-browed pardalote, Pardalotus rubricatus
• Striated pardalote, Pardalotus striatus

Thornbills and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acanthizidae

Thornbills are small passerine birds, similar in habits to the tits.

Pseudo-babblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pomatostomidae

The pseudo-babblers are small to medium-sized birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. They are ground-feeding omnivores and highly social.

• Grey-crowned babbler, Pomatostomus temporalis
• White-browed babbler, Pomatostomus superciliosus
• Chestnut-crowned babbler, Pomatostomus ruficeps

Quail-thrushes and jewel-babblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclosomatidae

The Cinclosomatidae is a family containing jewel-babblers and quail-thrushes.

• Spotted quail-thrush, Cinclosoma punctatum
• Chestnut quail-thrush, Cinclosoma castanotum
• Copperback quail-thrush, Cinclosoma clarum
• Western quail-thrush, Cinclosoma marginatum
• Cinnamon quail-thrush, Cinclosoma cinnamomeum
• Nullarbor quail-thrush, Cinclosoma alisteri

Cuckooshrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

• Ground cuckooshrike, Coracina maxima '
• Black-faced cuckooshrike, Coracina novaehollandiae
• White-bellied cuckooshrike, Coracina papuensis
• White-winged triller, Lalage tricolor
• Common cicadabird, Edolisoma tenuirostre

Sittellas[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Neosittidae

The sittellas are a family of small passerine birds found only in Australasia. They resemble treecreepers, but have soft tails.

• Varied sittella, Neositta chrysoptera

Whipbirds and wedgebills[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Psophodidae

The Psophodidae is a family containing whipbirds and wedgebills.

• Western whipbird, Psophodes nigrogularis
• Chiming wedgebill, Psophodes occidentalis
• Chirruping wedgebill, Psophodes cristatus

Australo-Papuan bellbirds[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oreoicidae

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.

• Crested bellbird, Oreoica gutturalis

Shrike-tit[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Falcunculidae

The crested shrike-tit has a parrot-like bill, used for distinctive bark-stripping behaviour, which gains it access to invertebrates

• Crested shrike-tit, Falcunculus frontatus

Whistlers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and some of the pitohuis.

• Grey shrikethrush, Colluricincla harmonica
• Olive whistler, Pachycephala olivacea
• Red-lored whistler, Pachycephala rufogularis
• Gilbert's whistler, Pachycephala inornata
• Golden whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis
• Rufous whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris

Old World orioles[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

• Olive-backed oriole, Oriolus sagittatus

Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

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.

• White-breasted woodswallow, Artamus leucorynchus
• Masked woodswallow, Artamus personatus
• White-browed woodswallow, Artamus superciliosus
• Black-faced woodswallow, Artamus cinereus
• Dusky woodswallow, Artamus cyanopterus
• Little woodswallow, Artamus minor
• Grey butcherbird, Cracticus torquatus
• Pied butcherbird, Cracticus nigrogularis
• Australian magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen
• Pied currawong, Strepera graculina
• Grey currawong, Strepera versicolor

Fantails[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.

• Willie-wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys
• Rufous fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons
• Grey fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa

Drongos[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

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.

• Spangled drongo, Dicrurus bracteatus

Monarch flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

• Magpie-lark, Grallina cyanoleuca
• Satin flycatcher, Myiagra cyanoleuca
• Restless flycatcher, Myiagra inquieta

White-winged chough and apostlebird[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corcoracidae

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.

• White-winged chough, Corcorax melanorhamphos
• Apostlebird, Struthidea cinerea

Crows, jays, and magpies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

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.

• Torresian crow, Corvus orru
• Little crow, Corvus bennetti
• Australian raven, Corvus coronoides
• Little raven, Corvus mellori (A)
• Forest raven, Corvus tasmanicus

Australasian robins[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Petroicidae

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.

• Jacky-winter, Microeca fascinans
• Scarlet robin, Petroica multicolor
• Flame robin, Petroica phoenicea (A)
• Rose robin, Petroica rosea
• Pink robin, Petroica rodinogaster (A)
• Red-capped robin, Petroica goodenovii
• Hooded robin, Melanodryas cucullata
• Eastern yellow robin, Eopsaltria australis
• Western yellow robin, Eopsaltria griseogularis
• Southern scrub-robin, Drymodes brunneopygia

Larks[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

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.

• Australasian bushlark, Mirafra javanica
• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis (I)

Cisticolas and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

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.

• Golden-headed cisticola, Cisticola exilis

Reed warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

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.

• Australian reed warbler, Acrocephalus australis

Grassbirds and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

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.

• Spinifexbird, Poodytes carteri
• Little grassbird, Poodytes gramineus
• Brown songlark, Cincloramphus cruralis
• Rufous songlark, Cincloramphus mathewsi

Swallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

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.

• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (A)
• Welcome swallow, Hirundo neoxena
• Fairy martin, Petrochelidon ariel
• Tree martin, Petrochelidon nigricans
• White-backed swallow, Cheramoeca leucosterna

Bulbuls[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

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.

• Red-whiskered bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus (I)

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

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.

• Silver-eye, Zosterops lateralis

Starlings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

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.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)
• Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (A)

Thrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

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.

• Bassian thrush, Zoothera lunulata
• Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula (I)

Flowerpeckers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly coloured birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills, and tubular tongues.

• Mistletoebird, Dicaeum hirundinaceum

Waxbills and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

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.

• Painted firetail, Emblema pictum
• Beautiful firetail, Stagonopleura bella
• Diamond firetail, Stagonopleura guttata
• Red-browed firetail, Neochmia temporalis
• Zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata
• Java sparrow, Padda oryzivora (I)

Old World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

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.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)

Wagtails and pipits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

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.

• Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (A)
• Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (A)
• Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)
• Australasian pipit, Anthus novaeseelandiae

Finches, euphonias, and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

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.

• European greenfinch, Chloris chloris (I)
• European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis (I)

See also[]

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region
• List of birds of Australia

References[]