Endemic birds of Australia
Encyclopedia
This article is one of a series providing information about endemism
among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds
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of any zoogeographic region except the Neotropics, and many of these families are endemic to Australia itself — the country therefore stakes a strong claim to be the world's greatest hotspot of bird endemism.
In addition to the families listed above, the following families are endemic to the Australasian region, with most of their species endemic to Australia:
A further group of families endemic to the Australasian region, but where the species are predominantly New Guinea endemics are listed in the article on endemic birds of New Guinea.
has defined the following Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) in Australia:
Christmas Island
, an Australian territory, is also an EBA.
In addition the following are classified as Secondary areas (areas with at least one restricted-range bird species, but not meeting the criteria to qualify as EBAs):
To be completed later.
The Chestnut Rail
is near-endemic to this region of Australia, elsewhere only being found on the Aru Islands
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Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds
Endemism in birds
An endemic bird area is a region of the world that contains two or more restricted-range species, while a "secondary area" contains one or more restricted-range species. Both terms were devised by Birdlife International....
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Patterns of endemism
Family-level endemism is prominent in Australia. The Australasian biogeographic region has the highest number of endemic familiesFamily (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of any zoogeographic region except the Neotropics, and many of these families are endemic to Australia itself — the country therefore stakes a strong claim to be the world's greatest hotspot of bird endemism.
Australian endemic and near-endemic families
The Australian endemic families are:- EmuEmuThe Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
, a well-known monotypicMonotypicIn biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
family; the Emu is found in rural areas throughout the continent - Plains-wanderer, a monotypic family; Plains-wanderer is restricted to arid inland areas in the southeast of Australia
- the LyrebirdLyrebirdA Lyrebird is either of two species of ground-dwelling Australian birds, that form the genus, Menura, and the family Menuridae. They are most notable for their superb ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment. Lyrebirds have unique plumes of neutral coloured...
s, two forestForestA forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
-dwelling species of southeast Australia - the Scrub-birdScrub-birdScrub-birds are shy, secretive, ground-dwelling birds of the family Atrichornithidae. There are just two species. The Rufous scrub-bird is rare and very restricted in its range, and the Noisy scrub-bird is so rare that until 1961 it was thought to be extinct...
s, two forest-dwelling species, one found in southeastern Australia, the other in southwest Australia - the Australian mudnesters, two species found in open forest and woodland environments in eastern Australia
In addition to the families listed above, the following families are endemic to the Australasian region, with most of their species endemic to Australia:
- the Australasian babblers — four of the five species in this family are endemic to Australia
- the Fairy-wrens and allies
A further group of families endemic to the Australasian region, but where the species are predominantly New Guinea endemics are listed in the article on endemic birds of New Guinea.
Endemic Bird Areas
Birdlife InternationalBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
has defined the following Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) in Australia:
| 181 | Cape York Cape York Peninsula Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth... |
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| 182 | Queensland wet tropics | |
| 183 | Eastern Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
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| 184 | South-east Australia | |
| 185 | Tasmania Tasmania Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart... |
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| 186 | Southwest Australia Southwest Australia Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world... |
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| 187 | North West Australia North West Australia The terms North West Australia, The North West and North Western Australia have been used as a regular label for the region of the North of Western Australia and the West of the Northern Territory.- Early 20th century gold rush:... |
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Christmas Island
Christmas Island
The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is located northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, and ENE of the Cocos Islands....
, an Australian territory, is also an EBA.
In addition the following are classified as Secondary areas (areas with at least one restricted-range bird species, but not meeting the criteria to qualify as EBAs):
To be completed later.
Species endemic to the Cape York peninsula
- Buff-breasted ButtonquailBuff-breasted ButtonquailThe Buff-breasted Buttonquail is the largest and possibly the rarest of the buttonquail. This species is endemic to extreme northeastern Australia, in northern Queensland from near Coen to Mareeba west of Cairns.-Description:...
- Golden-shouldered ParrotGolden-shouldered ParrotThe Golden-shouldered Parrot is a rare bird of southern Cape York Peninsula, in Queensland, Australia. A small attractive parrot related to the more common Red-rumped Parrot, it is considered to be a superspecies with the Hooded Parrot The Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius) is a...
- White-streaked HoneyeaterWhite-streaked HoneyeaterThe White-streaked Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Trichodere.It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests....
Species endemic to the Queensland Wet Tropics
- ChowchillaChowchillaChowchilla may refer to:* Chowchilla, a bird * Chowchilla, California, city in Madera County, California, USA** Chowchilla Airport** The kidnapping of a bus of children which took place in, and was named for, Chowchilla...
- FernwrenFernwrenThe Fernwren is a species of bird in the Pardalotidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Oreoscopus....
- Atherton ScrubwrenAtherton ScrubwrenThe Atherton Scrubwren is a bird species. Placed in the family Pardalotidae in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this has met with opposition and indeed is now known to be wrong; they rather belong to the independent family Acanthizidae....
- Mountain ThornbillMountain ThornbillThe Mountain Thornbill is a species of bird in the Pardalotidae family. It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitat is tropical rainforest on the Atherton tableland in north-east Queensland....
- Grey-headed RobinGrey-headed RobinThe Grey-headed Robin is a species of bird in the family Petroicidae.-Taxonomy:It is one of two species within the genus Heteromyias. Previously it and the Ashy Robin from New Guinea were treated as one species and known as Heteromyias albispecularis...
- Pied MonarchPied MonarchThe Pied Monarch is a species of bird in the monarch-flycatcher family Monarchidae. It is endemic to coastal Queensland in Australia...
- Bower's Shrike-thrushBower's Shrike-thrushThe Bower's Shrikethrush is a species of bird in the Colluricinclidae family.It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
- Bridled HoneyeaterBridled HoneyeaterThe Bridled Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests....
- Macleay Honeyeater
- Tooth-billed CatbirdTooth-billed CatbirdThe Tooth-billed Catbird, Scenopoeetes dentirostris also known as Stagemaker Bowerbird is a medium-sized, approximately 27 cm long, stocky olive-brown bowerbird with brown-streaked buffish-white below, a grey feet, brown iris and unique tooth-like bill. Both sexes are similar, however the...
- Golden BowerbirdGolden BowerbirdThe Golden Bowerbird, Prionodura newtoniana is a species of bowerbird found in the rainforests above 700m of Atherton, Queensland in Australia...
- Victoria's RiflebirdVictoria's RiflebirdThe Victoria’s Riflebird, Ptiloris victoriae also known as Duwuduwu to the local Aboriginal people, is a bird of paradise endemic to the Atherton Tableland region of northeastern Queensland, Australia where it resides year-round....
Species endemic to eastern Australia
- Black-breasted ButtonquailBlack-breasted ButtonquailThe Black-breasted Buttonquail is a rare buttonquail endemic to eastern Australia, where it is usually found in rainforest. Like other buttonquails, it is unrelated to the true quails...
- Albert's LyrebirdAlbert's LyrebirdThe Albert's Lyrebird is a pheasant-sized songbird, approximately 90cm long, with brown upper body plumage and rich chestnut below. It is very similar with the Superb Lyrebird in its habits. This bird also mimics other species sounds....
- Rufous Scrub-birdRufous Scrub-birdThe Rufous Scrub-bird is a bird species in the family Atrichornithidae. It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests...
- Eastern BristlebirdEastern BristlebirdThe Eastern Bristlebird is a species of bird in the Bristlebird family Dasyornithidae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, and temperate grassland...
- PilotbirdPilotbirdThe Pilotbird is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pycnoptilus. The exact taxonomic placement of this species is disputed, as it bears some resemblance to the bristlebirds. The species is endemic to south east New South Wales and east Victoria in...
- Origma
- Green CatbirdGreen CatbirdThe Green Catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris is a species of bowerbird found on subtropical forests along the east coast of Australia, from southeastern Queensland to southern New South Wales. Its colouring is emerald green, with faint black markings on the face and white streaks on the neck.Green...
- Regent BowerbirdRegent BowerbirdThe Regent Bowerbird, Sericulus chrysocephalus is a medium-sized, up to 25 cm long, sexually dimorphic bowerbird. The male bird is black with a golden orange-yellow crown, mantle and black-tipped wing feathers. It has yellow bill, black feet and yellow iris...
- Paradise RiflebirdParadise RiflebirdThe Paradise Riflebird, Ptiloris paradiseus, is a medium-sized, up to 30 cm long, passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae family. The male is black with an iridescent greenish blue crown, throat and central tail feathers. It has a black curved bill, black feet, dark brown iris and yellow mouth...
Species found in more than one of the above areas, but not elsewhere
- Lovely Fairywren (Cape York, Queensland Wet Tropics)
- Yellow-spotted HoneyeaterYellow-spotted HoneyeaterThe Yellow-spotted Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests....
(Cape York, Queensland Wet Tropics) - Pale-yellow RobinPale-yellow RobinThe Pale-yellow Robin is a species of passerine bird in the Petroicidae family. It is endemic to eastern Australia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is a non-descript bird with grey head and olive upperparts, white throat and yellow underparts. The sexes are...
(Queensland Wet Tropics, eastern Australia)
Species endemic to south-eastern Australia
Many, but some include;- Superb LyrebirdSuperb LyrebirdThe Superb Lyrebird is a pheasant-sized songbird, approximately 100cm long, with brown upper body plumage, grayish-brown below, rounded wings and strong legs...
- PilotbirdPilotbirdThe Pilotbird is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pycnoptilus. The exact taxonomic placement of this species is disputed, as it bears some resemblance to the bristlebirds. The species is endemic to south east New South Wales and east Victoria in...
- Musk LorikeetMusk LorikeetThe Musk Lorikeet is a lorikeet, one of the three species of the Glossopsitta genus. It inhabits south-central/eastern Australia. The Musk Lorikeet was first described by ornithologist George Shaw in 1790 as Psittacus concinnus, from a collection in the vicinity of Port Jackson in what is now...
- Flame RobinFlame RobinThe Flame Robin is a small passerine bird native to Australia. It is a moderately common resident of the coolest parts of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Like the other two red-breasted Petroica robins—the Scarlet Robin and the Red-capped Robin—it is often simply but...
- Rose RobinRose RobinThe Rose Robin is a small passerine bird native to Australia. Like many brightly coloured robins of the Petroicidae it is sexually dimorphic. The male has a distinctive pink breast. Its upperparts are dark grey with white frons, and its tail black with white tips. The underparts and shoulder are...
Species endemic to Tasmania
- King Island EmuKing Island EmuThe King Island Emu or Black Emu is an extinct sub-species of emu which occurred on King Island between mainland Australia and Tasmania. It is known from 19th century descriptions of live birds, as well as subfossil bones and one museum specimen...
(extinct) - Tasmanian Native-henTasmanian Native-henThe Tasmanian Nativehen is a flightless rail and one of twelve species of birds endemic to the Australian island of Tasmania...
- Green RosellaGreen RosellaThe Green Rosella or Tasmanian Rosella is endemic to Tasmania and Bass Strait islands. At 37 cm long it is the largest species of the Rosella genus...
- Orange-bellied ParrotOrange-bellied ParrotThe Orange-bellied Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to southern Australia, and one of only two species of parrot which migrate. The adult male is distinguished by its bright grass-green upperparts, yellow underparts and orange belly patch. The adult female and juvenile are duller...
(endemic as a breeding species, winters in south-east mainland Australia) - Swift ParrotSwift ParrotThe Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania and migrates north to south eastern Australia from Griffith-Warialda in New South Wales and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is related to the rosellas, with the feeding habits of a lorikeet...
(endemic as a breeding species, winters in eastern and south-east mainland Australia) - Brown Scrubwren
- ScrubtitScrubtitThe Scrubtit is a species of bird in the thornbill family Acanthizidae. It is monotypic within the genus Acanthornis, and is endemic to Tasmania and King Island in Australia. Its natural habitat is the temperate rainforest, Nothofagus beech forest and eucalypt woodland...
- Tasmanian ThornbillTasmanian ThornbillThe Tasmanian Thornbill is a small brown bird only found in Tasmania and the islands in the Bass Strait. It is a common bird in these regions, often found in rainforests, wet forests, and scrublands. It occurs exclusively in cold and wet areas...
- Dusky RobinDusky RobinThe Dusky Robin is a small passerine bird native to Tasmania. A member of the Australian Robin family Petroicidae, it is not related to robins of Europe and North America...
- Forty-spotted PardaloteForty-spotted PardaloteThe Forty-spotted Pardalote is one of Australia's rarest birds and by far the rarest pardalote, being confined to the south-east corner of Tasmania.-Description:...
- Yellow-throated HoneyeaterYellow-throated HoneyeaterThe Yellow-throated Honeyeater , also known as the Green Cherry-picker, Green Dick or Green Linnet is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family. It is similar in behaviour and appearance to the White-eared Honeyeater and is endemic to Australia's island state of Tasmania...
- Black-headed HoneyeaterBlack-headed HoneyeaterThe Black-headed Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is one of two members of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.-Taxonomy:The Black-headed Honeyeater was described in 1839 as ...
- Strong-billed HoneyeaterStrong-billed HoneyeaterThe Strong-billed Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is one of two species of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania.Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-Taxonomy:...
- Yellow WattlebirdYellow WattlebirdThe Yellow Wattlebird is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.9 Other names include the Long or Tasmanian Wattlebird.2-Description:...
- Black Currawong
Species endemic to south-west Australia
- Baudin's CockatooLong-billed Black-CockatooThe Long-billed Black Cockatoo, also known as the White-tailed Black Cockatoo or Baudin's Black Cockatoo is a cockatoo endemic to south-western Australia, closely associated to moist, heavily forested areas dominated by Marri .The binomial commemorates the French explorer Nicolas...
- Noisy Scrub-birdNoisy Scrub-birdThe Noisy Scrub-bird is a species of bird in the Atrichornithidae family. It is endemic to Australia.-Distribution and habitat:...
- Red-capped ParrotRed-capped ParrotThe Red-capped Parrot , also called the Pileated Parakeet , and King Parrot locally in Western Australia, is an Australian species of broad-tailed parrot related to the Rosellas.First described by German naturalist Heinrich Kuhl in 1820, from a collection in Albany,...
- Red-eared FiretailRed-eared FiretailThe Red-eared Firetail is a species of estrildid finch found in the forests and coastal thickets of south-western Australia. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 20,000 - 50,000 km². The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.-References:...
- Red-winged Fairy-wrenRed-winged Fairy-wrenThe Red-winged Fairywren is a species of passerine bird in the Maluridae family. It is sedentary and endemic to the southwestern corner of Western Australia...
- Carnaby's CockatooShort-billed Black-CockatooThe Short-billed Black Cockatoo or Carnaby's Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris is a cockatoo endemic to south-western Australia. Also known as the Large Black Cockatoo, or simply Carnaby's Cockatoo, it is black with white tail feathers and white cheek patches...
- Western BristlebirdWestern BristlebirdThe Western Bristlebird is a species of bird in the Dasyornithidae family.It is endemic to Australia.- Description :...
- Western CorellaWestern CorellaThe Western Corella formerly known as the Western Long-billed Corella, is a species of white cockatoo endemic to south-western Western Australia.-Taxonomy:...
- Western RosellaWestern RosellaThe Western Rosella Platycercus icterotis, less commonly known as the Stanley Rosella, Earl of Derby's parakeet or Yellow-cheeked parakeet, is the smallest species of rosella and is found in the South West of Australia. in Eucalypt forests and timbered areas. These are smallish parrots measuring ...
- Western Shrike-tit (often regarded as a subspecies of the Crested Shrike-titCrested Shrike-titThe Crested Shrike-tit is a bird endemic to Australia where it inhabits open eucalypt forest and woodland.-Taxonomy and distribution:...
) - Western SpinebillWestern SpinebillThe Western Spinebill, Acanthorhynchus superciliosus, is a honeyeater found in the heath and woodland of south-western Western Australia. It ranges between long, and weighs around . It has a black head, gray back and wings, with a red band behind its neck and from its throat to its breast. There...
- Western ThornbillWestern ThornbillThe Western Thornbill is a species of bird in the Pardalotidae family.It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitat is Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation....
- Western WattlebirdWestern WattlebirdThe Western Wattlebird is a honeyeater, a passerine bird in the family Meliphagidae. It was formerly lumped with the Little Wattlebird which it closely resembles. It is restricted to south-western Western Australia....
- White-breasted RobinWhite-breasted RobinThe White-breasted Robin is a species of bird in the Petroicidae family. It is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. Unlike many other Australian robins, it lacks bright colours in its plumage, being a predominantly greyish bird with white underparts. Like many other Australian passerines...
Species endemic to north-west Australia
- Black-banded Fruit-dove
- Black GrasswrenBlack GrasswrenThe Black Grasswren is a species of bird in the Maluridae family.It is endemic to Western Australia.Its natural habitat is Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation....
- Brown Whistler
- Hooded ParrotHooded ParrotThe Hooded Parrot, Psephotus dissimilis is a medium-sized, up to 26cm long, turquoise blue parrot with black head, green wing, brown back and greenish blue-bronze tail feathers edged with white. It has pale grey beak, greyish brown legs and brown eye...
- Chestnut-backed Buttonquail
- Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon
- Partridge PigeonPartridge PigeonThe Partridge Pigeon is a species of bird in the Columbidae family.It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland....
- Rainbow PittaRainbow PittaThe Rainbow Pitta, Pitta iris, is a bird with a velvet black head and underparts, green upperparts, pale blue shoulder and olive green tail. It has a black bill, pink legs, brown eye and reddish brown streak along each side of its crown...
- White-lined HoneyeaterWhite-lined HoneyeaterThe White-lined Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family. It is endemic to northern Australia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It formerly included the Kimberley Honeyeater as a subspecies.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
- White-quilled Rock Pigeon
- White-throated GrasswrenWhite-throated GrasswrenThe White-throated Grasswren is a species of bird in the Maluridae family.It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland and rocky areas.It is threatened by habitat loss....
- Yellow-rumped MuniaYellow-rumped MuniaThe Yellow-rumped Munia , also known as the Yellow-rumped Mannikin, is a species of estrildid finch found in eastern Kimberley region and north-west Northern Territory, Australia. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 20,000 to 50,000 km². It is found in subtropical/ tropical mangrove,...
The Chestnut Rail
Chestnut Rail
The Chestnut Rail is a species of bird in the Rallidae family. The Chestnut Rail is monotypical of its genus.It is found in Australia and Indonesia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests....
is near-endemic to this region of Australia, elsewhere only being found on the Aru Islands
Aru Islands
The Aru Islands are a group of about ninety-five low-lying islands in the Maluku province of eastern Indonesia. They also form a regency of Indonesia.-Geography:...
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Other endemics
- EmuEmuThe Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
- Australian Painted SnipeAustralian Painted SnipeThe Australian Painted Snipe is a medium-sized, long-billed, distinctively patterned wader.-Taxonomy:The distinctiveness of the Australian Painted-snipe was recognised by John Gould in 1838 when he described and named it Rostratula australis. However, it was subsequently lumped with the Greater...
- Superb LyrebirdSuperb LyrebirdThe Superb Lyrebird is a pheasant-sized songbird, approximately 100cm long, with brown upper body plumage, grayish-brown below, rounded wings and strong legs...
- Carpentarian GrasswrenCarpentarian GrasswrenThe Carpentarian Grasswren is a species of bird in the Maluridae family.It is endemic to Australia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
- Plains WandererPlains WandererThe Plains-wanderer or Plains Wanderer, is a bird, the only representative of its family. It is endemic to Australia. The majority of the remaining population are found in the Riverina region of New South Wales.-Description:...
- BudgerigarBudgerigarThe Budgerigar , also known as Common Pet Parakeet or Shell Parakeet informally nicknamed the budgie, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot, and the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus...