List of birds of King Island (Tasmania) facts for kids
King Island is a special place located off the coast of Tasmania, Australia. It's known for its beautiful scenery and, most importantly, for the many different kinds of birds that live there or visit. This island is like a stopover point or a permanent home for a wide variety of bird species, from tiny songbirds to large seabirds.
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Birds of King Island
King Island is home to many amazing birds! Scientists keep track of all the different types of birds seen on the island. Some birds live there all the time, while others just visit during certain seasons, like when they are migrating.
Birds That Used to Live Here (Extinct Birds)
Sadly, some birds that once lived on King Island are no longer around. This means they are extinct. One famous example is the King Island emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae ater). This was a special type of emu found only on King Island. It was smaller than the mainland emu. Unfortunately, it disappeared a long time ago, showing us how important it is to protect our wildlife.
Birds That Are Not From Here (Introduced Species)
Not all birds on King Island are native, meaning they didn't naturally come from there. Some birds were brought to the island by people. These are called introduced species. While some are harmless, others can sometimes cause problems for the native birds by competing for food or homes.
Some introduced birds you might find include:
- Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
- Common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
- Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
- California quail (Callipepla californica)
- Feral goose (Anser anser domesticus)
- Spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
Water Birds and Seabirds
King Island's coastlines and wetlands are perfect for many water-loving birds. You can spot a variety of ducks and geese, like the Blue-billed duck (Oxyura australis) with its bright blue bill, or the large Cape Barren goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae). The elegant Black swan (Cygnus atratus) also calls the island home.
Out at sea, you might see amazing seabirds like the Short-tailed shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris), which travels huge distances. Giant albatrosses, such as the Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) and Shy albatross (Thalassarche cauta), soar over the ocean. Closer to shore, the speedy Australasian gannet (Morus serrator) dives for fish.
Smaller water birds include the cute Little penguin (Eudyptula minor), which comes ashore at night. You can also find cormorants like the Little pied cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos) and Black-faced cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens) fishing in the waters. Herons and egrets, like the White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) and Great egret (Ardea alba), wade in shallow areas.
Birds of Prey
King Island is also home to powerful birds of prey, which are birds that hunt other animals. The majestic White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) can be seen soaring over the coast, looking for fish. Other hunters include the fast Brown goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus) and the graceful Swamp harrier (Circus approximans). Falcons like the Brown falcon (Falco berigora) and Nankeen kestrel (Falco chenchroides) are also present.
Parrots and Cockatoos
The island has some very colourful and noisy parrots and cockatoos. The large Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calpytorhynchus funereus) is easily spotted with its distinctive yellow tail feathers. The very common Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) also lives here.
King Island is special because it has unique types of parrots. The Green rosella (Platycercus caledonicus) is a beautiful parrot found only in Tasmania. Even more special is the King Island green rosella (Platycercus caledonicus brownii), which is a subspecies found only on King Island! The Orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) is a very rare and endangered bird that sometimes visits the island during its migration.
Small Bush Birds
Many smaller birds live in the bushes and forests of King Island. These include the tiny Superb fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) with its bright blue feathers. You can also find different types of pardalotes, like the Spotted pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus).
King Island is also home to some unique subspecies of small bush birds, just like the rosella. These include the King Island scrubtit (Acanthornis magnus greeniana) and the King Island brown thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla archibaldi). These birds are very special because they are found only on King Island, making the island an important place for their survival.
Other interesting small birds include various cuckoos, like the Pallid cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus), and the nocturnal Australian boobook (Ninox boobook), a type of owl.
King Island is a truly important place for birds, with a mix of common, rare, introduced, and even extinct species. Protecting their habitats on the island helps ensure these amazing creatures continue to thrive.
