List of birds of Queensland facts for kids

Queensland is the second-largest state in Australia but has the greatest biodiversity, with 684 species of bird recorded (more than closest-rivals New South Wales or West Australia with both around 550).

The high avian biodiversity is probably a reflection of the wide variety of habitats, from desert to rainforest and mangrove forest to mulga, which make Queensland a birders paradise.

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 Boles), which has resulted in some lumping and splitting. Their system has been developed over nearly two decades 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, 2022 edition.

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 Queensland
• (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Queensland
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Queensland 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.

• Southern cassowary, Casuarius casuarius
• 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.

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
• Orange-footed scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt

Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

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

• Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris (I)

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
• Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis
• Stubble quail, Coturnix pectoralis
• Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (I)
• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (I)

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.

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.

• Pheasant coucal, Centropus phasianinus
• Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus
• Australian koel, Eudynamys cyanocephalus
• Channel-billed cuckoo, Scythrops novaehollandiae
• Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis
• Black-eared cuckoo, Chrysococcyx osculans
• Shining bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus
• Little bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx minutillus
• Pallid cuckoo, Cuculus pallidus
• Chestnut-breasted cuckoo, Cacomantis castaneiventris
• Fan-tailed cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis
• Brush cuckoo, Cacomantis variolosus
• Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus

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
• Marbled frogmouth, Podargus ocellatus
• Papuan frogmouth, Podargus papuensis

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
• White-throated nightjar, Eurostopodus mystacalis
• Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus

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.

• Papuan spinetailed swift, Mearnsia novaeguineae (A)
• White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus
• Glossy swiftlet, Collocalia esculenta (A)
• Australian swiftlet, Aerodramus terraereginae (E)
• Uniform swiftlet, Aerodramus vanikorensis (A)
• 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
• Chestnut rail, Gallirallus castaneoventris
• 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
• Pale-vented bush-hen, Amaurornis moluccana
• White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus
• Red-necked crake, Rallina tricolor
• 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".

• Sarus crane, Antigone antigone
• 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 (A)
• 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
• South Island oystercatcher, Haematopus finschi (A)
• 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

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of waders found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

• Comb-crested jacana, Irediparra gallinacea

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.

• Red-backed buttonquail, Turnix maculosus
• Black-breasted buttonquail, Turnix melanogaster
• Buff-breasted buttonquail, Turnix olivii (E)
• 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

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
• 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.

• White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
• Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda

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.

• Little penguin, Eudyptula minor

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
• White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina
• White-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta grallaria (A)
• New Zealand storm-petrel, Fregetta maoriana (A)
• Black-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta tropica (A)
• Polynesian storm-petrel, Nesofregetta fuliginosa (A)

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.

• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A)
• Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (A)
• Matsudaira's storm-petrel, Hydrobates matsudairae

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.

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years.

• Black-necked stork, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

• Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
• Great frigatebird, Fregata minor

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.

• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula
• 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

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.

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

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

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.

• Sooty owl, Tyto tenebricosa
• Australian masked-owl, Tyto novaehollandiae
• Australasian grass-owl, Tyto longimembris
• 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.

• Rufous owl, Ninox rufa
• 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
• Little kingfisher, Ceyx pusillus
• Laughing kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
• Blue-winged kookaburra, Dacelo leachii
• Red-backed kingfisher, Todiramphus pyrrhopygius
• Forest kingfisher, Todiramphus macleayii
• Torresian kingfisher, Todiramphus sordidus
• Sacred kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus
• Yellow-billed kingfisher, Syma torotoro
• Little paradise-kingfisher, Tanysiptera hydrocharis (A)
• Buff-breasted paradise-kingfisher, Tanysiptera sylvia

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.

• Palm cockatoo, Probosciger aterrimus
• Red-tailed black-cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus banksii
• Glossy black-cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus lathami
• Yellow-tailed black-cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus funereus
• Pink cockatoo, Lophochroa leadbeateri
• Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla
• Long-billed corella, Cacatua tenuirostris (I)
• 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.

Pittas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails, and stout bills. Many are brightly coloured. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects, and similar invertebrates.

• Papuan pitta, Erythropitta macklotii
• Noisy pitta, Pitta versicolor

Lyrebirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Menuridae

Lyrebirds are most notable for their superb ability to mimic natural and artificial sounds from their environment, and the striking beauty of the male bird's huge tail when it is fanned out in courtship display.

• Albert's lyrebird, Menura alberti
• Superb lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae

Scrub-birds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Atrichornithidae

The scrub-bird family is ancient and is understood to be most closely related to the lyrebirds, and probably also the bowerbirds and treecreepers.

• Rufous scrub-bird, Atrichornis rufescens

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.

• Spotted catbird, Ailuroedus melanotis (E)
• Black-eared catbird, Ailuroedus melanotis
• Green catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris
• Tooth-billed bowerbird, Scenopoeetes dentirostris (E)
• Golden bowerbird, Amblyornis newtoniana (E)
• Regent bowerbird, Sericulus chrysocephalus
• Satin bowerbird, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
• Spotted bowerbird, Chlamydera maculata
• Great bowerbird, Chlamydera nuchalis
• Fawn-breasted bowerbird, Chlamydera cerviniventris

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
• Red-browed treecreeper, Climacteris erythrops
• Brown treecreeper, Climacteris picumnus
• Black-tailed treecreeper, Climacteris melanurus

Fairywrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Maluridae

Maluridae is a family of small, insectivorous passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea. They are socially monogamous, 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.

• Eastern bristlebird, Dasyornis brachypterus

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
• Hall's babbler, Pomatostomus halli
• Chestnut-crowned babbler, Pomatostomus ruficeps

Logrunners

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Orthonychidae

The Orthonychidae is a family of birds with a single genus, Orthonyx, which comprises two types of passerine birds endemic to Australia and New Guinea, the logrunners and the chowchilla. Both use stiffened tails to brace themselves when feeding.

• Australian logrunner, Orthonyx temminckii
• Chowchilla, Orthonyx spaldingii (E)

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-breasted quail-thrush, Cinclosoma castaneothorax
• Cinnamon quail-thrush, Cinclosoma cinnamomeum

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
• Barred cuckooshrike, Coracina lineata
• Black-faced cuckooshrike, Coracina novaehollandiae
• White-bellied cuckooshrike, Coracina papuensis
• White-winged triller, Lalage tricolor
• Varied triller, Lalage leucomela
• 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.

• Papuan sittella, Neositta papuensis
• Varied sittella, Neositta chrysoptera

Whipbirds and wedgebills

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Psophodidae

The Psophodidae is a family containing whipbirds and wedgebills.

• Eastern whipbird, Psophodes olivaceus
• 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-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Falcunculidae

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

• Eastern shrike-tit, Falcunculus frontatus

Whistlers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

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

• Sandstone shrikethrush, Colluricincla woodwardi
• Bower's shrikethrush, Colluricincla boweri (E)
• Grey shrikethrush, Colluricincla harmonica
• Rufous shrikethrush, Colluricincla rufogaster
• Olive whistler, Pachycephala olivacea
• Golden whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis
• Black-tailed whistler, Pachycephala melanura
• Gray whistler, Pachycephala simplex
• Rufous whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris
• White-breasted whistler, Pachycephala lanioides

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
• Green oriole, Oriolus flavocinctus
• Australasian figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti

Boatbills

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Machaerirhynchidae

The boatbills have affinities to woodswallows and butcherbirds, and are distributed across New Guinea and northern Queensland.

• Yellow-breasted boatbill, Machaerirhynchus flaviventer

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
• Black-backed butcherbird, Cracticus mentalis
• Grey butcherbird, Cracticus torquatus
• Pied butcherbird, Cracticus nigrogularis
• Black butcherbird, Cracticus quoyi
• Australian magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen
• Pied currawong, Strepera graculina

Fantails

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

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

• Northern fantail, Rhipidura rufiventris
• Willie-wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys
• Rufous fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons
• Arafura fantail, Rhipidura dryas
• Grey fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa
• Mangrove fantail, Rhipidura phasiana

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

Birds-of-Paradise

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paradisaeidae

The birds-of-paradise are best known for the striking plumage possessed by the males of most species, in particular highly elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the tail, wings or head. These plumes are used in courtship displays to attract females.

• Trumpet manucode, Manucodia keraudrenii
• Paradise riflebird, Ptiloris paradiseus
• Victoria's riflebird, Ptiloris victoriae (E)
• Magnificent riflebird, Ptiloris magnificus

Monarch flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

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

• White-eared monarch, Carterornis leucotis
• Black-faced monarch, Monarcha melanopsis
• Black-winged monarch, Monarcha frater
• Spectacled monarch, Symposiachrus trivirgatus
• Frill-necked monarch, Arses lorealis (E)
• Pied monarch, Arses kaupi
• Magpie-lark, Grallina cyanoleuca
• Leaden flycatcher, Myiagra rubecula
• Broad-billed flycatcher, Myiagra ruficollis
• Satin flycatcher, Myiagra cyanoleuca
• Restless flycatcher, Myiagra inquieta
• Paperbark flycatcher, Myiagra nana
• Shining flycatcher, Myiagra alecto

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.

• House crow, Corvus splendens (A)
• 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.

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.

• Horsfield's bushlark, Mirafra javanica

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.

• Zitting cisticola, Cisticola juncidis
• 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.

• Oriental reed warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis (A)
• 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
• Tawny grassbird, Cincloramphus timoriensis

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
• Welcome swallow, Hirundo neoxena
• Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica (A)
• 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.

• Lemon-bellied white-eye, Zosterops chloris
• Ashy-bellied white-eye, Zosterops citrinella
• Australian yellow white-eye, Zosterops luteus
• 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.

• Metallic starling, Aplonis metallica
• Singing starling, Aplonis cantoroides
• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)
• Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (I)

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
• Russet-tailed thrush, Zoothera heinei
• Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
• Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (A)

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

• Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius (A)
• Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina (A)

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.

• Red-capped flowerpecker, Dicaeum geelvinkianum
• Mistletoebird, Dicaeum hirundinaceum

Sunbirds and spiderhunters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Their flight is fast and direct on short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

• Olive-backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis

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
• Diamond firetail, Stagonopleura guttata
• Red-browed firetail, Neochmia temporalis
• Crimson finch, Neochmia phaeton
• Star finch, Bathilda ruficauda
• Plum-headed finch, Aidemosyne modesta
• Zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata
• Double-barred finch, Stizoptera bichenovii
• Masked finch, Poephila personata
• Long-tailed finch, Poephila acuticauda
• Black-throated finch, Poephila cincta
• Blue-faced parrotfinch, Erythrura trichroa
• Gouldian finch, Chloebia gouldiae
• Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (I)
• Chestnut-breasted munia, Lonchura castaneothorax
• Pictorella munia, Heteromunia pectoralis

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)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (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)
• White wagtail, Motacilla alba (A)
• Australian pipit, Anthus australis

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