bird database

Anhinga novaehollandiae

Australasian Darter

A large, slim water bird with a long snake-like neck, sharp pointed bill, and long, rounded tail. Males are dark brownish black with glossy black upperwings, streaked and spotted white, silver-grey and brown. Females and immatures are grey-brown above, pale grey to white below, with a white neck stripe that is less distinct in young birds. Often seen swimming with only the snake-like neck visible above the water or drying its wings while perched on a tree or stump over water. The Darter catches fish with its sharp bill partly open while diving in water deeper than 60 cm. The fish is pierced from underneath, flicked onto the water's surface and then swallowed head first.

678

Common

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

Australasian Grebe

A small waterbird with two distinct plumage phases. The non-breeding plumage is dark grey-brown above and mostly silver-grey below, with a white oval patch of bare skin at the base of the bill. During the breeding season, both sexes have a glossy-black head and a rich chestnut facial stripe which extends from just behind the eye through to the base of the neck. When approached, Australasian Grebes usually dive under water. Food consists mainly of small fish and water insects. Prey is normally caught during deep underwater dives, but some is taken on the surface.

568

Common

Alisterus scapularis

Australian King-Parrot

Male Australian King-Parrots are the only Australian parrots with a completely red head. Females are similar to males except that they have a completely green head and breast. Both sexes have a red belly and a green back, with green wings and a long green tail. Normally encountered in pairs or family groups. Mostly forages in trees for seeds and fruit.

354

Common

Threskiornis molucca

Australian White Ibis

Identified by its almost entirely white body plumage and black head and neck. The head is featherless and its black bill is long and down-curved. During the breeding season the small patch of skin on the under-surface of the wing changes from dull pink to dark scarlet. Adult birds have a tuft of cream plumes on the base of the neck. Females differ from males by being slightly smaller, with shorter bills. Young birds are similar to adults, but have the neck covered with black feathers. Its food includes both land and water invertebrates and human scraps. 

560

Common

Chenonetta jubata

Australian Wood Duck

A medium-sized 'goose-like' duck with a dark brown head and a pale grey body with two black stripes along the back. Males have the darker head and a small dark mane, with a speckled brown-grey breast and a black lower belly and undertail. The females have a paler head with two white stripes, above and below the eye, a speckled breast and flanks, with a white lower belly and undertail. In flight, the wings are pale grey above, contrasting with black wingtips, and have a noticeable white bar on the underside (the secondaries). They walk easily on land and may be seen perching on logs and in trees. They will only take to open water when disturbed. Eats grasses, clover and other herbs, and occasionally, insects. 

718

Common

Ceyx azureus

Azure Kingfisher

A small kingfisher with a long slender black bill and a short tail. The head, neck, upper parts and breast sides are deep azure blue with a violet (purplish) sheen. The neck has a distinctive orange stripe on each side and there is a small orange spot before each eye. The throat is pale orange-white, grading to orange-reddish on belly and undertail. The flanks and sides of the breast are washed purple to violet. The legs and feet are red. The sexes are similar. Young birds have a darker cap and are generally duller. It plunges from overhanging perches into water to catch prey such as fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects and other invertebrates, and, sometimes, frogs. 

674

Uncommon

Coracina novaehollandiae

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes have a black face and throat, blue-grey back, wings and tail, and white underparts. They are slender, attractive birds. They have a curious habit of shuffling their wings upon landing, a practice that gave rise to the name "Shufflewing", which is often used for this species. This shuffling is also carried out by most other species in this family. Young birds resemble the adults, except the black facial mask is reduced to an eye stripe. Feeds on insects and other invertebrates which may be caught in the air, taken from foliage or caught on the ground. Also eats some fruits and seeds.

616

Common

Elanus axillaris

Black-shouldered Kite

Black-shouldered Kites are medium to small raptors (birds of prey), and are mostly pale grey above, with a pure white head, body and tail and black shoulders. The wings are white underneath, with black wing tips and the wing span is 80 cm to 100 cm. Females are larger than males. The red eye is marked by a black comma that extends behind it. The nostrils are yellow and the legs and feet are also yellow. It has a direct flight with quick shallow wing beats interspersed with glides on upswept wings (like a seagull), and is often seen hovering, with feet dangling. Feeds mainly on rodents and insects such as grasshoppers. It prefers to hunt during the day, particularly early morning and late afternoon, often hovering with its wings held upright in a V-shape, before dropping down and grabbing prey with its talons. Prey items are eaten while flying or on a perch.

869

Less Common

Acanthiza pusilla

Brown Thornbill

A small bird; one of the medium-sized and more common of the thornbills. It has olive-brown to grey upperparts, with a warm reddish-brown forehead scalloped with paler markings. The rump has a reddish-brown patch, the tail is grey-brown with a black band and a pale tip, and the underparts are off-white, streaked blackish on the chin, throat and chest. The eye is dark red. The sexes are similar and young birds are only slightly different to adults, with a duller eye. Feeds mainly on insects, but may sometimes eat seeds, nectar or fruit. They feed, mainly in pairs, at all levels from the ground up, but mostly in understorey shrubs and low trees.

651

Common

Gallirallus philippensis

Buff-banded Rail

A medium-sized and stout rail with short legs. It has a distinctive grey eyebrow and an orange-brown band on its streaked breast. The lores, cheek and hindneck are rich chestnut. The chin and throat are grey, the upperparts streaked brown, and the underparts barred black and white. The eye is red. Young birds are much paler to white underneath, with indistinct bars and only a faint orange-brown tint on the breast. Walks slowly, with tail raised and flicking constantly.  Feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, insects, seeds, fruit, frogs, carrion and refuse. It mostly feeds early in the morning and the evening.

610

Uncommon

Anas castanea

Chestnut Teal

A small dabbling duck with a high forehead and rounded head. Males have a distinctive glossy green head, chestnut brown neck, breast and flanks, dark brown upper body and wings, and a black undertail with contrasting white patch. Females are mottled dark brown and grey, with a pale throat streaked brown and a dark eye stripe. In both sexes the eye is a deep red, the bill is blue-grey and the legs and feet are green-grey. The wings have a dark glossy green to purple speculum (panel) edged white and the underwing is brown, with white wing pits. It eats seeds and insects, along with some vegetation, as well as molluscs and crustaceans. It mainly feeds at the water's edge and also dabbles for food while swimming in the water, up-ends to bottom feed or takes food from the surface.

786

Common

Phaps chalcoptera

Common Bronzewing

A medium-sized, heavily built pigeon. The male has a yellow-white forehead and pink breast. Both sexes have a clear white line below and around the eye and patches of green, blue and red in the wing, characteristic of all bronzewings. It is a cautious pigeon, and rarely allows close approach. If startled, it flies away with a clatter, keeping low to the ground while moving in a steady, direct manner. Young Common Bronzewings are duller and browner than the adults. The metallic wing patch is absent or not easily seen. They feed on seeds and other vegetable matter, on the ground and in small parties.

605

Common