List of birds of Western Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of the wild birds found in Western Australia. The list includes introduced species, common vagrants, recently extinct species, extirpated species, some very rare vagrants (seen once) and species only present in captivity. 629 species are listed.[1][2]

The taxonomy is based on Christidis and Boles, 2008.[3] Their system has been developed over nearly two decades[4] and has strong local support,[5] but deviates in important ways from more generally accepted schemes.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.[6] All of the birds below are included in the total bird count for Western Australia.

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 Western Australia
  • (E) Endemic – a species endemic to Western Australia
  • (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Western Australia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
  • (Ex) Extirpated – a species that no longer occurs in Western Australia although populations exist elsewhere
  • (X) Extinct – a species or subspecies that no longer exists.


Ostriches[edit]

Order: Struthioniformes   Family: Struthionidae

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

Common name Binomial Notes
Common ostrich Struthio camelus (I)

Cassowaries and emu[edit]

Order: Casuariiformes   Family: Dromaiidae

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae

Magpie goose[edit]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anseranatidae

Magpie goose

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Magpie goose Anseranas semipalmata

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl[edit]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Plumed whistling ducks
Musk duck
Black swan
Pink-eared duck
Pacific black duck

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Plumed whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni
Wandering whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata
Cape Barren goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae
Freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa
Mute swan Cygnus olor (I)
Black swan Cygnus atratus
Radjah shelduck Radjah radjah
Australian shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
Green pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus
Australian wood duck Chenonetta jubata
Garganey Spatula querquedula (A)
Australasian shoveler Spatula rhynchotis
Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata (A)
Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope (A)
Pacific black duck Anas superciliosa
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (I)
Northern pintail Anas acuta (A)
Gray teal Anas gracilis
Chestnut teal Anas castanea
Pink-eared duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus
Hardhead Aythya australis
Blue-billed duck Oxyura australis
Musk duck Biziura lobata

Megapodes[edit]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

Malleefowl

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata
Orange-footed scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt

Guineafowl[edit]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

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

Common name Binomial Notes
Helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris (I)

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[edit]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Brown quail

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus (I)
Brown quail Coturnix ypsilophora
Blue-breasted quail Excalfactoria chinensis
Stubble quail Coturnix pectoralis
Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus (I)

Grebes[edit]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Australasian grebe

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
Common name Binomial Notes
Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (A)
Australasian grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Hoary-headed grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus
Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus

Pigeons and doves[edit]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Crested pigeon and spinifex pigeon

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

Common name Binomial Notes
Rock pigeon Columba livia (I)
Spotted dove Spilopelia chinensis (I)
Laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis (I)
Pacific emerald dove Chalcophaps longirostris
Common bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera
Brush bronzewing Phaps elegans
Flock bronzewing Phaps histrionica
Crested pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
Spinifex pigeon Geophaps plumifera
Partridge pigeon Geophaps smithii
White-quilled rock-pigeon Petrophassa albipennis
Diamond dove Geopelia cuneata
Peaceful dove Geopelia placida
Bar-shouldered dove Geopelia humeralis
Nicobar pigeon Caloenas nicobarica (A)
Rose-crowned fruit-dove Ptilinopus regina
Torresian imperial-pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa

Bustards[edit]

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian bustard Ardeotis australis

Cuckoos[edit]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

Channel-billed cuckoo
Common name Binomial Notes
Lesser coucal Centropus bengalensis
Pheasant coucal Centropus phasianinus
Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus (A)
Pacific koel Eudynamys orientalis
Channel-billed cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae
Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo Chalcites basalis
Black-eared cuckoo Chalcites osculans
Shining bronze-cuckoo Chalcites lucidus
Little bronze-cuckoo Chalcites minutillus
Pallid cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus
Fan-tailed cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis
Brush cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus
Oriental cuckoo Cuculus optatus

Frogmouths[edit]

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
Common name Binomial Notes
Tawny frogmouth Podargus strigoides

Nightjars and allies[edit]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Spotted nightjar Eurostopodus argus
Gray nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka
Savanna nightjar Caprimulgus affinis

Owlet-nightjars[edit]

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
Common name Binomial Notes
Australian owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus

Swifts[edit]

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
Pacific swift Apus pacificus
House swift Apus affinis vagrant

Rails, gallinules, and coots[edit]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Australasian swamphen
Australian crake
Common name Binomial Notes
Corn crake Crex crex (A)
Lewin's rail Lewinia pectoralis (Ex)
Chestnut rail Eulabeornis 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
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
White-breasted waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Rufous-tailed bush-hen Amaurornis moluccana
White-browed crake Poliolimnas cinereus
Red-legged crake Rallina fasciata (A)
Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla
Spotless crake Zapornia tabuensis

Cranes[edit]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Sarus crane Antigone antigone (A)
Brolga Antigone rubicunda

Thick-knees[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Bush thick-knee Burhinus grallarius
Beach thick-knee Esacus magnirostris

Stilts and avocets[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Red-necked avocet
Common name Binomial Notes
Pied stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
Banded stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
Red-necked avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae

Oystercatchers[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Pied oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
Sooty oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus

Plovers and lapwings[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Masked lapwing
Double-banded plover non-breeding plumage
Common name Binomial Notes
Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola
American golden-plover Pluvialis dominicus (A)
Pacific golden-plover Pluvialis fulva
Gray-headed lapwing Vanellus cinereus (A)
Banded lapwing Vanellus tricolor
Masked lapwing Vanellus miles
Lesser sand-plover Charadrius mongolus
Greater sand-plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Double-banded plover Charadrius bicinctus (A)
Red-capped plover Charadrius ruficapillus
Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus (A)
Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula (A)
Semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus (A)
Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius (A)
Oriental plover Charadrius veredus
Red-kneed dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus
Hooded plover Thinornis cucullatus
Black-fronted dotterel Elseyornis melanops
Inland dotterel Charadrius australis

Painted-snipes[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Australian painted-snipe
Common name Binomial Notes
Australian painted-snipe Rostratula australis

Jacanas[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 vagrant]

Common name Binomial Notes
Comb-crested jacana Irediparra gallinacea
Pheasant-tailed jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus (A)

Sandpipers and allies[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Sanderling
Red knot
Sharp-tailed sandpiper
Common name Binomial Notes
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Little curlew Numenius minutus
Far Eastern curlew Numenius madagascariensis
Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata (A)
Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica
Black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa
Hudsonian godwit Limosa haemastica (A)
Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres
Great knot Calidris tenuirostris
Red knot Calidris canutus
Ruff Calidris pugnax (A)
Broad-billed sandpiper Calidris falcinellus
Sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Temminck's stint Calidris temminckii (A)
Long-toed stint Calidris subminuta
Red-necked stint Calidris ruficollis
Sanderling Calidris alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina (A)
Baird's sandpiper Calidris bairdii (A)
Little stint Calidris minuta (A)
White-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis (A)
Buff-breasted sandpiper Calidris subruficollis (A)
Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Asian dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus
Latham's snipe Gallinago hardwickii (A)
Pin-tailed snipe Gallinago stenura (A)
Swinhoe's snipe Gallinago megala
Terek sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Red phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius (A)
Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Gray-tailed tattler Tringa brevipes
Spotted redshank Tringa erythropus (A)
Common greenshank Tringa nebularia
Nordmann's greenshank Tringa guttifer (A)
Marsh sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Wood sandpiper Tringa glareola
Common redshank Tringa totanus (A)

Buttonquail[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Red-backed buttonquail Turnix maculosus
Chestnut-backed buttonquail Turnix castanotus
Painted buttonquail Turnix varius
Red-chested buttonquail Turnix pyrrhothorax
Little buttonquail Turnix velox

Pratincoles and coursers[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian pratincole Stiltia isabella
Collared pratincole Glareola pratincola (A)
Oriental pratincole Glareola maldivarum

Skuas and jaegers[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Common name Binomial Notes
South polar skua Stercorarius maccormicki (A)
Brown skua Stercorarius antarcticus
Pomarine jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaeger Stercorarius longicauda (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers[edit]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Little tern with Great crested terns
Pacific gull
Common name Binomial Notes
Sabine's gull Xema sabini (A)
Silver gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus (A)
Laughing gull Leucophaeus atricilla (A)
Franklin's gull Leucophaeus pipixcan (A)
Black-tailed gull Larus crassirostris (A)
Pacific gull Larus pacificus
Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus (A)
Kelp gull Larus dominicanus (A)
Brown noddy Anous stolidus
Black noddy Anous minutus
Lesser noddy Anous tenuirostris
White tern Gygis alba (A)
Sooty tern Onychoprion fuscata
Bridled tern Onychoprion anaethetus
Little tern Sternula albifrons
Australian fairy tern Sternula nereis
Gull-billed tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian tern Hydroprogne caspia
White-winged tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Whiskered tern Chlidonias hybrida
Roseate tern Sterna dougallii
White-fronted tern Sterna striata (A)
Black-naped tern Sterna sumatrana (A)
Common tern Sterna hirundo
Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea (A)
Antarctic tern Sterna vittata (A)
Great crested tern Thalasseus bergii
Lesser crested tern Thalasseus bengalensis

Tropicbirds[edit]

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Red-tailed tropicbird

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

Common name Binomial Notes
White-tailed tropicbird Phaethon lepturus (A)
Red-billed tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
Red-tailed tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda

Penguins[edit]

Order: Sphenisciformes   Family: Spheniscidae

A wild little penguin returning to its burrow to feed its chicks

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
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[edit]

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.

White-capped albatross
Common name Binomial Notes
Yellow-nosed albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos
Gray-headed albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma (A)
White-capped albatross Thalassarche cauta
Salvin's albatross Thalassarche salvini
Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris
Sooty albatross Phoebetria fusca (A)
Light-mantled albatross Phoebetria palpebrata (A)
Royal albatross Diomedea epomophora (A)
Wandering albatross Diomedea exulans

Southern storm-petrels[edit]

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Wilson's storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Gray-backed storm-petrel Garrodia nereis (A)
White-faced storm-petrel Pelagodroma marina
Black-bellied storm-petrel Fregetta tropica (A)

Northern storm-petrels[edit]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Leach's storm petrel Hydrobates leucorhous (A)
Swinhoe's storm petrel Hydrobates monorhis (A)
Matsudaira's storm petrel Hydrobates matsudairae (A)

Shearwaters and petrels[edit]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

Short-tailed shearwater

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Southern giant-petrel Macronectes giganteus
Northern giant-petrel Macronectes halli
Southern fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides (A)
Antarctic petrel Thalassoica antarctica (A)
Cape petrel Daption capense
Kerguelen petrel Aphrodroma brevirostris
Great-winged petrel Pterodroma macroptera
Gray-faced petrel Pterodroma gouldi
Herald petrel Pterodroma heraldica (A)
Soft-plumaged petrel Pterodroma mollis
Barau's petrel Pterodroma baraui (A)
White-headed petrel Pterodroma lessonii
Gould's petrel Pterodroma leucoptera
Blue petrel Halobaena caerulea
Fairy prion Pachyptila turtur (A)
Broad-billed prion Pachyptila vittata (A)
Salvin's prion Pachyptila salvini
Antarctic prion Pachyptila desolata
Slender-billed prion Pachyptila belcheri
Bulwer's petrel Bulweria bulwerii (A)
Jouanin's petrel Bulweria fallax (A)
Tahiti petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata (A)
Gray petrel Procellaria cinerea (A)
White-chinned petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
Streaked shearwater Calonectris leucomelas
Cory's shearwater Calonectris diomedea (A)
Flesh-footed shearwater Ardenna carneipes
Great shearwater Ardenna gravis (A)
Wedge-tailed shearwater Ardenna pacifica
Sooty shearwater Ardenna grisea (A)
Short-tailed shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris
Hutton's shearwater Puffinus huttoni
Fluttering shearwater Puffinus gavia (A)
Little shearwater Puffinus assimilis
Persian shearwater Puffinus persicus (A)
Heinroth's shearwater Puffinus heinrothi (A)

Storks[edit]

Black necked stork (jabiru) and juvenile pied heron in flight

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Black-necked stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

Frigatebirds[edit]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Great frigatebird
Common name Binomial Notes
Lesser frigatebird Fregata ariel
Christmas Island frigatebird Fregata andrewsi (A)
Great frigatebird Fregata minor

Boobies and gannets[edit]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

Australasian gannet

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

Common name Binomial Notes
Masked booby Sula dactylatra
Brown booby Sula leucogaster
Red-footed booby Sula sula
Abbott's booby Papasula abbotti (A)
Cape gannet Morus capensis (A)
Australasian gannet Morus serrator

Anhingas[edit]

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Oriental darter Anhinga melanogaster (A)
Australasian darter Anhinga novaehollandiae

Cormorants and shags[edit]

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
Common name Binomial Notes
Little pied cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos
Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Little black cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Pied cormorant Phalacrocorax varius
Black-faced cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens
Kerguelen shag Leucocarbo verrucosus (A)

Pelicans[edit]

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.

Common name Binomial Notes
Australian pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus

Herons, egrets, and bitterns[edit]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

Pacific heron
Australian little egret
Pacific reef-heron, dark morph
Common name Binomial Notes
Australasian bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus
Yellow bittern Ixobrychus sinensis (A)
Black-backed bittern Ixobrychus dubius
Cinnamon bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (A)
Black bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
Gray heron Ardea cinerea (A)
Pacific heron Ardea pacifica
Great-billed heron Ardea sumatrana
Purple heron Ardea purpurea (A)
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
Chinese pond-heron Ardeola bacchus (A)
Striated heron Butorides striatus
Black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Nankeen night-heron Nycticorax caledonicus

Ibises and spoonbills[edit]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Royal spoonbill
Common name Binomial Notes
Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Australian ibis Threskiornis moluccus
Straw-necked ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
Royal spoonbill Platalea regia
Yellow-billed spoonbill Platalea flavipes

Osprey[edit]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites[edit]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Gray goshawk
Common name Binomial Notes
Black-shouldered kite Elanus axillaris
Letter-winged kite Elanus scriptus
Oriental honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus (A)
Black-breasted kite Hamirostra melanosternon
Square-tailed kite Lophoictinia isura
Pacific baza Aviceda subcristata
Little eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides
Wedge-tailed eagle Aquila audax
Swamp harrier Circus approximans
Spotted harrier Circus assimilis
Chinese sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis
Gray goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae
Brown goshawk Accipiter fasciatus
Japanese sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis
Collared sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus
Red goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Black kite Milvus migrans
Whistling kite Haliastur sphenurus
Brahminy kite Haliastur indus
White-bellied sea eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster

Barn owls[edit]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Australian masked-owl
Common name Binomial Notes
Australian masked-owl Tyto novaehollandiae
Australian grass-owl Tyto longimembris
Barn owl Tyto alba

Owls[edit]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Oriental scops-owl Otis sunia (A)
Rufous owl Ninox rufa
Barking owl Ninox connivens
Southern boobook Ninox boobook
Brown boobook Ninox scutulata (A)
Northern boobook Ninox japonica (A)

Hoopoes[edit]

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Eurasian hoopoe Upupa epops (A)

Kingfishers[edit]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Laughing kookaburra
Common name Binomial Notes
Azure kingfisher Ceyx azureus
Little kingfisher Ceyx pusillus (A)
Laughing kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae (I)
Blue-winged kookaburra Dacelo leachii
Black-capped kingfisher Halcyon pileata (A)
Red-backed kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygia
Forest kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii (A)
Torresian kingfisher Todiramphus sordidus
Sacred kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
Collared kingfisher Todiramphus chloris (A)

Bee-eaters[edit]

Rainbow bee-eater

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Rainbow bee-eater Merops ornatus

Rollers[edit]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

Falcons and caracaras[edit]

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Nankeen kestrel Falco cenchroides
Eurasian hobby Falco subbuteo (A)
Australian hobby Falco longipennis
Brown falcon Falco berigora
Gray falcon Falco hypoleucos
Black falcon Falco subniger
Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus

Cockatoos[edit]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Red-tailed black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii
Carnaby's black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris (E)
Baudin's black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii (E)
Pink cockatoo Lophochroa leadbeateri
Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
Long-billed corella Cacatua tenuirostris (I)
Western corella Cacatua pastinator (E)
Little corella Cacatua sanguinea
Sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita
Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus

Old World parrots[edit]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Rainbow lorikeet
Common name Binomial Notes
Regent parrot Polytelis anthopeplus
Princess parrot Polytelis alexandrae
Red-winged parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus
Ground parrot Pezoporus wallicus
Night parrot Pezoporus occidentalis
Bourke's parrot Neopsephotus bourkii
Elegant parrot Neophema elegans
Rock parrot Neophema petrophila
Scarlet-chested parrot Neophema splendida
Australian ringneck Barnardius zonarius
Northern rosella Platycercus venustus
Western rosella Platycercus icterotis (E)
Naretha bluebonnet Northiella narethae
Mulga parrot Psephotus varius
Red-capped parrot Purpureicephalus spurius (E)
Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus
Purple-crowned lorikeet Parvipsitta porphyrocephala
Varied lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor
Red-collared lorikeet Trichoglossus rubritorquis
Rainbow lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus (I)

Pittas[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Blue-winged pitta Pitta moluccensis (A)
Fairy pitta Pitta nympha (A)
Hooded pitta Pitta sordida (A)
Rainbow pitta Pitta iris

Scrub-birds[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Atrichornithidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Noisy scrub-bird Atrichornis clamosus (E)

Bowerbirds[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptilonorhynchidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Western bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus guttatus
Great bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis

Australasian treecreepers[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Climacteridae

Common name Binomial Notes
White-browed treecreeper Climacteris affinis
Black-tailed treecreeper Climacteris melanura
Rufous treecreeper Climacteris rufa

Fairywrens[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Maluridae

Common name Binomial Notes
Rufous grasswren Amytornis whitei
Striated grasswren Amytornis striatus
Short-tailed grasswren Amytornis merrotsyi
Western grasswren Amytornis textilis
Black grasswren Amytornis housei (E)
Dusky grasswren Amytornis purnelli
Southern emuwren Stipiturus malachurus
Rufous-crowned emuwren Stipiturus ruficeps
Purple-crowned fairywren Malurus coronatus
Red-winged fairywren Malurus elegans (E)
Blue-breasted fairywren Malurus pulcherrimus
Purple-backed fairywren Malurus assimilis
Splendid fairywren Malurus splendens
White-winged fairywren Malurus leucopterus
Red-backed fairywren Malurus melanocephalus

Honeyeaters[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

New Holland honeyeater
Little friarbird
Common name Binomial Notes
Western spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus (E)
Pied honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus
Kimberley honeyeater Territornis fordiana (E)
White-gaped honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor
White-fronted honeyeater Purnella albifrons
Purple-gaped honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius
Yellow-throated miner Manorina flavigula
Spiny-cheeked honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis
Western wattlebird Anthochaera lunulata (E)
Red wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
Singing honeyeater Gavicalis virescens
Yellow-plumed honeyeater Ptilotula ornata
White-plumed honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata
Yellow-tinted honeyeater Ptilotula flavescens
Gray-headed honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi
Gray-fronted honeyeater Ptilotula plumula
Bar-breasted honeyeater Ramsayornis fasciatus
Rufous-throated honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis
Gray honeyeater Conopophila whitei
Gibber chat Ashbyia lovensis (A)
Yellow chat Epthianura crocea
Crimson chat Epthianura tricolor
Orange chat Epthianura aurifrons
White-fronted chat Epthianura albifrons
Black honeyeater Sugomel nigrum
Dusky myzomela Myzomela obscura (A)
Red-headed myzomela Myzomela erythrocephala
Tawny-crowned honeyeater Gliciphila melanops
Banded honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis
Brown honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
New Holland honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
White-cheeked honeyeater Phylidonyris nigra
White-eared honeyeater Nesoptilotis leucotis
Blue-faced honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis
White-throated honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis
Gilbert's honeyeater Melithreptus chloropsis (E)
Brown-headed honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris
Black-chinned honeyeater Melithreptus gularis
Painted honeyeater Grantiella picta (A)
Little friarbird Philemon citreogularis
Silver-crowned friarbird Philemon argenticeps

Bristlebirds[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dasyornithidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Western bristlebird Dasyornis longirostris (E)
Rufous bristlebird Dasyornis broadbenti

Pardalotes[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pardalotidae

Spotted pardalote
Common name Binomial Notes
Spotted pardalote Pardalotus punctatus
Red-browed pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus
Striated pardalote Pardalotus striatus

Thornbills and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acanthizidae

White-browed scrubwren
Common name Binomial Notes
White-browed scrubwren Sericornis frontalis
Spotted scrubwren Sericornis maculatus
Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus
Western fieldwren Calamanthus montanellus (E)
Rufous fieldwren Calamanthus campestris
Shy heathwren Hylacola cauta
Western thornbill Acanthiza inornata (E)
Slender-billed thornbill Acanthiza iredalei
Inland thornbill Acanthiza apicalis
Yellow-rumped thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Chestnut-rumped thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis
Slaty-backed thornbill Acanthiza robustirostris
Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris
Green-backed gerygone Gerygone chloronota
White-throated gerygone Gerygone albogularis
Large-billed gerygone Gerygone magnirostris
Dusky gerygone Gerygone tenebrosa (E)
Western gerygone Gerygone fusca
Mangrove gerygone Gerygone levigaster
Southern whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis
Banded whiteface Aphelocephala nigricincta

Pseudo-babblers[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pomatostomidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Gray-crowned babbler Pomatostomus temporalis
White-browed babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus

Quail-thrushes and jewel-babblers[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclosomatidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Chestnut quail-thrush Cinclosoma castanotum
Copperback quail-thrush Cinclosoma clarum
Western quail-thrush Cinclosoma marginatum
Nullarbor quail-thrush Cinclosoma alisteri

Cuckooshrikes[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Ground cuckooshrike Coracina maxima
Black-faced cuckooshrike Coracina novaehollandiae
White-bellied cuckooshrike Coracina papuensis
White-winged triller Lalage sueurii
Varied triller Lalage leucomela
Common cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostre

Sittellas[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Neosittidae

Varied sittella
Common name Binomial Notes
Varied sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera

Whipbirds and wedgebills[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Psophodidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Western whipbird Psophodes nigrogularis (E)
Chiming wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis

Australo-Papuan bellbirds[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oreoicidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Crested bellbird Oreoica gutturalis

Shrike-tits[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Falcunculidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Western shrike-tit Falcunculus leucogaster
Northern shrike-tit Falcunculus whitei

Whistlers and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Sandstone shrikethrush Colluricincla woodwardi
Gray shrikethrush Colluricincla harmonica
Arafura shrikethrush Colluricincla megarhyncha
Gilbert's whistler Pachycephala inornata
Western whistler Pachycephala fuliginosa (E)
Black-tailed whistler Pachycephala melanura
Rufous whistler Pachycephala rufiventris
White-breasted whistler Pachycephala lanioides

Old World orioles[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Green oriole Oriolus flavocinctus
Olive-backed oriole Oriolus sagittatus
Australasian figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti

Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

Common name Binomial Notes
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
Gray butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
Silver-backed butcherbird Cracticus argenteus
Pied butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
Black butcherbird Cracticus quoyi
Australian magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
Gray currawong Strepera versicolor

Fantails[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

Common name Binomial Notes
Northern fantail Rhipidura rufiventris
Willie-wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
Arafura fantail Rhipidura dryas
Gray fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
Mangrove fantail Rhipidura phasiana

Drongos[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

Spangled drongo
Common name Binomial Notes
Spangled drongo Dicrurus bracteatus

Monarch flycatchers[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

Leaden flycatcher
Common name Binomial Notes
Island monarch Monarcha cinerascens (A)
Black-faced monarch Monarcha melanopsis (A)
Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca
Leaden flycatcher Myiagra rubecula
Broad-billed flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis
Satin flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca (A)
Restless flycatcher Myiagra inquieta
Paperbark flycatcher Myiagra nana
Shining flycatcher Myiagra alecto

Shrikes[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Common name Binomial Note
Tiger shrike Lanius tigrinus (A)
Brown shrike Lanius cristatus

Crows, jays, and magpies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

Common name Binomial Notes
House crow Corvus splendens (A)
Torresian crow Corvus orru
Little crow Corvus bennetti
Australian raven Corvus coronoides

Australasian robins[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Petroicidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Jacky-winter Microeca fascinans
Lemon-bellied flycatcher Microeca flavigaster
Scarlet robin Petroica boodang
Red-capped robin Petroica goodenovii
Hooded robin Melanodryas cucullata
Western yellow robin Eopsaltria griseogularis
White-breasted robin Eopsaltria georgiana (E)
Mangrove robin Peneonanthe pulverulenta
Buff-sided robin Poecilodryas cerviniventris
Southern scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia

Larks[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Horsfield's bushlark Mirafra javanica

Cisticolas and allies[edit]

Golden-headed cisticola

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Zitting cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Golden-headed cisticola Cisticola exilis

Reed warblers and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

Australian reed warbler
Common name Binomial Notes
Oriental reed warbler Acrocephalus orientalis
Australian reed warbler Acrocephalus australis

Grassbirds and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Little grassbird
Common name Binomial Notes
Spinifexbird Poodytes carteri
Little grassbird Poodytes gramineus
Brown songlark Cincloramphus cruralis
Tawny grassbird Cincloramphus timoriensis
Rufous songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi
Gray's grasshopper warbler Helopsaltes fasciolatus
Pallas's grasshopper warbler Helopsaltes certhiola
Middendorff's grasshopper warbler Helopsaltes ochotensis (A)

Swallows[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

Fairy martin
Common name Binomial Notes
Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
Welcome swallow Hirundo neoxena
Red-rumped swallow Cecropis daurica
Fairy martin Petrochelidon ariel
Tree martin Petrochelidon nigricans
White-backed swallow Cheramoeca leucosternus

Bulbuls[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Red-whiskered bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus (A)

Leaf warblers[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Yellow-browed warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Eastern crowned warbler Phylloscopus coronatus
Arctic warbler Phylloscopus borealis (A)
Kamchatka leaf warbler Phylloscopus examinandus

Bush warblers and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Asian stubtail Urosphena squameiceps

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies[edit]

Silvereye

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Ashy-bellied white-eye Zosterops citrinella
Australian yellow white-eye Zosterops luteus
Silver-eye Zosterops lateralis

Starlings[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Common name Binomial Notes
European starling Sturnus vulgaris (A)
Rosy starling Pastor roseus (A)
Chestnut-cheeked starling Agropsar philippensis
Common myna Acridotheres tristis (A)

Thrushes and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Siberian thrush Geokichla sibirica (A)
Eurasian blackbird Turdus merula (A)
Eye-browed thrush Turdus obscurus (A)

Old World flycatchers[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Gray-streaked flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
Dark-sided flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica (A)
Asian brown flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
Blue-and-white flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana (A)
Siberian blue robin Larvivora cyane
Narcissus flycatcher Ficedula narcissina (A)
Blue rock-thrush Monticola solitarius (A)

Flowerpeckers[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

Common name Binomial Notes
Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum

Waxbills and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

Double-barred finch
Red-browed firetail
Common name Binomial Notes
Painted firetail Emblema pictum
Red-eared firetail Stagonopleura oculata (E)
Red-browed firetail Neochmia temporalis (I)
Crimson finch Neochmia phaeton
Star finch Bathilda ruficauda
Zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata
Double-barred finch Stizoptera bichenovii
Masked finch Poephila personata
Long-tailed finch Poephila acuticauda
Gouldian finch Chloebia gouldiae
Scaly-breasted munia Lonchura punctulata (A)
Pale-headed munia Lonchura pallida
Yellow-rumped munia Lonchura flaviprymna
Chestnut-breasted munia Lonchura castaneothorax
Java sparrow Padda oryzivora (A)
Pictorella munia Heteromunia pectoralis

Old World sparrows[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Common name Binomial Notes
House sparrow Passer domesticus (A)
Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus (A)

Wagtails and pipits[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Australian pipit chicks
Common name Binomial Notes
Gray wagtail Motacilla cinerea (A)
Western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava
Eastern yellow wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis (A)
White wagtail Motacilla alba (A)
Australian pipit Anthus australis
Pechora pipit Anthus gustavi (A)
Red-throated pipit Anthus cervinus (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Common name Binomial Notes
European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis (I)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Western Australia". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Birds of Western Australia, the complete checklist". WICE (World Institute for Conservation and Environment). Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. ^ Christidis, Leslie; Boles, Walter (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne: CSIRO. ISBN 978-0-643-09602-8.
  4. ^ Christidis, Leslie; Boles, Walter (1994). The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. ISBN 978-1-875122-06-6.
  5. ^ "Birds Australia Checklist". Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  6. ^ Clements, James F. (2022). Birds of the World: A Checklist (6th ed.). Cornell University Press.
  • Serventy, D.L.; Whittell, H.M. (1976) [1948]. A Handbook of the Birds of Western Australia. Perth, WA, Australia: University Press of Western Australia.
  • Johnstone, R.E.; Storr, G.M. (1998). Handbook of Western Australian Birds. Volume 1 – Non-Passerines (Emu to Dollarbird). Oxford University Press.