by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Ibises and Spoonbills (Family Threskiornithidae) Superficially similar to herons but with long decurved (ibises) or spatula-like (spoonbills) bills, with five breeding residents, the Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus, Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia and...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Jacanas (Family Jacanidae) Two species of these lily-trotting birds, with grotesquely elongated toes, appear in Australia. The Australian Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea is the only breeding species, while the Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Kingfishers (Family Alcedinidae) Both the Azure and Little Kingfishers feed on small fish, insects and crustaceans. They are both found in well-vegetated riverine areas, swamps and mangroves. The Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus is found in Australia’s north and east...
by Peter Rowland | Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Masked Owls (Family Tytonidae) The masked or barn owls are moderately-sized to large birds, with large facial discs and long legs. Five species are resident in Australia, the endemic Lesser Sooty Owl Tyto multipunctata, wide ranging Eastern Grass Owl T. longimembris...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Oystercatchers (Family Haematopodidae) Both the Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris and Sooty Oystercatcher H. fuliginosus are endemic to Australia. The only other species recorded in Australia is the vagrant South Island Pied Oystercatcher H....
