by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Cranes (Family Gruidae) The most common and widespread crane in Australia is the Brolga Grus rubicunda, a breeding resident that also occurs in Indonesia and PNG. The Sarus Crane G. antigone is more restricted. Both are tall grey birds, with long legs and red heads....
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Cuckoos (Family Cuculidae) These are renowned for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds, leaving the unsuspecting hosts to incubate the eggs and raise the young cuckoo. Of the Australian species, only the coucals build nests and raise their own young, a...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Curlews and Sandpipers (Family Scolopacidae) A large family of variably-sized waders, with 45 species recorded in Australia. None are resident, with 27 appearing as migrants and the remaining 18 as vagrants. The curlews are characterised by their long...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Cormorants (Family Phalacrocoracidae) Of the six species that have been recorded breeding within Australia, only the Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens is endemic. Four other species breed on the mainland, and one each on Heard Island and Macquarie Island....
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Ducks, Geese and Swans (Family Anatidae) Within Australia, there are 28 members in this group of fully web-footed waterfowl, including nine endemics, the Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis, Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus, Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis...
