by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Penguins (Family Spheniscidae) Penguins are confined to the southern hemisphere. Fourteen species of these mostly ocean-dwelling, flightless birds have been recorded in Australia, most as vagrants. The Little Penguin Eudyptula minor is the only species to breed on the...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Cockatoos (Family Cacatuidae) Eleven of Australia’s 14 species are endemic, with the others shared with New Guinea. Medium to large crested birds, except the Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus is more slender and parrot-like, with two toes facing forwards and two facing...
by Peter Rowland | Monday, October 19, 2020
Crakes and Rails (Family Rallidae) Stocky semi-aquatic birds of wetlands and adjacent grassland, typically with elongated toes. The endemic White Gallinule Porphyrio albus was aggressively hunted by sailors and whalers in the late 1700s and early 1800s and likely...
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...
