The Mount Alexander region offers a wide choice of birding opportunities. With varying habitats, more than 230 species have been recorded in the region. Bushland species can be found in woodlands ranging from the Newstead area to Muckleford Forest and the higher elevations of Mount Alexander. If you are interested in waterbirds then Tullaroop, Cairn Curran, Barkers Creek and Expedition Pass Reservoirs give a lot of scope. In wet years, the swamps on the Moolort Plains offer even more possibilities. For a comprehensive guide to local birds, good birding sites in the region and tips on birdwatching, check out “Castlemaine Bird Walks” by Damian Kelly – available from local bookshops and the Information Centre in Castlemaine.
The Birdlist below was compiled by Damian Kelly and details the native and introduced (**) species recorded in and around the Mount Alexander Shire, along with their likely locations. The local status is based on records for the area and the knowledge of experienced local birders. The abbreviations are: LE – Locally extinct; LC – Locally Common (only some areas); C – Common and widespread; UC – Uncommon; R – Rare; OV – Occasional Visitor. The names and order of the birds are as in Birdata (Birdlife Australia).
A checklist for the Birds of the Mount Alexander Region can be downloaded here.
Photos by Noel Young
| COMMON NAME | SCIENTIFIC NAME | LOCAL STATUS | HABITAT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASSOWARIES AND EMU | ||||
| Emu | Dromaius novaehollandiae | LE | ||
| MAGPIE GOOSE | ||||
| Magpie Goose | Anseranas semipalmata | OV | Wetlands | |
| DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS | ||||
| Plumed Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna eytoni | R | Wetlands | |
| Blue-billed Duck | Oxyura australis | R | Lakes/Reservoirs | Deep water |
| Pink-eared Duck | Malacorhynchus membranaceus | LC | Wetlands | Breeds locally in wet years at Bells Swamp |
| Cape Barren Goose | Cereopsis novaehollandiae | OV | Farmland | |
| Black Swan | Cygnus atratus | C | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| Australian Shelduck | Tadorna tadornoides | C | Wetlands, dams, farmland | |
| Hardhead | Aythya australis | UC | Wetlands, Lakes/Reservoirs | Castlemaine Botanic Gardens |
| Australasian Shoveler | Spatula rhynchotis | UC | Wetlands | |
| Pacific Black Duck | Anas superciliosa | C | Wetlands, dams, farmland | Everywhere |
| Northern Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | LC | Lakes/Reservoirs | Castlemaine Botanic Gardens |
| Grey Teal | Anas gracilis | C | Wetlands | |
| Chestnut Teal | Anas castanea | UC | Wetlands | |
| Freckled Duck | Stictonetta naevosa | R | Wetlands | |
| Musk Duck | Biziura lobata | UC | Lakes/Reservoirs | Deep water – Barkers Creek Reservoir, Expedition Pass, Tullaroop |
| Australian Wood Duck | Chenonetta jubata | C | Wetlands, dams, farmland | Everywhere |
| ** Muscovy Duck | Cairina moschata | UC | Urban, farmland | Castlemaine Botanic Gardens |
| ** Black Duck-Mallard hybrid | Anas sp. | UC | Urban, farmland | Castlemaine Botanic Gardens |
| QUAIL | ||||
| Stubble Quail | Coturnix pectoralis | UC | Farmland | |
| Brown Quail | Synoicus ypsilophora | UC | Farmland | Favours dense patches |
| GREBES | ||||
| Australasian Grebe | Tachybaptus novaehollandiae | C | Wetlands, dams | |
| Hoary-headed Grebe | Poliocephalus poliocephalus | C | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus | LC | Lakes/Reservoirs | Tullaroop, Barkers Creek Reservoir |
| PIGEONS AND DOVES | ||||
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | C | Urban, farms | |
| ** Spotted Dove | Streptopelia chinensis | UC | Urban, farms | |
| Common Bronzewing | Phaps chalcoptera | C | Woodland, urban | |
| Brush Bronzewing | Phaps elegans | R | Woodland | Forest Creek |
| Crested Pigeon | Ocyphaps lophotes | C | Urban, farmland | Widespread |
| Peaceful Dove | Geopelia placida | C | Woodland | |
| CUCKOOS | ||||
| Eastern Koel | Eudynamys orientalis | OV | Urban, Woodland | Spring/Summer, calls definitive |
| Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo | Chalcites basalis | C | Woodland | Mainly Spring/Summer. Widespread – calls definitive |
| Black-eared Cuckoo | Chalcites osculans | UC | Woodland | Spring/Summer. Widespread – calls definitive |
| Shining Bronze-Cuckoo | Chalcites lucidus | C | Woodland | Spring/Summer. Widespread – calls definitive |
| Fan-tailed Cuckoo | Cacomantis flabelliformis | C | Woodland | Spring/Summer. Widespread – calls definitive |
| Pallid Cuckoo | Heteroscenes pallidus | C | Woodland | Spring/Summer. Widespread – calls definitive |
| FROGMOUTHS | ||||
| Tawny Frogmouth | Podargus strigoides | C | Urban, Woodland | |
| NIGHTJARS | ||||
| Spotted Nightjar | Eurostopodus argus | R | Woodland | Spring/summer, Favours rocky ridges |
| White-throated Nightjar | Eurostopodus mystacalis | UC | Woodland | Spring/summer, Favours rocky ridges |
| OWLET-NIGHTJAR | ||||
| Australian Owlet-nightjar | Aegotheles cristatus | C | Woodland | Hollows – natural and nest boxes |
| SWIFTS | ||||
| White-throated Needletail | Hirundapus caudacutus | UC | Aerial ahead of storm fronts | Summer/Autumn |
| Fork-tailed Swift | Apus pacificus | UC | Aerial ahead of storm fronts | Summer/Autumn |
| RAILS, GALLINULES AND ALLIES | ||||
| Buff-banded Rail | Hypotaenidia philippensis | UC | Wetlands | |
| Australian Spotted Crake | Porzana fluminea | UC | Wetlands | Dense reeds |
| Baillon's Crake | Zapornia pusilla | OV | Wetlands | Dense Reeds |
| Spotless Crake | Zapornia tabuensis | UC | Wetlands | Dense reeds |
| Purple Swamphen | Porphyrio porphyrio | C | Wetlands | |
| Dusky Moorhen | Gallinula tenebrosa | C | Wetlands | |
| Black-tailed Native-hen | Tribonyx ventralis | LC | Wetlands | Irrupts unpredictably |
| Eurasian Coot | Fulica atra | C | Wetlands | Everywhere with water |
| CRANES | ||||
| Brolga | Grus rubicunda | R | Wetlands | Cairn Curran, Moolort Swamps |
| SHOREBIRDS | ||||
| Banded Stilt | Cladorhynchus leucocephalus | R | Mudflats | |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus leucocephalus | UC | Mudflats | Cairn Curran, Moolort Swamps |
| Red-knecked Avocet | Recurvirostra novaehollandiae | UC | Mudflats | Cairn Curran, Moolort Swamps |
| Double-banded Plover | Charadrius bicinctus | R | Mudflats, farmland | Cairn Curran, Moolort Swamps |
| Red-capped Plover | Charadrius ruficapillus | R | Mudflats | Cairn Curran |
| Black-fronted Dotterel | Elseyornis melanops | C | Wetlands, Lakes/Reservoirs | Mudflats |
| Banded Lapwing | Vanellus tricolor | R | Farmland | |
| Masked Lapwing | Vanellus miles | C | Urban, farms | Everywhere |
| Red-kneed Dotterel | Erythrogonys cinctus | UC | Wetlands, Lakes/Reservoirs | Mudflats |
| Sharp-tailed Sandpiper | Calidris acuminata | R | Mudflats | Cairn Curran |
| Red-necked Stint | Calidris ruficollis | R | Mudflats | Cairn Curran |
| Latham’s Snipe | Gallinago hardwickii | R | Mudflats | Cairn Curran |
| Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola | R | Mudflats | Cairn Curran |
| BUTTON-QUAIL | ||||
| Painted Button-quail | Turnix varius | UC | Woodland | |
| GULLS, TERNS AND SKIMMERS | ||||
| Silver Gull | Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae | LC | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| Australian Gull-billed Tern | Gelochelidon macrotarsa | OV | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia | R | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida | R | Lakes/Reservoirs, Wetlands | |
| White-winged Black Tern | Chlidonias leucopterus | OV | Lakes/Reservoirs, Wetlands | |
| PELICANS | ||||
| Australian Pelican | Pelecanus conspicillatus | LC | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| HERONS, IBIS AND ALLIES | ||||
| Nankeen Night-Heron | Nycticorax caledonicus | C | Wetlands | |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | R | Farmland | |
| White-necked Heron | Ardea pacifica | UC | Wetlands | |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | UC | Wetlands | |
| Intermediate Egret | Ardea intermedia | R | Wetlands | |
| White-faced Heron | Egretta novaehollandiae | C | Wetlands | |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | R | Wetlands | |
| Australian White Ibis | Threskiornis moluccus | C | Wetlands, farmland | |
| Straw-necked Ibis | Threskiornis spinicollis | C | Wetlands, farmland | |
| Yellow-billed Spoonbill | Platalea flavipes | UC | Wetlands | |
| Royal Spoonbill | Platalea regia | R | Wetlands | |
| CORMORANTS | ||||
| Little Pied Cormorant | Microcarbo melanoleucos | C | Lakes/Reservoirs | Breeds at Castlemaine Botanic Gardens |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | C | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| Little Black Cormorant | Phalacrocorax sulcirostris | C | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| Pied Cormorant | Phalacrocorax varius | UC | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| ANHINGAS | ||||
| Australasian Darter | Anhinga novaehollandiae | LC | Lakes/Reservoirs | |
| HAWKS AND ALLIES | ||||
| Black-shouldered Kite | Elanus axillaris | UC | Farmland | |
| Square-tailed Kite | Lophoictinia isura | UC | Woodland | Spring/summer |
| Wedge-tailed Eagle | Aquila audax | C | Woodland, farmland, aerial | |
| Little Eagle | Hieraaetus morphnoides | C | Farmland, aerial | |
| Swamp Harrier | Circus approximans | UC | Wetlands, farmland | |
| Spotted Harrier | Circus assimilis | UC | Wetlands, farmland | Moolort plains |
| Grey Goshawk | Accipiter novaehollandiae | R | Woodland | |
| Brown Goshawk | Accipiter fasciatus | C | Woodland, urban | |
| Collared Sparrowhawk | Accipiter cirrocephalus | C | Woodland, urban | |
| White-bellied Sea-Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster | UC | Lakes/Reservoirs | Cairn Curran, Tullaroop |
| Whistling Kite | Haliastur sphenurus | C | Farmland, wetlands | |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans | C | Farmland | Increasing in numbers |
| OWLS | ||||
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | UC | Farmland | Also urban |
| Powerful Owl | Ninox strenua | UC | Woodland | Also urban |
| Barking Owl | Ninox connivens | R | Woodland | Also urban |
| Southern Boobook | Ninox boobook | UC | Woodland | Also urban |
| BEE-EATERS, ROLLERS AND ALLIES | ||||
| Rainbow Bee-eater | Merops ornatus | LC | Woodland, farmland | Spring/summer. Nests in banks |
| Dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis | OV | Riparian woodland | Spring/summer |
| Azure Kingfisher | Ceyx azureus | R | Watercourses | Spring/summer |
| Sacred Kingfisher | Todiramphus sanctus | C | Woodland, watercourses | Spring/Summer |
| Laughing Kookaburra | Dacelo novaeguineae | C | Woodland | |
| FALCONS | ||||
| Nankeen Kestrel | Falco cenchroides | UC | Farmland | |
| Australian Hobby | Falco longipennis | UC | Farmland | |
| Brown Falcon | Falco berigora | C | Farmland | |
| Black Falcon | Falco subniger | R | Farmland | |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | R | Farmland | Often near cliffs |
| COCKATOOS | ||||
| Cockatiel | Nymphicus hollandicus | R | Riparian woodland, farmland | Nomadic, moves south from dry inland |
| Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo | Zanda funereus | UC | Woodland | Pineforests, increasing |
| Gang-gang Cockatoo | Callocephalon fimbriatum | OV | Woodland | |
| Galah | Eolophus roseicapilla | C | Woodland, farmland, urban | |
| Long-billed Corella | Cacatua tenuirostris | C | Farmland, urban | |
| Little Corella | Cacatua sanguinea | LC | Farmland | Hamiltons Crossing, Baringhup |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | Cacatua galerita | C | Woodland, farmland, urban | |
| PARROTS | ||||
| Australian King-Parrot | Alisterus scapularis | OV | Woodland | |
| Red-rumped Parrot | Psephotus haematonotus | C | Farmland | |
| Crimson Rosella | Platycercus elegans | C | Woodland, urban | |
| Eastern Rosella | Platycercus eximius | C | Woodland, farmland, urban | |
| Swift Parrot | Lathamus discolor | R | Woodland | Autumn/Winter |
| Blue-winged Parrot | Neophema chrysostoma | R | Woodland | |
| Musk Lorikeet | Glossopsitta concinna | C | Woodland, urban | Flowering trees |
| Little Lorikeet | Glossopsitta pusilla | UC | Woodland, urban | Flowering trees |
| Purple-crowned Lorikeet | Glossopsitta porphyrocephala | UC | Woodland, urban | Flowering trees |
| Rainbow Lorikeet | Trichoglossus moluccanus | UC | Woodland, urban | Becoming more common |
| Budgerigar | Melopsittacus undulatus | OV | Woodland | Nomadic, moves south from dry inland |
| TREECREEPERS | ||||
| White-throated Treecreeper | Cormobates leucophaea | C | Woodland | |
| Brown Treecreeper | Climacteris picumnus | C | Woodland | |
| FAIRYWRENS | ||||
| Superb Fairy-wren | Malurus cyaneus | C | Woodland, urban | |
| HONEYEATERS | ||||
| Black Honeyeater | Sugomel niger | OV | Woodland, urban | Nomadic, moves south from dry inland |
| Scarlet Honeyeater | Myzomela sanguinolenta | R | Woodland, urban | Erratic following blossoms |
| Painted Honeyeater | Grantiella picta | R | Woodland | Spring/summer, Erratic following blossoms |
| Noisy Friarbird | Philemon corniculatus | R | Woodland | Erratic following blossoms |
| Little Friarbird | Philemon citreogularis | R | Woodland | Erratic following blossoms |
| Crescent Honeyeater | Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus | R | Woodland | |
| New Holland Honeyeater | Phylidonyris novaehollandiae | C | Urban, farmland | |
| White-eared Honeyeater | Nesoptilotis leucotis | C | Woodland | |
| Blue-faced Honeyeater | Entomyzon cyanotis | UC | Woodland, urban | Erratic following blossoms |
| Black-chinned Honeyeater | Melithreptus gularis | C | Woodland | Erratic following blossoms |
| Brown-headed Honeyeater | Melithreptus brevirostris | C | Woodland | |
| White-naped Honeyeater | Melithreptus lunatus | C | Woodland | |
| Tawny-crowned Honeyeater | Glyciphila melanops | R | Woodland | |
| Eastern Spinebill | Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris | C | Woodland, urban | |
| White-fronted Chat | Epthianura albifrons | UC | Farmland | |
| Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater | Acanthagenys rufogularis | R | Woodland | |
| Little Wattlebird | Anthochaera chrysoptera | R | Woodland | |
| Regent Honeyeater | Anthochaera phrygia | R | Woodland | Locally extinct? |
| Red Wattlebird | Anthochaera carunculata | C | Woodland, urban | Ubiquitous |
| Singing Honeyeater | Gavicalis virescens | R | Woodland | |
| Yellow-plumed Honeyeater | Ptilotula ornata | R | Woodland | |
| Fuscous Honeyeater | Ptilotula fusca | C | Woodland | |
| White-plumed Honeyeater | Ptilotula penicillata | C | Woodland, water-courses | |
| White-fronted Honeyeater | Purnella albifrons | OV | Woodland | Nomadic, moves south from dry inland |
| Yellow-faced Honeyeater | Caligavis chrysops | C | Woodland, urban | |
| Yellow-tufted Honeyeater | Lichenostomus melanops | C | Woodland | |
| Bell Miner | Manorina melanophrys | R | Woodland | Locally extinct? |
| Noisy Miner | Manorina melanocephala | C | Woodland | Patchy distribution |
| PARDALOTES | ||||
| Spotted Pardalote | Pardalotus punctatus | C | Woodland, urban | |
| Striated Pardalote | Pardalotus striatus | C | Woodland, urban | |
| THORNBILLS AND ALLIES | ||||
| White-throated Gerygone | Gerygone olivacea | OV | Woodland | |
| Western Gerygone | Gerygone fusca | R | Woodland | |
| Weebill | Smicrornis brevirostris | C | Woodland | |
| Speckled Warbler | Pyrrholaemus sagittatus | R | Woodland | |
| Chestnut-rumped Heathwren | Calamanthus pyrrhopygius | R | Woodland | |
| White-browed Scrubwren | Sericornis frontalis | C | Woodland | |
| Southern Whiteface | Aphelocephala leucopsis | UC | Woodland | |
| Yellow-rumped Thornbill | Acanthiza chrysorrhoa | C | Woodland, farmland, urban | |
| Yellow Thornbill | Acanthiza nana | C | Woodland | |
| Striated Thornbill | Acanthiza lineata | C | Woodland | |
| Brown Thornbill | Acanthiza pusilla | C | Woodland, urban | |
| Chestnut-rumped Thornbill | Acanthiza uropygialis | R | Woodland | |
| Buff-rumped Thornbill | Acanthiza reguloides | C | Woodland | |
| PSEUDO-BABBLERS | ||||
| Grey-crowned Babbler | Pomatostomus temporalis | LE | Woodland | No recent records |
| White-browed Babbler | Pomatostomus superciliosus | C | Woodland | |
| SITELLAS | ||||
| Varied Sittella | Daphoenositta chrysoptera | C | Woodland | |
| CUCKOOSHRIKES | ||||
| Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike | Coracina novaehollandiae | C | Woodland | |
| White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike | Coracina papuensis | UC | Woodland | |
| White-winged Triller | Lalage tricolor | UC | Woodland | Spring/summer, nomadic |
| QUAIL-THRUSHES | ||||
| Spotted Quail-thrush | Cinclosoma punctatum | UC | Woodland | |
| WHISTLERS, SHRIKE-THRUSHES, BELLBIRD | ||||
| Olive Whistler | Pachycephala olivacea | OV | Woodland | |
| Gilbert’s Whistler | Pachycephala inornata | OV | Woodland | Drier woodland |
| Rufous Whistler | Pachycephala rufiventris | C | Woodland, urban | Spring/summer |
| Golden Whistler | Pachycephala pectoralis | C | Woodland | |
| Grey Shrike-thrush | Colluricincla harmonica | C | Woodland, urban | |
| Crested Shrike-tit | Falcunculus frontatus | C | Woodland | |
| Crested Bellbird | Oreoica gutturalis | UC | Woodland | Drier woodland |
| ORIOLES | ||||
| Olive-backed Oriole | Oriolus sagittatus | C | Woodland | Spring/Summer, some over-winter |
| BELLMAGPIES AND ALLIES | ||||
| Pied Currawong | Strepera graculina | C | Woodland, urban | More common in Autumn/Winter |
| Grey Currawong | Strepera versicolor | C | Woodland, urban | |
| Australian Magpie | Gymnorhina tibicen | C | Woodland, farmland, urban | |
| Pied Butcherbird | Cracticus nigrogularis | OV | Woodland | |
| Grey Butcherbird | Cracticus torquatus | R | Woodland, urban | |
| WOODSWALLOWS | ||||
| Masked Woodswallow | Artamus personatus | UC | Woodland | Spring/summer, Often in mixed flocks with White-browed Woodswallows |
| White-browed Woodswallow | Artamus superciliosus | C | Woodland | Spring/summer |
| Dusky Woodswallow | Artamus cyanopterus | C | Woodland | |
| Black-faced Woodswallow | Artamus cinereus | OV | Woodland | |
| White-breasted Woodswallow | Artamus leucorynchus | OV | Woodland | |
| FANTAILS | ||||
| Willie Wagtail | Rhipidura leucophrys | C | Woodland, urban, farmland | |
| Rufous Fantail | Rhipidura rufifrons | R | Woodland | Spring/summer, Wetter forests |
| Grey Fantail | Rhipidura fuliginosa | C | Woodland, urban | |
| CROWS AND RAVENS | ||||
| Little Raven | Corvus mellori | C | Woodland, urban, farmland | More common than Australian Raven, flocks in winter |
| Australian Raven | Corvus coronoides | C | Woodland, urban, farmland | |
| MONARCH FLYCATCHERS | ||||
| Leaden Flycatcher | Myiagra rubecula | UC | Woodland | Spring/summer |
| Satin Flycatcher | Myiagra cyanoleuca | UC | Woodland | Spring/summer |
| Restless Flycatcher | Myiagra inquieta | C | Woodland | Spring/summer |
| Magpie-lark | Grallina cyanoleuca | C | Woodland, urban, farmland | |
| CHOUGH AND APOSTLEBIRD | ||||
| White-winged Chough | Corcorax melanorhamphos | C | Woodland | |
| ROBINS | ||||
| Rose Robin | Petroica rosea | R | Woodland | Autumn/Winter |
| Pink Robin | Petroica rodinogaster | R | Woodland | Autumn/Winter |
| Flame Robin | Petroica phoenicea | C | Woodland, farmland | Autumn/Winter |
| Scarlet Robin | Petroica multicolor | C | Woodland | |
| Red-capped Robin | Petroica goodenovii | UC | Woodland | |
| Jacky Winter | Microeca fascinans | C | Woodland, farmland | |
| Eastern Yellow Robin | Eopsaltria australis | C | Woodland | |
| Hooded Robin | Melanodryas cucullata | UC | Woodland | |
| FLOWERPECKERS | ||||
| Mistletoebird | Dicaeum hirundinaceum | C | Woodland | |
| ESTRILIDS | ||||
| Diamond Firetail | Stagonopleura guttata | UC | Woodland | |
| Red-browed Finch | Neochmia temporalis | C | Woodland, farmland, urban | |
| Zebra Finch | Taeniopygia guttata | UC | Woodland | |
| SPARROWS | ||||
| ** House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | C | Urban, farmland | |
| ** Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus | R | Urban | No recent records |
| PIPIT | ||||
| Australasian Pipit | Anthus novaeseelandiae | C | Farmland | |
| FINCHES AND ALLIES | ||||
| ** Common Greenfinch | Chloris chloris | UC | Farmland, urban | |
| ** European Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | C | Urban, farmland | |
| LARKS | ||||
| Horsfield’s Bushlark | Mirafra javanica | UC | Farmland | |
| ** Eurasian Skylark | Alauda arvensis | UC | Farmland | |
| CISTICOLAS | ||||
| Golden-headed Cisticola | Cisticola exilis | R | Wetlands | Reed beds |
| GRASSBIRDS AND ALLIES | ||||
| Brown Songlark | Cincloramphus cruralis | UC | Farmland | Open, tree-less paddocks |
| Rufous Songlark | Cincloramphus mathewsi | C | Farmland | Lightly treed areas |
| Little Grassbird | Poodytes gramineus | UC | Wetlands | Reed beds |
| Australian Reed-Warbler | Acrocephalus australis | C | Wetlands | Spring/summer, Reed beds |
| MARTINS AND SWALLOWS | ||||
| White-backed Swallow | Cheramoeca leucosterna | R | Aerial | |
| Fairy Martin | Petrochelidon ariel | C | Aerial | |
| Tree Martin | Petrochelidon nigricans | C | Aerial | |
| Welcome Swallow | Hirundo neoxena | C | Aerial, wetlands, farmland | |
| WHITEYES | ||||
| Silvereye | Zosterops lateralis | C | Woodland, urban | |
| STARLINGS AND MYNAS | ||||
| ** Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | C | Urban, farmland | |
| ** Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis | C | Urban, farmland | |
| THRUSHES | ||||
| Bassian Thrush | Zoothera lunulata | OV | Woodland | |
| ** Common Blackbird | Turdus merula | C | Urban, farmland | |
Tricky to identify – the five common Thornbills of the district
Photos by Noel Young
Other small “bush” birds common in our area
