Editing Birds of Australia

{{short description|Birds native or endemic to Australia}}
{{For|books with similar titles|The Birds of Australia (disambiguation)}}
{{more footnotes|date=March 2013}}
[[Image:Galahs flying motion blur.jpg|thumb|A flock of [[galah]]s]]
[[Image:Cockatiel Crest.jpg|thumb|A [[cockatiel]]]]
[[Australia]] and its offshore islands and territories have 898 recorded [[bird]] species as of 2014.<ref name= DolbyClarke>{{cite book| title=Finding Australian Birds |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6518.htm |author1=Dolby, Tim| author2= Clarke, Rohan| publisher= CSIRO Publishing |year= 2014| isbn= 9780643097667}}</ref> Of the recorded birds, 165 are considered [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrant]] or accidental visitors, of the remainder over 45% are classified as Australian endemics: found nowhere else on earth.<ref name= DolbyClarke /> It has been suggested that up to 10% of Australian bird species may go extinct by the year 2100 as a result of climate change.<ref>{{cite book| title= Climate change adaptation plan for Australian Birds |url= http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/6995.htm |editor1= Garnett, Stephen| editor2= Franklin, Donald |publisher= CSIRO Publishing| year= 2014|isbn= 9780643108028}}</ref>

Australian species range from the tiny {{cvt|8|cm}} [[weebill]] to the huge, flightless [[emu]]. Many species of Australian birds will immediately seem familiar to visitors from the Northern Hemisphere: Australian [[Wren|wrens]] look and act much like northern [[wren]]s, and Australian [[Australasian robin|robins]] seem to be close relatives of the northern [[European robin|robin]]s. However, the majority of Australian [[passerine]]s are descended from the ancestors of the [[crow]] family, and the close resemblance is misleading: the cause is not genetic relatedness but [[convergent evolution]].

For example, almost any land habitat offers a nice home for a small bird that specialises in finding small insects: the form best fitted to that task is one with long legs for agility and obstacle clearance, moderately-sized wings optimised for quick, short flights, and a large, upright tail for rapid changes of direction. In consequence, the unrelated birds that fill that role in the [[Americas]] and in Australia look and act as though they are close relatives.

Australian birds which show convergent evolution with Northern Hemisphere species:
* [[honeyeater]]s (resemble [[sunbird]]s)
* [[sittella]]s (resemble [[nuthatch]]es)
* [[Australasian babbler]]s (resemble [[scimitar babbler]]s)
* [[Australian robin]]s (resemble [[Old World chat]]s)
* [[Drymodes|Scrub robin]]s (resemble [[thrush (bird)|thrushes]])

==Kinds of birds==
Australian birds can be classified into six categories:
* Old endemics: long-established non-[[passerine]]s of ultimately [[Gondwanan]] origin, notably [[emu]]s, [[cassowary|cassowaries]] and the huge [[Psittaciformes|parrot group]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Olah |first=George |last2=Theuerkauf |first2=Jörn |last3=Legault |first3=Andrew |last4=Gula |first4=Roman |last5=Stein |first5=John |last6=Butchart |first6=Stuart |last7=O’Brien |first7=Mark |last8=Heinsohn |first8=Robert |date=2018 |title=Parrots of Oceania – a comparative study of extinction risk |url=https://georgeolah.com/documents/olah_et_al_2018a_parrots_of_oceania.pdf |journal=Emu - Austral Ornithology |language=en |volume=118 |issue=1 |pages=94–112 |doi=10.1080/01584197.2017.1410066 |issn=0158-4197}}</ref>
* Corvid radiation: [[Passerine]]s peculiar to [[Australasia]], descended from the [[Corvidae|crow family]], and now occupying a vast range of roles and sizes; examples include [[Maluridae|wrens]], [[Petroicidae|robins]], [[Australian magpie|magpies]], [[Acanthiza|thornbill]]s, [[pardalote]]s, the huge [[honeyeater]] family, [[Australasian treecreeper|treecreepers]], [[lyrebird]]s, [[birds-of-paradise]] and [[bowerbird]]s
* Eurasian colonists: later colonists from [[Eurasia]], including [[plover]]s, [[Hirundinidae|swallows]], [[lark]]s, [[Thrush (bird)|thrush]]es, [[cisticola]]s, sunbirds and some [[Bird of prey|raptor]]s
* Recent introductions: birds recently introduced by humans; some, such as the [[European goldfinch]] and [[European greenfinch|greenfinch]], appear to coexist with native fauna; others, such as the [[common starling]], [[Common blackbird|blackbird]], [[House sparrow|house]] and [[tree sparrow]]s, and the [[common myna]], are more destructive
* Migratory shorebirds: a suite of [[wader]]s in the [[Scolopacidae]] and [[Charadriidae]] families which breed in northern [[Asia]] and [[Alaska]] and spend the non-breeding season in [[Australasia]]
* [[Seabird]]s: a large and cosmopolitan group of [[petrel]]s, [[albatross]]es, [[Sulidae|sulids]], [[gull]]s, [[tern]]s and [[cormorant]]s, many of which either breed on islands within Australian territory or frequent its coast and [[territorial waters]]

==Regional lists==
For comprehensive [[Lists of birds by region|regional lists]], see:
* [[List of birds of Australia]], covering Australia and its territories
* [[List of birds of Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica]], the ''[[Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds|HANZAB]]'' list for Australia, [[New Zealand]], [[Antarctica]] and the [[Southern Ocean|surrounding ocean]] and [[subantarctic]] islands.

For Australia's endemic species, see:
* [[List of endemic birds of Australia]]

[[Image:Kookaburra portrait.jpg|thumb|A [[kookaburra]]]]

Other regional, state and island bird lists:
* [[List of birds of Victoria, Australia|Victoria]]
* [[List of birds of NSW and Lord Howe Island|New South Wales & Lord Howe Island]]
* [[List of birds of Queensland|Queensland]]
* [[List of Western Australian birds|Western Australia]]
* [[List of Tasmanian birds|Tasmania]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110929211259/http://birds.rhyme.com.au/ntlist.html Northern Territory]
* [[List of birds of South Australia|South Australia]]
* [[Birds of Ashmore Reef|Ashmore Reef]]
* [[Birds of Boigu, Saibai and Dauan Islands (Torres Strait)|Boigu, Saibai and Dauan Islands]]
* [[Birds of Christmas Island|Christmas Island]]
* [[Fauna of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands|Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]
* [[Birds of Heard and McDonald Islands|Heard Island]]
* [[List of birds of Kangaroo Island, South Australia|Kangaroo Island]]
* [[Birds of Macquarie Island|Macquarie Island]]
* [[List of birds of the Houtman Abrolhos|Houtman Abrolhos]]

==Organizations==
National organizations
* [[BirdLife Australia]] (previously known as Birds Australia) is the leading Australian [[NGO]] for birds, [[birding]],  [[ornithology]] and [[Wildlife conservation|conservation]], formed by a merger of the [[Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union]] and [[Bird Observation & Conservation Australia]]<ref>{{cite web| url= http://birdlife.org.au/who-we-are/our-organisation | title= Our Organization| website= birdlife.org.au| publisher= BirdLife Australia}}</ref>
* [[Australian Bird Study Association]], for [[bird ringing|bander]]s and other field ornithologists
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060917233426/http://www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html Birding-Aus] - an Internet mailing list about Australian birds
[[Image:Cropped Aussie magpie in tree.jpg|thumb|A young [[Australian magpie]]]]
Australian regional and state organisations
* Australian Capital Territory
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20050218065811/http://basna.birdsaustralia.com.au/ Birds Australia Southern NSW & ACT]
** [[Canberra Ornithologists Group]]
* New South Wales
** NSW Bird Atlassers Inc.
** [[NSW Field Ornithologists Club|Birding NSW]]
** [[Birds Australia Northern NSW]]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20050218065811/http://basna.birdsaustralia.com.au/ Birds Australia Southern NSW & ACT]
** [http://www.cboc.org.au Cumberland Bird Observers Club]
** [http://www.bmbo.org.au Blue Mountains Bird Observers Inc.]
* Queensland
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20090508083505/http://www.irock.com.au/~birdscapricornia/ Birds Australia Capricornia]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20071103113124/http://birdsaustralianq.org/ Birds Australia North Queensland]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103148/http://www.users.bigpond.com/basqld/ Birds Australia Southern Queensland]
** [[Queensland Ornithological Society Inc|Birds Queensland]]
* South Australia
** [[South Australian Ornithological Association|Birds SA]]
* Tasmania
** [[Birds Tasmania]]
* Victoria
** [[Birds Australia - Victoria]]
* Western Australia
** [[Birds Australia Western Australia]]

==Regional references and guides==
Important regional references include:
* ''[http://www.waterfordpress.com Australia Birds]'', a portable folding guide authored by zoologist James Kavanagh, features 140 of the most familiar species. Part of a four title series on Australia flora & fauna featuring ecoregions and major bird spotting sites around the country.
* ''[http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6518.htm Finding Australian Birds]'', authored by Tim Dolby and Rohan Clarke (2014), features the best places in Australia for finding birds.
* ''The [[Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds]]'' (''[[HANZAB]]''), the pre-eminent scientific reference, in seven volumes.
* ''[[Atlas of Australian Birds|The New Atlas of Australian Birds]]'', an extensive detailed survey of Australian bird distributions.
* ''[http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/action/birds2000/index.html The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000]'', Garnett, Stephen T.; & Crowley, Gabriel M., Environment Australia, Canberra, 2000 {{ISBN|0-642-54683-5}}, a comprehensive survey of the conservation status of Australian species, with costed conservation and recovery strategies.
* ''[[Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds]]'' was once the standard general reference, but is now somewhat dated. The second edition (1986) remains in print.
* ''[http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781741757361 Where to See Birds in Victoria]'', edited by Tim Dolby (2009), features places in Victoria for seeing birds.

Full-coverage field guides in print are as follows, in rough order of authority:
* Pizzey: ''[[A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Pizzey)|Field Guide to the Birds of Australia]]'', [[Graham Pizzey|Pizzey, G]], [[Frank Knight|Knight, F]] and Menkhorst, P (ed), 7th edition, 2003 {{ISBN|978-0-207-19821-2}}
* Slater: ''[[The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds]]'', Slater P, Slater P and Slater R, 2009 revised edition
* Simpson and Day: ''[[Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Simpson & Day)|Field Guide to the Birds of Australia]]'', Simpson K and [[Nicolas Day|Day N]], 8th edition, 2010; {{ISBN|0-670-07231-1}}
* Morcombe: ''Field Guide to Australian Birds'', Morcombe, M, 2nd edition 2003, and complete compact edition 2004
* Flegg: ''Photographic Field Guide: Birds of Australia'', [[Jim Flegg|Flegg, J]], 2nd edition, 2002
* Trounson: ''Australian Birds: A Concise Photographic Field Guide'', [[Donald Trounson|Trounson D]] and Trounson M, 2005 reprint
* Cayley: ''[[What Bird is That?]]'', [[Neville William Cayley|Cayley, N]], 2000 edition

==Parasites==
The country does not suffer from several [[Apicomplexa]]n parasites found throughout the rest of the world.<ref name="Atkinson-et-al-2009">{{cite book | editor-last=Atkinson | editor-first=Carter T. | editor-last2=Thomas | editor-first2=Nancy J. | editor-last3=Hunter | editor-first3=D. Bruce | title=Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds | publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]] | publication-place=[[Oxford, UK]] | date=2009-01-13 | isbn=978-0-8138-0462-0 | pages=xi+595 | oclc=352832662 | s2cid=82770933}} {{isbn|978-0-8138-2081-1}}. {{isbn|978-0-8138-0457-6}}.</ref>{{rp|pages=14, 36}} Several species of both avian ''[[Haemoproteus|haemoproteids]]'' and avian ''[[Plasmodium]]'' spp. are absent here.<ref name="Atkinson-et-al-2009" />{{rp|pages=14, 36}}

{{Dividing line}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
image:EagleWedgetail2.jpg|[[Wedgetail eagle]]
image:Forest Kingfisher2.jpg|[[Forest kingfisher]]
image:Laughing Kookaburra2.jpg|[[Kookaburra]]
image:Barking Owl.jpg|[[Barking owl]]
image:Duck, Plumed Whistling Sep 09.jpg|[[Plumed whistling duck]]
image:White-faced-Heron444.jpg|[[White-faced heron]]
image:Magpie_samcem05.jpg|[[Australian magpie]]
image:Rainbow Bee-eaters Juffs.JPG|[[Rainbow bee-eater]]
image:Apostlebird 442.jpg|[[Apostlebird]]
image:Turkey, Brush2 Nov 09.JPG|[[Australian brush turkey]]
image:Alisterus scapularis -Brisbane-6.jpg|[[Australian king parrot]]
image:Milvus migrans front(ThKraft).jpg|[[Black kite]]
image:Red-flush Cattle Egret.jpg|[[Cattle egret]]
File:Eopsaltria australis - Mogo Campground.jpg|[[Eastern yellow robin]]
image:Noisy Friarbird dec07.jpg|[[Noisy friarbird]]
image:Mistletoebird wynn05.jpg|[[Mistletoebird]]
File:Superb Lyrebird mound dance.jpg|[[Superb lyrebird]]
File:Podargus strigoides Bonorong.jpg|[[Tawny frogmouth]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|title=Birds Australia|url=http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991127214548/http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1999-11-27|access-date=2006-08-05}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030416201841/http://members.iinet.net.au/~whiteowl/ozraptorspecies.html Australian raptors]
* [http://nla.gov.au/nla.aus-f4773 Fully digitised edition] of ''[[The Birds of Australia (Gould)|The Birds of Australia]]'' in seven volumes by John Gould
* ''[http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/action/birds2000/index.html Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000]'' - PDF download
* {{cite web|title=Australasian Bird Image Database (ABID)|url=http://www.aviceda.org/abid/newimages.php|access-date=2008-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228032708/http://www.aviceda.org/abid/newimages.php|archive-date=2008-02-28|url-status=dead}}
* ''[http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781741757361 Where to See Birds in Victoria]'' edited by Tim Dolby
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFA33eX7QKs&feature=c4-overview&list=UUDs9YtIHWB2Vh1KDNNV98JQ Yellow bellied sunbird video]
*[https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/dls06p/alma99183675817402061 Birds of Australia: treasures from the collection], [[State Library of Queensland]]


[[Category:Birds of Australia| ]]
[[Category:Ornithology in Australia| ]]