BIRD field guide - ClimateWatch · 2019. 9. 14. · BIRD field guide Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa When to look: Throughout the year Black body, white under tail Image by Marj

© Nadiah Roslan/Earthwatchclimatewatch.org.au

BIRD field guide

Australian MagpieCracticus tibicen

When to look:Throughout the year

Its eyes are red-brown

Images courtesy of ClimateWatch users Luca Mav and Nicola Storey 2016

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The back of its neck, upper tail and shoulders are white in males and grey in females

Similar species:

Pied Butcherbird: has a completely black head and bib that is separated from its black back by a completely white collar. Its underparts are white

Magpie-lark: is smaller with a smaller beak

Currawong: doesn’t have large areas of white on its body, especially on the back of the neck. Also won’t have the red iris

The rest of its body is black

Square-tipped tail

One toe faces backwards and three face forwards


BIRD field guide

Black SwanCygnus atratus

When to look:Throughout the year; Feb - Sept (breeding)

Distinctive red bill with white band

Images courtesy of Flickr user epitree, May 2016

Similar species:

May be confused with a

Magpie Goose in flight.

However, the Black Swan

has a much longer neck

and slower wing beat. On

the ground, the Magpie

Goose is white on the

rump, belly, mantle and

upper wings where the

Black Swan is black

Size: 1.1 - 1.40m (body) with a 1.6 - 2m wingspan

Nest made on small islands

Cygnets (juveniles) are pale grey with black bills


BIRD field guide

Bush Stone-curlewBurhinus grallarius

When to look:July to January

Buff-whitish below with vertical black streaks

Image courtesy of Flickr user pattfwi, August 2010

Large yellow eyes

Similar species:

Beach Stone-curlew: has a

large bill and a more boldly

marked face. It also lacks

bold streaking on its body

Prominent white eyebrow

Mostly grey-brown above, streaked with black and rufous


BIRD field guide

Cape Barren GooseCereopsis novaehollandiae

When to look:Year-round. Breeds June - Sept

Large, pale ash-grey goose with a square black tail. Triangular bill almost completely covered by greenish-yellow cere (skin above the bill)

Images: Adult: Graham Winterflood; Gosling : KAzredrace Flickr Creative Commons

Rows of large dark spots in lines across its shoulders and wing coverts. Legs are pink with black feet. In flight, shows dark wingtips


BIRD field guide

Channel-billed CuckooScythrops novaehollandiae

When to look:

August to March, breeding behaviour can be seen from August to October

Bright scarlet red eyes

Images courtesy of Geoff Whalan 2013 via FlickrCC (large) and Tony Palliser (small)

Large, downward-curved beak which is pale to mid-grey with a whitish tip

Similar species:

Its large size, down-curved beak, grey colouring and long, barred tail make it difficult to confuse it with any other bird.

Whitish belly and abdomen

Grey all over (darker on its back and wings)

White-grey tail


BIRD field guide

Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes

When to look:August to March

Red eyes with pin-red rings around them

Image by Neon Tomas Buenaflor Rosell

Grey head with a noticeable thin black crest

Similar species:

Spinifex Pigeon: smaller (20–24 cm) with cinnamon coloured feathers and a bright red patch on its face.

Topknot Pigeon: larger (40–46 cm) with a shaggy, red-brown crest that is droopy rather than erect like the Crested Pigeon’s. Also, it is rarely found on the ground.

Wings have black bars and glossy green and purple patches

Dark grey bill

Grey-brown feathers that become pinker on the underparts

Pink legs and feet


BIRD field guide

Dusky MoorhenGallinula tenebrosa

When to look:Throughout the year

Black body, white under tail

Image by Marj K.

Yellow-tipped red bill

Similar species:

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is larger with a bright purple front and all red bill and shield.

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) is recognised by its snowy white bill and forehead shield.

Black-tailed Native-hen (Tribonyx ventralis) is mainly brownish-grey, with white spots on the flanks. The bill and frontal shield is green, with an orange-red lower mandible (‘jaw’).

Red legs

Size 35-40cm


BIRD field guide

Eastern Koel (formerly Common Koel)

Eudynamys orientalisWhen to look:September to March

Male: Distinctive glossy black tinged with iridescent blue-green

Images courtesy of Bill Higham (male) and K. Langley (female) 2008, via FlickrCC

Glossy brown with white spots on top

Similar species:

No Australian birds are similar to the Eastern Koel. Brown tail with

white bars

Female: Black or brown with pale streaks on the top of its head

Buff-cream underneath

Fine black bars running across its belly

Red eyes


BIRD field guide

Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australis

When to look:Commonly breeds July to January

Black bill

Image courtesy of Nadiah Roslan

Grey back and head

Similar species:

Western Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria griseogularis): occurs in south-western and southern Australia, mainly west of the Eyre Peninsula, so the range of this species does not overlap with that of the Eastern Yellow Robin.

Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito): smaller than an Eastern Yellow Robin, with olive-coloured upperparts, a pale face and lighter, pale-yellow underparts and lacks pale yellow eyebrow.

Yellow underparts


BIRD field guide

Grey FantailRhipidura albiscapa

When to look:Some migrate north during winter; nests Jul to Jan

Fine white shafts to all but central pair of tail feathers

Images courtesy of Colin Mulvogue

White eyebrow and throat

Similar species:

Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys): slightly larger, lacks the shades of grey on body and wings; lacks a white patch on throat and white edging and tips to tail feathers.

Northern Fantail (Rhipidura rufiventris): is larger with a larger, broader bill. It seldom fans its tail (which is not tilted upwards) and is generally much less restless. Its breast band is overlain with pale streaks.

wings often drooped

Grey breast band


BIRD field guide

Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleuca

When to look:Throughout the year; breeding is opportunistic

Horizontal black line through pale eye; whitish bill

Images courtesy of Angel Oo

Similar species:

Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen): is almost twice as large (36 – 44 cm long) with a heavier beak, and wholly black underbody (the Magpie-lark is mostly white below).

Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis): has a completely black head and bib, separated from its black back by a white collar.

Another black-and-white bird: won’t have the thin whitish bill and pale eye.

Males will lack white throat

Call: a ringing ‘pee-o-wit’ or ‘pee-wee’, often sung by two birds together, giving rise to its venacular name of ‘Peewee’


BIRD field guide

Masked LapwingVanellus miles

When to look:Throughout the year; breeding is opportunistic

Yellow bill and wattle from forehead to behind its eye hangs beside chin

Image: Earthwatch

Similar species:

Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor): is smaller (25 - 29 cm long) with much more black on the head and lower breast, with a distinct white eye-stripe and white throat and upper breast, forming a white ‘bib’. There is also a distinctive red patch at the base of its bill.

Brown and black wings

White neck and underparts

Black on top of head


BIRD field guide

Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculata

When to look:

Year round. Breeding season is July to December

Grey-brown plumage on body with prominent white streaks

Image courtesy of Lip Kee 2019 via FlickrCC

Yellow belly

Similar species:

Spiny-cheeked honeyeater: beak is red with a black tip. Eye has a grey-blue ring around it.

Fleshy red wattle (skin flap) on the side of the neck

Long tail with white-tipped feathers


BIRD field guide

Superb Fairy-wrenMalurus cyaneus

When to look:

Breeds June to February

Male: rich blue and black plumage above and on the throat. Belly is grey-white

and beak is black.

Images: Nadiah Roslan (male) and BirdLife (eclipsed)

Similar species:

Other predominantly blue male fairy-wrens have either chestnut shoulder patch or blue underparts

Male (eclipse): mostly brown above with dull red-orange area

around eye and brown beak


BIRD field guide

Swift ParrotLathamus discolor

When to look:

Sept to Jan is breeding season, nesting season is Sept to Nov, migratory birds are in southeastern Australia from Feb to Mar and Sept to Oct

Blue colouring on crown, wings, and cheek

Image courtesy of Christ Tzaros

Its long pointed tail is red and purple

Similar species:

Musk Lorikeet has a green patch under its wings instead of the red of the Swift Parrot.

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet has scaly, yellow markings over its underbody while Swift Parrots have uniform yellow-green breast and belly.

The Swift Parrots’ distinctive flight call, streamlined body, and long pointed tail enable it to be readily identified.

Females have duller coloration with a creamy bar under wing

Red patches around bill, throat, and wing


BIRD field guide

Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena

When to look:August to March

Its forehead, throat, and upper breast are rust in colour

Images courtesy of Alan Collins

Eyes and bill are black

Similar species:

Barn Swallows have a dark blue to black breast-band across its throat, separating its red chin from white chest/underparts.

Other swallows lack the rust-coloured forehead and throat. The White-backed Swallow has a pale-grey head, and the Red-rumped Swallow has a red rump and streaked, chestnut underparts.

Swifts are larger with longer and more-curved wings.

Fairy or Tree Martin have shorter, squarer tails and white coloured rump.

A distinctive deeply forked tail

Light to dark grey on its breast and belly, grey legs and feet

A white band or row of spots on the long tail feathers

Metallic blue-black on top


BIRD field guide

White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae

When to look:Throughout year; breeds October to December

Light blue-grey colour

Images courtesy of Marj K.

Similar species:

The White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica) is a large heron with a white head and a long white neck with a double line of black spots running down the front. The Pied Heron (A. picata) is a similar slate-black heron with contrasting white throat and neck, but it is a much smaller (43 cm - 52 cm) bird, with a crested dark cap that extends below the eyes, yellow legs, and a bill that is mostly yellow.

Size: 60-70cm

White face and pointed grey bill

Low, bouncing flight

Dull yellow legs


BIRD field guide

Willie WagtailRhipidura leucophrys

When to look:Throughout year; usually nests Aug to Feb

Dinstinctive white belly. Body mostly black.

Images courtesy of Emily Fosbery

Similar species:

Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta): has a black head crest which makes it look more angular, and lacks the white eyebrow. Its chin and throat are white, instead of black, and its tail is less rounded and doesn’t wag.

Any other black-and-white fantail or flycatcher generally won’t have the black throat and white eyebrows.

Distinctive white eyebrows

8-22 cm long from head to tail. It is often seen wagging its tail side to side


INSECT field guide

Cabbage White ButterflyPieris rapae

When to look:From September through summer

Black tip on forewing. Up to 5 cm wingspan. Black spot on forewing (one spot for males and two for females)

Image courtesy of ClimateWatch users

Similar species:

Another white butterfly: won’t have the two or three black spots on the upper side of the forewing. Also, the underside of its hindwing won’t be yellow.

From underneath, the forewing is white while the hindwing is yellowish


INSECT field guide

Common Brown ButterflyHeteronympha merope

When to look:October through May

Mostly orange, with obvious raised vein in middle of forewing. Small eye-spot on each wing.

Image courtesy of ClimateWatch users

Similar species: It is difficult to identify these butterflies when they are resting with their wings closed. Banks Brown Butterfly (Heteronympha banksii banksii): has an eyespot only on its hindwings, not on all wings. Shouldered Brown (Heteronympha penelope): has darker markings near the wing bases giving it a shouldered look, and an extra eyespot on the hindwing Forest Brown or Cyril’s Brown Butterfly (Argynnina cyrila): has more black markings on its upperside.

Underside of wings are paler with faint markings

Males lack pale patches. Females have yellow and dark brown patches near tip of forewings


INSECT field guide

European WaspVespula germanica

When to look:Spring to autumn

Transparent wings

Image courtesy of Malcolm Tattersall

Yellow legs; black antennae

Similar species:

English Wasp: black marking on each yellow band on its abdomen tapers to a point, while it is a triangle shape on the European wasp. It is also restricted to the eastern parts of Melbourne and Gippsland region.

Paper wasp: has a longer, thinner body, orange-brown antennae, back legs that hang down during flight, and is often seen hovering. Its nest is smaller, usually above ground and looks like honeycomb cells without an outer covering.

Other wasps: most don’t have the vivid yellow and black markings.

Bee: has black legs, dull yellow bands on its abdomen with no black dots.

Bright yellow and black bands across abdomen.

Pair of black spots and black triangle on each yellow band.


INSECT field guide

Fiddler BeetleEupoecila australasiae

When to look:From early summer when adults emerge

Shiny black back and head

Image courtesy of Greg Miles

Bright yellow-green markings

Similar species:

Green Scarab Beetle: has a shiny green back with no distinct markings.

Jewel Beetle: has red markings on its back.

Golden Stag Beetle: has a yellow-green shiny back with no distinct markings.

Other Scarab beetles: have brown to black markings on a gold back (rather than gold markings on a dark brown back) and lack the violin-shaped markings on their backs.

Violin-shaped markings on its back

Dark brown to black legs


SPECIES field guide

Honey BeeApis mellifera

When to look:Early spring to weather below 13oC

Hairy abdomen with black and brown (or yellow or orange) stripes.

Images courtesy of ClimateWatch users Luca Mav and Nicola Storey 2016

Black head, upper body and legsSimilar species:

A wasp: has yellow legs, brighter yellow bands on its abdomen and lacks the hairiness of the Honey Bee.

Native Australian Bees: while it is difficult to see, native bees don’t have hairy eyes like the Honey Bee. Also a Honey Bee usually has obvious “baskets” full of pollen on its legs.

Usually has “baskets” of pollen on its legs


REPTILE field guideAustralian Water DragonIntellagama lesueurii (formerly Physignathus lesueurii)

When to look:September to April

One of two subspecies has a broad black stripe running from behind its eye to its ear

Image courtesy of Ian Sanderson 2015 via FlickrCC

Around 80-90 cm longSimilar species:

Common or Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata): its limbs and tail are shorter and it doesn’t have the “crest” of spines running down its back, instead it has scales scattered all over its back, legs and tail. It also has a throat membrane which inflates when it feels threatened, while the Water Dragon has flaps of loose skin under its jaw.

“Crest” of spines from its head down to its tail with black bands across its body and tail

Grey-brown to olive green body and creamy-white or brown-grey belly

Loose folds of skin under its jaw

Larger, breeding males have a red-orange chest and throat


REPTILE field guide

Garden SkinksL. guichenoti and L. delicata

When to look:Sept to Feb

Mainly grey-brown to bronze. Total length 8-10 cm

Images courtesy of Stephen Mahony

Of the two species, L. guichenoti usually has a ‘heavier’ looking body and a more obvious stripe running along sides compared to L. delicata

Similar species:

Eastern Water Skink: larger when adult (25 cm to 30 cm long), with small black spots on its back and white and black spots on its side.

Blue-tongue Lizard: larger, with a tail shorter than its body, and doesn’t have the stripe running along each side of its body.

Dark stripe from its nostril, across eye, along each side to its tail

Image: Lampropholis delicata

L. delicata’s range extends into north Queensland and Tasmania


PLANT field guide

Black-anther Flax-lilyDianella revoluta

When to look:Throughout year; flowers spring to summer

Flowers stick up above the leaves, consisting of 6 purple petals (7-12mm length) and 6 stamens (pollen-bearing part of the flower) in a ring. These are long, thick and have brown to black tips with yellow stems.

Images courtesy of Loraine Jansen (shrub), Swan Bay Environment Association (fruit) and Neil Blair (flowers)

Long, feathery shrub with flowers sticking up above the leaves. Long green pointy leaves with vibrant blue to purple inflorescences (flower clusters); up to 1.5 m high

Similar species:

Only D. revoluta var. revoluta is currently recognised for Victoria. Nodding Blue Lily Stypandra glauca has similar flowers, later in season; leaves form massive clump

Fruit is blue to purple and 4-10mm in diameter with 3-4 shiny black seeds that persist months after flowering.

Leaves are long, feathery, smooth green. 15-85cm long with 4-15mm width. Pointy ends and long and stiff throughout. Can sometimes appear red towards base but this is rare.


PLANT field guide

Grey BoxEucalyptus microcarpa

When to look:Late January to June for flowering

Adult leaves narrow oval shape tapering to a point at each end, usually 8–15 cm long and 1–2 cm wide, clustered and dull green.

Images courtesy of VIC Flora; Geoff Lay and Neil Blair

Medium sized tree 10-25m tall, with long ascending branches, grey fibrous bark on the lower branches and trunk. Upper branches have a smooth grey coloured bark.

Flower buds have cone-like caps, cream to white.

Similar species:

In VIC, may be confused with Yellow Box (E. mellidora) which has scruffy, yellowish to dark brown, fibrous bark, dull, green or grey leaves with distinct intramarginal veins, and fruit with enclosed valves.

Seeds round or oval, 3–7 mm long and 3–5 mm wide, coupled on a small stalk and brown in colour.


PLANT field guide

Gold-Dust WattleAcacia acinacea

When to look:Autumn through to early summer

Leaves rounded, usually asymmetric 0.4–1.5cm long and 2–8mm wide, hairy or smooth. Leaf midrib is obscure or absent, lateral veins also absent.

Images courtesy of VIC Flora; Goods-Graham & Maree (bush) and FlickrCC; phloemalone (flowers), Russel Cumming (leaves and pods)

Bushy or straggly shrub,commonly 2.5m high, branchlets more or less angled at extremities, smooth or hairy. Bark is smooth, grey to brown.

Similar species:

May be confused with other species of native wattles. Keep an eye out for the Gold-Dust Wattle’s straggly shrub appearance, rounded leaves and twisted pods.

Flowers bright yellow ball-shaped clusters that form in groups of 5

Pods twisted or spirally coiled,


PLANT field guide

Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata

When to look:

September to May, flowering occurs from September to April

Flowers form a tight, cylindrical closter that is 1-7 cm in length

Image courtesy of Rich Weatherill

Tussock-like, rosette plant

Similar species:

Variable Plantain (Plantago varia): its leaves usually have a toothed, or jagged, edge (not smooth like the Ribwort Plantain) and there is a dense tuft of reddish-brown hairs at the base of each leaf. Also, its flower stem can be shorter, only growing to a height of about 36 cm.

Small and initially cream flowers that turn brown rapidly

Grows up to 30 cm high (tussock) with the flower stalk up to 1 m in height

Long, sword-shaped leaves that form a clump and usually stand upright


PLANT field guide

Ruby SaltbushEnchylaena Tomentosa var. Tomentosa

When to look:

Flowering and fruiting occurs year round.

Images: Julie Burgher and A.J.Brown

Flowers are small and solitary, growing from the leaf axils.

Small, spreading shrub that grows 1-2m tall. Branches can be up to 1m long

Fruits are small and solitary, ranging in colour from green when unripe to red when fully ripe. Roughly spherical in shape, measuring 5mm in diameter.

Leaves are green with fine white hairs covering the surface. Semi-succulent ad cylindrical in shape. They can grow to 2cm long.


SPECIES field guide

Sticky EverlastingXerochrysum viscosum

When to look:Throughout year; flowers late spring to summer

Bright yellow flower heads, 20-30mm wide

Images courtesy of ANBG (plant and flower), VIC Floral Neil Blair (leaves)

Small stiff herb 20-80cm high with multiple branches and hair covered stems

Similar species:

May be confused with Xerochrysum bracteatum (Strawflower) has broader hairier leaves and larger flower heads

Stems with fine hairs or prickles. 30-100mm long, 2-10mm wide linear leaves with bright green elliptic (oval like shape) that have a sticky and rough surface.


SPIDER field guide

Christmas or Jewel SpiderAustracantha minax

When to look:November to

February

Images courtesy of Volker Fremenau

Similar species:

Gasteracantha sacerdotalis / Thelacanta brevispina is a very similar species with white pattern on darker surface of the abdomen.

Male (4 mm); Yellow, brown, white and black pattern

Female (7 mm) ring of black spines, bright yellow and white patterns


SPIDER field guide

St Andrew’s Cross SpiderArgiope keyserlingii

When to look:Summer and autumn

Often sits with legs in pairs, forming cross pattern.

Images courtesy of Volker Fremenau

Similar species:

Painted Orb Weaver (Argiope picta): less common than the St Andrew’s Cross Spider and doesn’t normally produce a complete X pattern on its web.

Banded orb-weaving spider (Argiope trifasciata): has yellow, white and black bands on its abdomen, and dark brown and pale yellow bands along the entire length of its legs.

Females have a silvery head and dark brown legs with 1 or 2 yellowish bands, while males and juveniles will have brown and cream body and brown legs

It weaves zigzag patterns into its web, forming an X

Silver, yellow, red and black bands across abdomen

Documents

BIRD field guide - ClimateWatch · 2019. 9. 14. · BIRD field guide Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa When to look: Throughout the year Black body, white under tail Image by Marj