This is a list of the wild birds found in Australia including its outlying islands and territories, but excluding the Australian Antarctic Territory. The outlying islands covered include: Christmas, Cocos (Keeling), Ashmore, Torres Strait, Coral Sea, Lord Howe, Norfolk, Macquarie and Heard/McDonald. The list includes introduced species, common vagrants and recently extinct species. It excludes species only present in captivity. 980 extant and extinct species are listed.
There have been three comprehensive accounts: the first was John Gould's 1840s seven-volume series The Birds of Australia, the second Gregory Mathews, and the third was the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (1990-2006).
The taxonomy originally followed is from Christidis and Boles, 2008. Their system has been developed over nearly two decades and has strong local support, but deviates in important ways from more generally accepted schemes. Supplemental updates follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.
This list uses British English throughout. Bird names and other wording follows that convention.
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
1 species recorded [1 introduced] This order is not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species have become established in South Australia and possibly on the New South Wales/Victoria border. Common name Binomial Notes Common ostrich Struthio camelus introduced
Cassowaries and emu Order: CasuariiformesFamily: Casuariidae
2 species recorded [2 extant native] This family of flightless ratite birds is represented by two living species in Australia. Another two species are found in New Guinea. The extinct, geographically isolated King and Kangaroo Island emus were historically considered to be separate species to mainland emus. However, genetic evidence from 2011 suggests that all three are conspecific. Common name Binomial Notes Southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
Magpie goose Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anseranatidae
1 species recorded [1 extant native] The family contains a single species, the magpie goose. It was an early and distinctive offshoot of the anseriform family tree, diverging after the screamers and before all other ducks, geese and swans, sometime in the late Cretaceous. The single species is found across Australia. Common name Binomial Notes Magpie goose Anseranas semipalmata
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
32 species recorded [20 extant native, 4 introduced, 7 vagrant, 1 hybrid] The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are adapted for an aquatic existence, with webbed feet, bills that are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. In Australia, 30 species have been recorded, of which three have been introduced, and seven are vagrants.
Common name Binomial Notes Spotted whistling-duck Dendrocygna guttata Plumed whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni Wandering whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata Canada goose Branta canadensis vagrant, presumably from introduced NZ population Domestic greylag goose Anser anser introduced Cape Barren goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae Freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa Mute swan Cygnus olor introduced Black swan Cygnus atratus Radjah shelduck Radjah radjah Australian shelduck Tadorna tadornoides Paradise shelduck Tadorna variegata vagrant, Lord Howe Island & NSW Green pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus Cotton pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus Australian wood duck Chenonetta jubata Garganey Spatula querquedula Australian shoveler Spatula rhynchotis Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata vagrant Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope vagrant Pacific black duck Anas superciliosa Domestic mallardAnas platyrhynchos domesticusintroducedPacific black duck × mallard hybridAnas superciliosa × platyrhynchosnative × introduced hybridDomestic muscovy duckCairina moschata domesticusintroduced Northern pintail Anas acuta vagrant Green-winged teal Anas crecca vagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Island Grey teal Anas gracilis Chestnut teal Anas castanea Pink-eared duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus Hardhead Aythya australis Tufted duck Aythya fuligula vagrant Blue-billed duck Oxyura australis Musk duck Biziura lobata
Megapodes Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
3 species recorded [3 extant native] Megapodiidae are represented by various species in the Australasian region, although only three species are found in Australia. They are commonly referred to as "mound-builders" due to their habit of constructing large mounds to incubate their eggs. Common name Binomial Notes Australian brushturkey Alectura lathami Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata Orange-footed scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt
Guineafowl Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
1 species recorded [1 introduced] Numididae are not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species exist in Queensland. Common name Binomial Notes Helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris introduced
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
1 species recorded [1 introduced] Odontophoridae are not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species survive in external territories and possibly the mainland. Common name Binomial Notes California quail Callipepla californica introduced, Norfolk & King Island
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
8 species recorded [3 extant native, 5 introduced] Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Three species are native to Australia, and five commonly domesticated species are feral, with most established populations persisting on offshore islands. Common name Binomial Notes Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus introduced, King, Rottnest & Furneaux Islands Brown quail Synoicus ypsilophorus Blue-breasted quail Excalfactoria chinensis Stubble quail Coturnix pectoralis Red junglefowl Gallus gallus introduced, Norfolk & Christmas Island Green junglefowl Gallus varius introduced, Cocos (Keeling) Islands Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus introduced, King, Flinders & Rottnest Island Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo introduced, King, Flinders & Kangaroo Island
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
1 species recorded [1 vagrant] Australia has only a single record of any flamingo species, from the North Keeling Island. Several prehistoric species are also known to have existed. Common name Binomial Notes Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus vagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
4 species recorded [3 extant native, 1 vagrant] Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Three species have been regularly recorded in Australia, and a fourth is a vagrant.
Common name Binomial Notes Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis vagrant Australasian grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Hoary-headed grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
39 species recorded [25 extant native, 4 introduced, 7 vagrant, 2 extirpated native, 1 extinct native] Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. In Australian territory 41 species have been recorded, four of which have been introduced, and another six are vagrants. One has become extinct since European colonisation. Common name Binomial Notes Rock pigeon Columba livia introduced Metallic pigeon Columba vitiensis extirpated, Lord Howe Island White-headed pigeon Columba leucomela Oriental turtle-dove Streptopelia orientalis vagrant Barbary dove Streptopelia risoria introduced Red collared-dove Streptopelia tranquebarica vagrant, Christmas Island Spotted dove Spilopelia chinensis introduced Laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis introduced Brown cuckoo-dove Macropygia phasianella Common emerald dove Chalcophaps indica Christmas Island Pacific emerald dove Chalcophaps longirostris Stephan's dove Chalcophaps stephani vagrant Norfolk ground dove Alopecoenas norfolciensis extinct, Norfolk Island Common bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera Brush bronzewing Phaps elegans Flock bronzewing Phaps histrionica Crested pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes Spinifex pigeon Geophaps plumifera Squatter pigeon Geophaps scripta Partridge pigeon Geophaps smithii Chestnut-quilled rock-pigeon Petrophassa rufipennis White-quilled rock-pigeon Petrophassa albipennis Wonga pigeon Leucosarcia melanoleuca Diamond dove Geopelia cuneata Peaceful dove Geopelia placida Bar-shouldered dove Geopelia humeralis Nicobar pigeon Caloenas nicobarica vagrant Black-banded fruit-dove Ptilinopus alligator Wompoo fruit-dove Ptilinopus magnificus Orange-fronted fruit-dove Ptilinopus aurantiifrons vagrant Superb fruit-dove Ptilinopus superbus Rose-crowned fruit-dove Ptilinopus regina Orange-bellied fruit-dove Ptilinopus iozonus vagrant, Torres Strait Elegant imperial-pigeon Ducula concinna vagrant Christmas Island imperial-pigeon Ducula whartoni Christmas Island Collared imperial-pigeon Ducula mullerii Torresian imperial-pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa Topknot pigeon Lopholaimus antarcticus New Zealand pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae extirpated, Norfolk Island
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
1 species recorded [1 extant native] Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Common name Binomial Notes Australian bustard Ardeotis australis
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
21 species recorded [14 extant native, 7 vagrant] The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Common name Binomial Notes Lesser coucal Centropus bengalensis vagrant, Ashmore Reef Pheasant coucal Centropus phasianinus Chestnut-winged cuckoo Clamator coromandus vagrant Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus vagrant, Christmas, Barrow Island, WA & Cocos (Keeling) Islands Pacific koel Eudynamys orientalis Long-tailed koel Urodynamis taitensis vagrant, Lord Howe & Norfolk Island Channel-billed cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae Long-billed cuckoo Chrysococcyx megarhynchus Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis Black-eared cuckoo Chrysococcyx osculans Shining bronze-cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus Little bronze-cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus Pallid cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus Chestnut-breasted cuckoo Cacomantis castaneiventris Fan-tailed cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis Brush cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus Square-tailed drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubris vagrant Large hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides vagrant, Christmas Island Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx nisicolor vagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands Indian cuckoo Cuculus micropterus vagrant, Cocos (Keeling) Islands Oriental cuckoo Cuculus optatus
Frogmouths Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae
3 species recorded [3 extant native] The frogmouths are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from India across southern Asia to Australia. Three species are found in Australia.
Common name Binomial Notes Tawny frogmouth Podargus strigoides Marbled frogmouth Podargus ocellatus Papuan frogmouth Podargus papuensis
Nightjars and allies