Birds
Technically speaking birds are bipedal, warm-blooded, oviparous vertebrate animals characterized primarily by feathers, forelimbs modified as wings, and (in most) hollow bones.
In the Enoggera Catchment we have a great diversity of bird species and healthy numbers of most, although we have concerns about disappearing habitat for small birds and ground-dwelling birds. Birding hotspots in the Enoggera Catchment include Enoggera Reservoir, Walton Bridge Reserve and Banks Street Reserve.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises)
The family Threskiornithidae includes 36 species of large terrestrial and wading birds, falling into two subfamilies, the ibises and the spoonbills. The Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia occurs in intertidal flats and shallows of fresh and saltwater wetlands. They...
Strigidae (Owls)
Typical owls in the family Strigidae are one of the two generally accepted families of owls, the other being the barn owls in the family Tytonidae. Voice is a loud, two-syllable note "woo-hoo", each note lasting just over half a second with a pause in between....
Gymnorhina tibicen (ARTAMIDAE) Australian Magpie
Be aware of Magpie habitat The Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen is common in parks and suburban gardens. Head, belly and tail tip are all black, splashes of white on wings, lower back, tail, and the back of its head, beak blue-grey, legs black, eyes brown. Song is...
Dacelo novaeguineae (ALCEDINIDAE) Laughing Kookaburra
Very recognisable voice Very recognisable in both plumage and voice. It is generally off-white below, faintly barred with dark brown, and brown on the back and wings. The tail is broadly barred with black. Conspicuous dark brown eye-stripe through the face. It is one...
Anas superciliosa (ANATIDAE) Pacific Black Duck
Line through eye is distinguishing feature Actually brown, this dabbling duck can be quite tame in urban environments where it is often seen. The dark line through the eye bordered with cream above and below and a dark brown crown are distinguishing characteristics....
Egretta novaehollandiae (ARDEIDAE) White-faced Heron
Near fresh or salt shallow water Egretta is a genus of medium-sized herons, mostly breeding in warmer climates, common throughout most of Australasia. A relatively small heron, pale, slightly bluish-grey in colour, with yellow legs and white facial markings. It can be...
Ardea alba (ARDEIDAE) Great Egret
Hunts in the water A visitor to reedy margins and shallows at Enoggera Reservoir and other open places where water collects. Has been seen on the Ashgrove Golf Course at Waterworks Road The Gap. Voice is a deep croak when disturbed. The Great Egret is the symbol of...
Strepera graculina (ARTAMIDAE) Pied Currawong
Aggressive and strong Large black bird with bright yellow eyes, white undertail and white wingtips found throughout eastern australian mainland, in forests and woodlands. Has become well adapted to suburban areas, common and familiar. Feeds on a variety of foods...
Cracticus torquatus (ARTAMIDAE) Grey Butcherbird
Rollicking birdsong Medium-sized grey and white bird with black head throughout most of the Australian continent in a range of different habitats including arid, semi-arid and temperate zones. Characteristic "rollicking" birdsong. Encountered in the suburbs of many...
Cracticus nigrogularis (ARTAMIDAE) Pied Butcherbird
Melodious voice Medium-sized black and white bird throughout most of the Australian continent. Dark brown eyes and a long, hooked, grey bill with a black tip. Head is black, with a white ring around the neck, white underbelly. Back, wings and tail are black with white...
Bush Stone-curlew (BURHINIDAE) Burhinus grallarius
When disturbed, they freeze motionless The Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius is a large, ground-dwelling bird endemic to Australia. Like most stone-curlews, it is mainly nocturnal and specialises in hunting small grassland animals: frogs, spiders, insects,...
Cacatua galerita (CACATUIDAE) Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Distinctive raucous call The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita is one of the larger and more widespread of Australia's cockatoos. Typically these birds will weigh around 800 grams. In most cases, male birds can be distinguished from females with their almost...
Dicrurus bracteatus (DICRURIDAE) Spangled Drongo
Distinctive metallic call Australia's only drongo, the Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus is black with iridescent plumage and a characteristic forked tail. Their varied calls have a brassy or metallic note that can also be melodic, and mimic the sounds they hear....
Vanellus miles (CHARADRIIDAE) Masked Lapwing
Often seen in urban areas Large ground-dwelling bird closely related to waders. White underbelly, brown wings and a black head, with large yellow wattles covering their face. Can defend their territory aggressively with a thorny spur that projects from the wrist on...
Elseyornis melanops (CHARADRIIDAE) Black-fronted Dotterel
Found near freshwater Small wader with a distinctive black face mask and breast band. Legs are pink-orange. Eyes are ringed with red. Bill is orange with a black tip. Underbelly is white. Its back and wings are mottled chestnut brown and creamy brown. Found in the...
Rhipidura fuloginosa (DICRURIDAE) Grey Fantail
Flits from perch to perch Recognisable by its long fanned tail and airborne acrobatics. Grey above, with white eyebrow, throat and tail edges. Creamy yellow underbelly. Found in all treed habitats in eastern Australia including Tasmania, south-western West Australia...
Rhipidura leucophrys (DICRURIDAE) Willy Wagtail
Darts around in parks and gardens A black-and-white fantail with black upper parts and throat, underneath white. Call is "sweet pretty creature". Common. Likes to nest in branches overhanging water. Willie Wagtails can be seen darting around lawns and other open areas...
Taeniopygia bichenovii (ESTRILDIDAE) Double-barred Finch
Tiny bird The Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii is an Estrildid finch found in open savannah-like habitats in northern and eastern Australia. They are sometimes referred to as owl finches owing to the dark ring of feathers around their faces. Also called...
Neochmia temporalis (ESTRILDIDAE) Red-browed Firetail Finch
Small flocks feed on grass Most easily recognised by its bright red eyebrow, rump and beak, otherwise green and grey in grassy areas interspersed with dense understorey vegetation, often along creek lines mostly east of the Great Dividing Range, between Cape York in...
Hirundo neoxena (HIRUNDINIDAE) Welcome Swallow
Extremely agile flier Native to Australia and nearby islands, and New Zealand, which has been colonised in the last half century. Similar to the Pacific Swallow. Metallic blue-black above, light grey below on the breast and belly, and rusty on the forehead, throat and...
Malurus lamberti (MALURIDAE) Variegated Fairy-wren
More abundant in non-weedy habitats Small bird in forest, woodland and shrub land habitats throughout most of Australia. Male is brightly colored, black head with bright blue sides and crown and dark chesnut sholder patches. Females and juveniles are brownish grey....
Alectura lathami (MEGAPODIIDAE) Australian Brush-turkey
Helps the propagation of Richmond Birdwing Vine A large bird in rainforests and scrubland from Cape York to central coast of New South Wales. They feed on the ground and roost in trees. Wingspan up to 85cm. Fan like tail, powerful legs with sharp claws for digging....
Phylidonyris nigra (MELIPHAGIDAE) White-cheeked Honeyeater
Not afraid of humans Medium-sized bird with a large white patch on its cheek, a brown eye, and a yellow panel on its wing. Has a long, sturdy bill that curves downwards. Found in moist heath lands, wetlands and in forests along the eastern coast. Feeds mainly amongst...
Meliphaga lewinii (MELIPHAGIDAE) Lewin’s Honeyeater
Machine gun-like call Medium-sized honeyeater in rainforest and fringing growth on east coast and ranges between McIlwraith Range in Queensland and Melbourne. Upper parts plain to dark olive green. Has a pale yellow gape and crescent patch over the ear. It is also...
Pachycephala pectoralis (PACHYCEPHALIDAE) Golden Whistler
Strong musical voice The male has a bright yellow underside, olive green back and wings, and a black head with a yellow collar. The females do not have bright plumage and both sexes have red-brown eyes. Golden Whistlers have a strong, musical voice. Male in full...
Entomyzon cyanotis (MELIPHAGIDAE) Blue-faced Honeyeater
Doesn't eat much honey Large bird with black head and neck, striking turquoise blue patches around yellow eyes. White underbelly, golden olive-green wings, tail and back. Beak blue becoming grey at the tip. Found in northern and eastern mainland Australia, in...
Pandion haliaetus (PANDIONIDAE) Osprey
Worldwide distribution Pandion haliaetus is a medium large, specialist fish-eater. It has no close relatives, being the only living species of the genus Pandion, which is in turn the only genus in the bird family Pandionidae. The Osprey is a large bird of prey common...
