BIRD field guide - ClimateWatch€¦ · BIRD field guide Eastern Spinebill Acanthorynchus...

© 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

•

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

Australian Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostris

Where to look:Mudflats, sandbanks and sandy ocean beaches

Distinctive orange-red legs, beak and eyes

Images courtesy of Flickr user Michale Dawes, Sept 2007

Similar species:

Sooty oystercatcher: very similar to the pied oystercatcher, and can often co-exist on the same beach. The sooty oystercatcher lacks the white feathers and although their beaks and legs are dark red their bodies are completely black

Black head and upper body with white underneath

Medium shorebird with long skinny legs and a long beak

Size: 50cm


BIRD field guide

Common BlackbirdTurdus merula

When to look:

August to end of February, breeding season is September to January

Male:Black all over

Images courtesy of Matteo Di Nicola (male) and Arto Hakola (female)

Grey-brown with some streaks or mottling

Similar species:

Common Starlings are 4 to 5cm smaller and shinier black in summer, with whitish feather tips and a black bill in winter. Males doesn’t have the orange to yellow ring around its eye.

Another black bird won’t have the distinctive orange to yellow eye ring.

Deep orange to yellow beak and narrow ring around its eye

Female: Dull yellow-brown beak and orange to yellow ring around its eye


BIRD field guide

Eastern SpinebillAcanthorynchus tenuirostris

When to look:Aug-Jan (breeding), Mar-Oct (migratory in lowland areas)

Very long, fine beak that curves downward

Image courtesy of David Cook Wildlife Photography

Grey-black on top of head, extending either side of breast.

Rufous patch in centre of throat. White breast and throat.

Dark metallic grey wings and lower back.

Buff-coloured upper back and underneath.

Female is duller in colour.

Voice: long, tinkling, staccato piping

Similar species:

Cresent, Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters are slightly larger and adults lack rufous patch in centre of throat.


BIRD field guide

Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformis

When to look:Breeds July-Jan; inland autumn migration

Images by Andrew Haysom

Slate-grey above, throat and upperbreast pale to cinnamon-buff

Similar species:

Brush Cuckoo: plainer; eye-ring and feet grey. Juvenile’s upperpart patterns more variegated than juvenile Fan-tailed Cuckoo. Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo darker; difference range and calls.

Tail slim, infrequently fanned, feathers wavily notched white on both edges

Yellow eye-ring

Voice: sad, leisurely, downward trill


BIRD field guide

Golden WhistlerPachycephala pectoralis

When to look:Migrates to lowlands in winter; breeds Aug to Feb

White throat

Images courtesy of David Cook Wildlife Photography

Olive-green back and wings

Similar species:

Mangrove Golden Whistler (Pachycephala melanura): the male has brighter underparts than the Golden Whistler, has a broader collar, and a slightly shorter tail. The female has yellowish underparts. It also has a longer beak and is only found in the mangroves of coastal northern Australia.

Adult male: Bright yellow underody

Adult female: Grey upperparts with pale olive tinge


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

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

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-bellied Sea-EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster

When to look:Year-round. Breeds May - August

Juvenile (first year) head buffish and ‘spiky’, contrasting with patchy cream and dark brown body and wings; underwing pattern also patchy, but note half-moon at base of taol feathers. Older juveniles have pale buff-grey tail.

Images courtesy of Sergey Yeliseevk, David Cook and Sascha Wenninger, Flickr CC

Dark grey back with a white head, chest and belly. Dark eyes. Light grey beak.

Size: up to 84cm

Voice: far-carrying metallic clanking

Similar species:

Osprey: bold dark eye mark; slimmer, arched wings with black ‘wrist’ mark.

Wedge-tailed Eagle: blacker; larger; diamond-shaped black tail.


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


FROG field guide

Common FrogletCrinia signifera

When to look:Breeding occurs all year except mid-summer

Ground-dwelling froglet with slender body and slightly pointed head, measuring 18-28mm in length.

Eggs are laid in clusters of 200, usually attached to submerged vegetation.

Tadpoles are brown or light grey scattered with dark flecks, around 36mm in length

Image: Stephen Mahony, Australian Museum

Distinctive horizontal pupil

Similar species:

Can be distinguished by other Crinia species by its distinctive ‘crick crick crick’ call.

Colour varies from dark brown to light grey. Ventral surface typically has white spots. Appearance is highly variable between populations however.


FROG field guideSouthern Bullfrog, Eastern Banjo or Eastern Pobblebonk FrogLimnodynastes dumerilii

When to look:August to April

Grey to olive green, dark brown or black back, with dark marbling or flecks. Warty or rough back

Images courtesy of Stephen Mahony

Prominent gland on outer back leg

Similar species:

Northern Banjo Frog (L. terraereginae): has red colouration around its groin. Giant Banjo Frog (L. interioris): has a bright orange or yellow belly with no mottling. Common Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus sudelli, Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus australiacus) and Mallee Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus pictus): don’t have the gland on the outer side of hind legs.

Pale yellow stripe that runs from eye to arm

Listen to call: a single ‘bonk’ or ‘plonk’ that is usually repeated every few seconds


FROG field guideSouthern Brown Tree Frog or Ewing’s Tree FrogLitoria ewingi

When to look:

Throughout year, particularly from late winter

Pale fawn cream, orange to light brown or green body. Wide brown band from its eyes to down its back

Images courtesy of FlickrCC

Similar species:

Victorian Frog / False Ewing’s Tree

Frog (Litoria paraewingi):

generally smaller, with a slower

call and not normally found in the

same areas. Verreaux’s Tree Frog

(Litoria verreauxi): has dark or

black blotches on its sides,

Lesueur’s Tree Frog (Litoria

lesueuri): has a visible ear drum (a

darker patch just behind its eye).

Half webbed toes; no webbing on fingers

Listen to call: a a series of rapid, harsh whirring, pulsing notes “creeee creee creee creee creee” repeated 5-15 times

Narrow black or brown stripe from its snout, through to its eye, to shoulder


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.


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


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

BlackwoodAcacia melanoxylon

When to look:Throughout year; flowers July

to December

Images: flowering tree habit and leaf, Neil-Blair © RBG Board; seed pods, Julie Burgher Flickr CC; flowers Forest & KimStarr, FlickrCC

Small to large tree, 3-45 m high. Pale yellow to white flowers July to December

Seed pods strongly curved or coiled and 4-12 cm long, straight-sided to slightly constricted between seeds. Seeds longitudinal, twice-encircled by an orange to red funicle (elongated fleshy structure that supports the seed).

Similar species:

Acacia melanoxylon is one of the most wide-ranging tree species in eastern Australia and considerably variable, particularly in leaf size and shape. Acacia implexa is similar but differs in its whitish funicle (fleshy structure around the seed), leaves that are more sickle-shaped and later flowering time.

Leaves lance-shaped, straight to slightly curved. 3-5 raised main veins with numerous secondary veins


PLANT field guide

Cherry BallartExocarpos cupressiformis

When to look:Throughout year; usually flowers September - May

Flowers yellow-green in short, dense, clusters that are usually 6 mm long.

Images courtesy of Annabel Carle and Geoff Carle

Shrub or small pyramidal tree, commonly 8-10m high, yellowish green or bronzy. Numerous branchlets are hairy and flaky at first then become smooth and straight.

Similar species:

Eucalyptus sideroxylon subsp. improcera is a small stunted tree restricted to inland Queensland.

Fruits/seeds: globular, small, hard, greenish inedible nut at the end of a swollen orange to red stalk

Leaves: scale-like, triangular, 0.5 mm long and 2–3 mm long on new growth.


PLANT field guide

Sweet Bursaria (Blackthorn)Bursaria spinosa subsp. spinosa

When to look:

Flowering occurs from December to February in NSW, fruiting occurs from June to July

White, fragrant flowers that are 6-10 mm in width

Images courtesy of L. von Richter

Fruits are dark brown, flattened capsules in clusters

Similar species:

Bursaria spinosa subsp. lasiophylla is another subspecies that is similar but found in eucalypt woodlands with heavier soils. Often found at higher altitudes in tablelands or low mountain ranges in SE Australia.

Capsules are 7 mm in length and 9 mm in width and contain 4 seeds

Woody shrub or small tree that grows 5-10 m in height


PLANT field guide

Silver BanksiaBanksia marginata

When to look:

Flowers appear from Feb to July (Sept and April in Tasmania), and seed cones appear after flowers

Pale yelllow cylindrical spikes form bottle-brush shaped flowers

Image courtesy of Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Inc.

Seeds are enclosed in dark brown follicles attached to woody cones

Similar species:

The Silver Banksia can be differentiated from most other banksias by its serrated leaves, the notch at the end of the leaf tips, and the silvery underside to its leaves.

Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia): has larger leaves and flowers and its leaves are whorled around the stem (several coming out from the same point on stem) instead of alternate like on the Silver Banksia.

Mountain Banksia (Banksia canei): found above 600m in the semi-alpine areas of NSW and Victoria, it has some sharp points on its leaves, stouter flowers and larger follicles that remain closed for several years.

Green leaves are silvery underneath and may have serrated edges

A shrub, flat-lying plant, or tree


PLANT field guide

Spiny-headed Mat-rush or SaggLomandra longifolia

When to look:

Flowering usually occurs September - February

Images courtesy of Donald Hobern, Margaret Donald Images courtesy of Donald Hobern, Margaret Donald and graibeard, Flickrand graibeard, Flickr

Leaves are glossy green, firm and flat. Can be up to 1m long and around 1-2cm wide. Leaves are suaully taller than the flowering stem. Tips of leaves have teeth forming a W-shape.

Similar species:

It is similar in appearance to Mondo grass, however Spiny-headed Mat-rush is generally more compact, and slightly taller.

It also resembles L. hystrix, which has openly branching inflorescences compared to the tightly clumped inflorescences of Basket Grass .

L. hystrix has small teeth surrounding the main leaf point, and generally greener leaves than Spiny-headed mat-rush.

Fruits are green until mature then turn brown. They are round, and closely associated with sharp spines.

Native, tussock-type grass

Flowers grow in a whirled cluster attached to straw-coloured bracts (modified leaf).

Individual flowers are roughly 4mm long, creamy yellow and have a strong scent.

BIRD field guide - ClimateWatch€¦ · BIRD field guide Eastern Spinebill Acanthorynchus...

Documents

Transcript of BIRD field guide - ClimateWatch€¦ · BIRD field guide Eastern Spinebill Acanthorynchus...