Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera Bronzewings are often encountered when they burst unexpectedly from cover near to you. Less often they may be seen with throated extended uttering their repetitive ‘oom’ calls from high in the canopy. As a result, their beauty is often not fully appreciated. The iridescent panels in the wings are not merely bronze but range from pink through to various blues, greens and purple, even in a single panel, depending on the angle of light between the bird and the observer. Try Googling ‘bronzewing’ to see some marvellous photographs showing the… View bird
Brush Bronzewing Phaps elegans Brush Bronzewings and Common Bronzewings are similar in appearance, however, Common Bronzewings are light-coloured, plump and grey. In contrast Brush Bronzewings are small, darker and brown. Both birds have iridescent colour patches in their wing coverts but the Brush Bronzewing has only two rows, while Common Bronzewings have 4-5 such rows. Brush Bronzewings live on seeds whether from native or introduced plants. A small proportion of insects are also eaten. Breeding occurs can throughout the year, but mainly in spring and early summer when food supplies are at a maximum…. View bird
Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeons are the outback bird that has made good in the big city. Originally found in lightly wooded grassland, they were able to expand their range into the southern more densely forested areas as these were cleared for agriculture. They have also thrived in towns and cities having moved in to the more settled areas following droughts. They have, for example, become numerous in Adelaide after droughts in the early 1980s. Crested Pigeons live on the seeds and leaves of a variety of herbs and grasses, both native and… View bird
Black Swan Cygnus atratus Black Swans are an iconic Australian bird, the symbol of Western Australia, but common throughout the southern half of the continent. Black Swans are almost entirely vegetarian, feeding on the leaves and shoots of various aquatic plants (Typha, Potamogeton, Myriophyllum, Ruppia), algae and pondweeds, and pasture grasses. Small animals may be taken accidentally. Food is taken by reaching underwater with its long neck, dabbling on the surface and upending. They may also be seen grazing on the banks of wetlands. Breeding occurs when water levels are… View bird
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea The male Chestnut Teal in breeding dress is one of our most handsome waterfowl, particularly when the sun shines on his iridescent, bottle-green head. Feeds by dabbling, upending and mud filtering in very shallow water. Like Grey Teal probably feeds on seeds and vegetation of shoreline vegetation, and small aquatic invertebrates. Breeding is in spring and early summer (as late as January on the Coorong). Nests on the ground amidst vegetation or in natural cavities such as tree hollows. Monogamous and probably forms life-long pair-bonds. If conditions favourable… View bird
Hardhead Aytha australis Hardheads belong to the worldwide Aythya genus (Pochards or Scaups) distinguished by the white or yellow eyes of the male. Hardheads are mainly vegetarian. They feed on grasses, sedges and other aquatic vegetation, but also take aquatic animals including small fish. They feed mainly by diving to depths not reached by most other duck species, but also forage by dabbling, head dipping and upending. Like most duck species they breed in spring and early summer when wetlands are full of and vegetation is plentiful. They breed in single pairs and… View bird
Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae While differing in detail from northern hemisphere geese, Cape Barren Geese are similar in size and appearance and like them graze on fields and pastures adjacent to water. At one time they were heavily hunted and there was concern for their future, but now they are fully protected. Cape Barren Geese graze on a range of plants including agricultural pastures and native succulents. The birds roost on the margins of dams, swamps and lakes and lagoons, whether fresh or brackish. During the non-breeding season, they form small flocks usually less… View bird
Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis The worldwide genus Spatula contains ten species, four of which have large, spatulate bills and a low sloping forehead, and are known as “shovelers”. The male Australasian Shoveler is arguably the most handsome of these. Well, as handsome as you can be with a low sloping forehead and a large snozz. Shovelers live on small aquatic invertebrates such as insects, molluscs and crustaceans ,and also parts of aquatic plants. They use their spatulate beak to filter water and mud obtained by dabbling on the surface or at the water’s edge…. View bird
Grey Teal Anas gracilis The “laughter” call of the female allows the presence of teal to be inferred before any ducks are seen. However, it is not always easy to distinguish Grey Teals from female Chestnut Teals when the males of the latter are not in breeding plumage. In fact, at first there was only one species and Grey Teals were taken to be female Chestnut Teals. Grey Teal live on aquatic and shoreline vegetation, grasses and sedges, supplemented by aquatic invertebrates. Feeding is by dabbling, mud filtering and occasional dives. Breeding can start… View bird