Maps

Bird distribution in South Australia

Brian Blaylock, Andrew Black and Graham Carpenter

The distributional maps are derived from the database of the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA). They include specimen data from the South Australian Museum and other Australian public collections, and sight records from Biological Database of South Australia (BDBSA), BirdLife Australia and Birds SA.

They have been extensively scrutinised in order to eliminate incorrect or unsubstantiated identifications and errors of data entry. This has been undertaken over several years by members of Birds SA Rarities and Distribution Subcommittee (Andrew Black, Chair, Graham Carpenter and Lynn Pedler) and for Museum records by Philippa Horton and Brian Blaylock. The authors undertook a further review of all records from October 2018.

Sight records from beyond the usual range of a species are shown on the map only if adequate corroborative evidence has been obtained; otherwise they are retained as unconfirmed but are not shown. In instances of difficult field identification, such as between crows and ravens (Corvus spp.) and Brown Acanthiza pusilla and Inland A. apicalis Thornbills, some relatively arbitrary decisions have been necessary. Other species show seasonal or irregular dispersive movements that are not yet reliably established. Finally, some valid records may not be shown if missing from the databases accessed.

The maps indicate where each species might be encountered but on occasions any bird may be found well outside its known range. Observers are encouraged to provide Birds SA with any such report, giving locality and date, a description and photographs if possible. Use of Birds SA’s Rare Bird Record Report Form is encouraged. Maps may be amended with additional records from time to time.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature generally follow Blaylock et al. 2017, with changes as shown in IOC World Bird Names # 9.1, Gill and Donsker 2019.

The invaluable assistance of Helen Owens and Meg Robertson (DEW) is gratefully acknowledged.

May 2019.