AUSTRALASIAN Tropical & Subtropical Savanna
passerine birds
The songbirds of the northern Australian tropical bush...
Family Ptilonorhynchidae: Bowerbirds
The three bowerbirds that can turn up in tropical woodlands look similar; the males all have pink feathers on the back of the neck and build an avenue bower. The Great Bowerbird is the plainest and lives across northern Australia, the Spotted Bowerbird is found further south and inland in more arid woodlands in the eastern third of Australia, and the Western Bowerbird lives in gullies in much drier regions in the centre and west of Australia.
(Lake Clem Walton, Queensland)Chlamydera maculata, 'Spotted Bowerbird'.
Family Maluridae: Australian Wrens
Family Pardalotidae: Gerygones & allies
For the page on the honeyeaters of the Australia tropical bush
Family Pomatostomidae: Australian Babblers
Pomatostomus temporalis, 'Grey-crowned Babbler', (Wyndham Caravan Park, Western Australia). Found in open habitats across much of Australia, except for inland and southern coasts.
Family Pachycephalidae: Whistlers,
Family Oriolidae: Orioles & Figbirds
Family Campephagidae: Cuckooshrikes
Family Artamidae: Woodswallows, Butcherbirds
Family Rhipiduridae: Fantails
Family Corvidae: Crows & Jays
Family Petroicidae: Australasian Robins
Family Zosteropidae: White-eyes
Family Sturnidae: Starlings & Mynas
Family Nectariniidae: Flowerpeckers & Sunbirds
(Wyndham Caravan Park, Western Australia)Dicaeum hirundinaceum, 'Mistletoebird'. As suggested by the common name, feeds on mistletoe berries and disperses sticky seeds by wiping them tree branches. Found across most of Australia, except western deserts and Tasmania.
(Lizard Island)Cinnyris jugularis, 'Olive-backed/Yellow-bellied Sunbird'. Bright yellow. Male has throat patch which with right light, is stunning iridescent metallic blue. Inhabits various habitats, mostly mangroves and rainforest, but it is also found in more open habitats and urban areas. The only sunbird found regularly in Australia. Distributed from north-east Queensland, into Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and north into south-east Asia into southern China. However, this widespread and adaptable species is being split into different species.