MASKED WOODSWALLOW

Photographed on road to Mornington, Kimberley, Western Australia, May 2015

609         MASKED WOODSWALLOW           Artamus personatus

Australia           (452)

Also called Bluebird, Blue or Bush Martin, and Skimmer. 17.5-19 cm. Found in open forests/woodlands; lightly timbered ranges; sparse inland scrubs; timber on inland watercourses; coastal heaths, pastoral country, farmland, vineyards, golf courses. Range: mainland Australia except far C. York Pen., but mostly inland of Gt Divide, sparse in Kimberley (Q), Top End (NT) C. York (Q). Highly nomadic.

FRIARBIRD

Photographed at Bell Gorge, Kimberley, Western Australia, May 2015

608       SILVER-CROWNED FRIARBIRD            Philemon argenticeps

Australia         (451)

27-32 cm. Found in tropical open forests, woodlands, watercourses, mangroves, gardens, towns. Range: coastal n. Aust. from Derby (WA), e. through Kimberley and Top End (NT), e. and s. to Larrimah-Mallapunyah, Groote Eylandt; in Q, s. to Cloncurry-Flinders R. on Gulf coast, and from C. Yorke-Weipa s. on e. coast to c. Townsville-Magnetic I; Common, blossom nomad.

WHITE-QUILLED ROCK-PIGEON

Photographed at Bell Gorge, Western Australia, May 2015

607          WHITE-QUILLED ROCK-PIGEON            Petrophassa albipennis

Australia           (450)

26-29 cm. Blackish brown in Kimberley becoming lighter, reddish eastward towards NT. Found in rugged sandstone ranges, gullies, gorges in pockets of monsoon forests, figs and adjoining eucalypt forests. Range: Kimberley (WA), from inland of Derby s. to Argyle Downs, e. into w.NT on upper Victoria R. and Stokes Range, where race boothi occur.

GREY-FRONTED HONEYEATER

Photographed on Gibb River Road, Kimberley, Western Australia, May 2015

606        GREY-FRONTED HONEYEATER            Lichenostomus plumulus

Australia        (449)

Also called Yellow-fronted Honeyeater. 13-16 cm. Found in grassy eucalypt woodland; timbered rocky hills/gorges above watercourses; inland mallee; mulga; banksia/heath associations. Range: scattered in suitable habitat, over much of continent w. of Gt Divide; absent from driest desert and humid coastal regions. Nomadic.

LEADEN FLYCATCHER

Photographed Windjana Gorge, Western Australia, May 2015

605        LEADEN FLYCATCHER          Myiagra rubecula

Australia         (448)

Also known as Blue Flycatcher and Frogbird. 14-16 cm. Found in coastal woodland/scrubs to drier, more open eucalypt forest/woodlands, paperbarks, riverside vegetation, mangroves. Range across n. Aust and down e. coast to c. Melbourne; rare in Tasmania.

WHITE-GAPED HONEYEATER

604         WHITE-GAPED HONEYEATER          Lichenostomus unicolor

Australia         (447)

Also known as River Honeyeater. 18-21.5 cm. Found near water in pandanus; mangroves, paperbarks, woodlands, homestead environs, streets, gardens. range: Tropical n. Aust. and islands: from Broome (WA) through Kimberley, Top End (NT), e. on Gulf coast, n. to Archer R. on w. coast C. York Pen. (Q); s. on e. coast from c. Lakefield NP, to upper Burdekin R.-Proserpine. Inland to Fitzroy R. (WA)-Newcastle Waters (NT); Mt Isa-Georgetown-Atherton Tablelands (Q). Common in n. Aust., uncommon in e. coast.

Photographed Windjana Gorge, Western Australia, May 2015

BLACK-CHINNED HONEYEATER

Photographed near Derby, Western Australia, May 2015

603         BLACK-CHINNED HONEYEATER             Melithreptus gularis

Australia       (446)

Race laetior: known as Golden-backed Honeyeater. 16-17 cm. Found in drier eucalypt forrests, woodlands, timber on watercourses, often no understorey; scrubs. Range: Race laetior extends almost throughout NT, except Top End, extends s. to c. Alice Springs, possibly ne. SA; in n. WA, widespread in Kimberley-Pilbara-w. Gt. Sandy Desert region, s. to Newman-NW Cape.

BANDED HONEYEATER

Photographed near Derby, Western Australia; bottom two are juvenile.

602        BANDED HONEYEATER       Certhionyx pectoralis

Australia      (445)

Found in grassy woodlands; paperbarks, coastal scrubs, mangroves, watercourse vegetation; drier habitats when bauhinians, etc, blossom. 11.5-13.5 cm. Range: tropical n. and ne. Just.: from Kimberley (WA), through Top End (NT), Gulf coast and C. York Pen. (Q), s. to Cooktown; inland to Victoria R Downs (NT)-Mt Isa-Charters Towers (Q). Blossom nomad. Common.

YELLOW-TINTED HONEYEATER

Photographed in Derby, Western Australia, May 2015.

601         YELLOW-TINTED HOONEYEATER             Lichenostomus flavescens

Australia         (444)

Also known as Pale-yellow Honeyeater.  Found in grassy tropical woodland; thickets on watercourse; red river gums; occasionally mangroves. Range: n. Aust. and coastal islands: from Broome (WA), through Kimberley, patchy across Top End (NT), s. to Larrimah-McArthur R., nw Q s. to MT Isa, e. to upper Mitchell R. on s. Cape York Pen., but remains w. of Gt Divide.

MANGROVE GERYGONE

Photographed next to Derby jetty, Western Australia, May 2015

600        MANGROVE GERYGONE              Gerygone levigaster

Australia            (443)

11 cm. Found in mangroves, coastal woodlands, gardens. Range: coastal n. and e. Aust. from Derby (WA) to C. York (Q), and from Cardell (Q) s. to c. Botany Bay (NSW)

LEMON-BELLIED FLYCATCHER

Photographed near the jetty at Derby, Western Australia, May 2015. Note: the race tormenti does not have yellow on it.

599        LEMON-BELLIED FLYCATCHER               Microeca flavigaster

Australia            (442)

Also known as Lemon-breasted Flycatcher, and Kimberley Flycatcher. 12.5-14 cm. Found in eucalyptus woodlands, pandanus, by water;edges of rain forests, monsoon forest; mangroves, watercourse vegetation, parks, gardens. Range: coastal n. Aust and islands: from w. Kimberley (WA), to ce. Q. Race tormenti: w Kimberley; Race flavigaster, e. from c. Ord R (WA), Top End (NT), s. to c. Elsey-Gulf coast (NT/Q); Race terrareginae: C. York Pen. (Q), s on e. coast to c. Broad Sound (Q).

Darwin January 2024