TOPKNOT PIGEON

Photographed in the Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland, July 2015

633         TOPKNOT PIGEON            Lopholaimus antarticus

Australia           (476)

Also known as Flock Pigeon. 40-46 cm. Found in rainforests, palms, native figs; nearby eucalyptus forrest, woodlands; fruiting trees in open country; orchards, e.g. cherries. Range: coastal e. Aust., from Cape York to far s. coast NSW, on and e. of Divide. Fairly common from Atherton Tableland (ne Q) to ce. NSW; scarce n. of Cooktown; casual far e. Victoria to Mallacoota Region; Gippsland Lakes and Tas. unprecedented numbers (flocks to c. 40)nine the dry summer of 1994-95. Movement influenced by the availability otr lack of rainforest fruits.

LARGE-BILLED SCRUBWREN

Photographed at Binna Bura, Lamington National Park, Queensland, July 2015

632       LARGE-BILLED SCRUBWREN            Sericornis magnirostris

Australia             (475)

 11.5-13 cm. Found in tropical, temperate rainforests, from sea-level to c. 1500 m. Range: coastal e. Aust.,  from Kingsgate NP, ne. of Melbourne (Vic) to near Cooktown (Q); inland to c. Tenterfield (NSW)-Chinchilla (Q). In se. Aust.,  n. to c. Shoalwater Bay (Q) from sea-level to c. 1000 m. From Euungella NP n. to near Cooktown, mostly in high rainforests.       

PARADISE RIFLEBIRD

Photograph of the female hiding in the foliage at Binna Burra, Lamington National Park, Queensland, July 2015.

631          PARADISE RIFLEBIRD                Ptiloris paradiseus

Australia       (474)

28-33 cm, male larger.  Found in rainforests mainly in mountains/foothills; nearby wetter eucalypt forests; paperbark woodlands; occasionally open woodlands. Range: mostly in highland forests of Gt Dividing Range to c. 1200 m: Calliope Ra. s. of Gladstone (Q) (isolated population); and from Cooroy-Nanango-Bunya Mt NP )Q), s. to upper Williams R.-Barrington Tops NP-Gloucester Tops (NSW); casual s. to Dungog-Mt Royal  near Singleton (NSW); inland on Dividing Ra. exceptionally to Gibraltar Ra. NP-Murrundi. Fairly common, uncommon in s. of range.

CHESTNUT-RUMPED HEATHWREN

Photographed on the Junction Trail, Girraween National Park, Queensland, July 2015

630            CHESTNUT-RUMPED HEATHWREN              Hylacola pyrrhopygia

Australia              (473)

13.5-14 cm. Found in heathy woodlands, scrublands, box/ironbark forests. Range:  coastal se Aust., from e Q. to se SA; inland to Warrumbungle NP-Narrandera (NSW), Rutherglen-Inglewood-n. Grampians NP (Vic); in Sa isolated population , s. Flinders Ras-Mt Lofty Ras-Fleurieu Pen. Uncommon.

MANGROVE ROBIN

Photographed at Cygnet Bat Pearl, trip to Waterfall Reef, Western Australia, June 2015

629             MANGROVE ROBIN                Eopsaltria pulverulenta   

Australia        (472)

14.5-16.5 cm. Found in dense, low thickets of coastal mangroves; on coasts, tidal creeks, river mouths. Range: coastal tropical Aust. from c. NW Cape (WA) to c. Proserpine (Q), with breaks where mangroves absent; points on Gulf coast (Q). Locally common.

BROWN BOOBY

Photographed at Cygnet Bat Pearl, trip to Waterfall Reef, Western Australia, June 2015

628             BROWN BOOBY                Sula leucogaster

Australia          (471)

65-76 cm, span 1.4 cm. breeds all year round but with autumn and spring peaks. Common in nw WA, breeds from Ashmore Reef (n. Indian Ocean) s. to Bedout I.; in Q, from Raine I., off ne Cape York Pen. to Bunker Group, s. Gt Barrier Reef. Common offshore s. to Moreton Bay (Q) and dampier Arch. (WA); uncommon on NSW coast.

EASTERN REEF EGRET (white morph)

Photographed at Cygnet Bat Pearl, trip to Waterfall Reef, Western Australia, June 2015

627        EASTERN REEF EGRET (white morph)           Egret sacra

Australia          (470)

Also known as Eastern Reef Heron. 60-70 cm, span 90 cm-1 m. Range around coastline of mainland Australia except in the Bight and Victoria. Found on coasts and islands, rocky shores, coral reefs, tidal rivers and inlets.

BARKING OWL

Photographed in Broome. Western Australia, June 2015

626         BARKING OWL              Ninox connivens

Australia        (469)

35-45 cm. Found in open forests, woodlands, dense scrubs, foothills, river red gums, other large trees near watercourses penetrating otherwise open country, paperbark woodlands. Rage: mainland Australia and some n. coastal islands; rare or absent from arid, treeless or heavily forested regions. 

GROUND CUCKOO-SHRIKE

Photographed on the Killarney Gap Road, 25 kilometres from Bingara, NSW, June 2015

625         GROUND CUCKOO-SHRIKE          Coracina maxima

Australia          (468)

33-36 cm. Fornd in open grasslands with dead trees and belts of live trees; timber on watercourses; malle-spinifex; mulga and other acacias; cypress pine scrubs; playpens, pasture, vineyards. Range: widespread across mainland, mostly inland of Gt Divide, but to near e. coast in lower Hunter Valley (NSW) and from near Brisbane to near Townsville (Q); sparse or absent from C. York Pen (Q) n. of Georgetown-Cunjuvoy; Top End  (NT); n Kimberley (WA); driest deserts and arid coastal areas; Nullarbor Plain and wetter forested areas in se. Just. and sw. WA. Uncommon, nomadic.

Photographed at Barrow Creek, Northern Territory May 2016

VARIED TRILLER

Photographed in Albert Bishop Park, Nundah, Brisbane, Queensland, June 2015

624         VARIED TRILLER              Lalage leucomela

Australia           (467)

17.5 cm. Found in rainforests, monsoon/vine forests, eucalypt forests/woodlands, paperbarks, watercourses, lantana, gardens. Range: from n. Kimberley (WA) to Top End (NT); C. York Pen. (Q) to ne. NSW, casual s. to Kuringai Chase NP; mostly below 850 m.