NUTMEG MANNIKIN

Photographed in Caines, Queensland October 2015

712              NUTMEG MANNIKIN             Lonchura punctulata

Australia          (554)

Also known as Spice Finch, Spice Bird, Scaly-breasted Munia or Scaly Breasted Mannikin. Found in grasslands, crops, rank roadside growth urban wastelands, lantana thickets, vineyards. 10.5-11.5 cm. Range: native from India to s. China, Malaysia, Philippines to e. Indonesia. Introduced from aviary escapes near Brisbane, Townsville, Rockhampton (Q), Sydney (NSW), from c. 1930. Widespread from c. Cooktown (Q) to Moruya (NSW), mostly coastal but inland to Miles (Q), Mudgee (NSW). Common, expanding.

LARGE-BILLED HERON

Photographed on Claudie River, Iron Range, Queensland October 2015

711             GREAT-BILLED HERON            Ardea sumatrana

Australia             (553)

1-1.2 m. Found in mangrove-overhung creeks and rivers, tidal mudflats, tree-surrounded swamps; ascends larger rivers. Range: coastal n. Aust.: from c. Derby(WA) to McArthur R. on Gulf (NT), and from Gregory R. and Cape York Pen. s. to c. Rockhampton (Q). Sparse, sedentary.

Photographed on the Daintree River, Queensland October 2015

CHESTNUT-BREASTED CUCKOO

Photographed at Rainforest camping area, Iron Range, Queensland October 2015

710             CHESTNUT-BREASTED CUCKOO             Cacomantis castaneiventris

Australia        (552)

23-25 cm. Found in rainforest, monsoon forest, scrub on watercourses, mangroves. Range: e. Cape York Pen. (Q), from Cape York s. to Bloomfield R. (Cooktown-Mosman), inland to McIlwaith Ra. Uncommon, sedentary, possibly part-migrant to PNG where it is also resident.

GREY WHISTLER

Photographed at Iron Range, Queensland October 2015

709         GREY WHISTLER           Pachycephala simplex

Australia      (551)

Also known as Brown Whistler. Found in rainforests, monsoon forests, vine and coastal scrubs, mangroves, paperbarks. Range: race peninsula: from Cape York (Q) s. to c. Ingham on e. coast; up to 900 m in mountain rainforests. Nominate race: Top End (NT), coastal islands; from c. Port Keats e. to Groote Eylandt. Uncommon, Sedentary; seasonal nomadic.

TRUMPET MADUCODE

Photographed near Lockhart River, Queensland October 2015

708         TRUMPET MANUCODE            Manucodia keraudrenii

Australia          (550)

Also known as Trumpetbird. 28-32 cm. Found in rainforests, vine-scrubs, eucalypt forest/woodland. Range: n. Cape York Pen. (Q): from C. York and coastal islands s. to Weipa on w. coast and McIlwaith Ra.-Rocky R. on e. coast. Fairly common, Sedentary.

DOUBLE-EYED FIG-PARROT

Photographed near Gordon's Creek crossing, Iron Range, Queensland October 2015

707           DOUBLE-EYED FIG-PARROT             Cyclopsitta diophthalma

Australia           (549)

Three races of Double-eyed Fig-parrots in Australia, separated geographically. Found in rainforests; adjacent eucalyptus woodlands and coastal scrubs; timber on watercourses, paperbark woodlands; occasionally visits figs, loquats and other fruit trees in gardens and plantations. 13-16 cm. Range: race marshalli:lowland rainforest on ne Cape York Pen. (Q), in vicinity of Lockhart and Claudie Rs. and probably beyond. Race macleayana: highlands and lowland rainforests from Cooktown s to Eungella NP, near MacKay (Q). Race coxeni: highland, and sparse remnant lowland, rainforests on e of Gt Divide, from Gladstone (Q) to c. Hastings R. (NSW). Sedentary, locally nomadic. Northern races still moderately common. Race coxeni declined seriously and now rare and endangered.

Male, Double-eyed Fig-parrot

race: macleayana, female, photographed near Cairns, Queensland October 2015

race: macleayana, male, photographed near Cairns, Queensland October 2015

YELLOW-LEGGED FLYCATCHER

Photographed at Gordon's Creek crossing, Iron Range, Queensland October 2015

 706          YELLOW-LEGGED FLYCATCHER             Microeca griseoceps

Australia     (548)

Found in the edges of lowland rainforest; vine scrubs, eucalyptus woodlands, paperbarks, tropical heathlands. 12 cm. Range: ne. Cape York Pen. (Q), s. to Claudie R. Local uncommon; little known.

BRIDLED TERN

Photographed off Chili Beach, northern Queensland October 2015

705          BRIDLED TERN           Sterna anaethetus

Australia       (547)

Found in tropical, sub-tropical seas; offshore islands; rarely coasts. 38-42 cm, wingspan 76 cm. Range: breeds islands off w., n. and e. Aust. from Cape Leeuwin (WA) to Bunker Group in s. Gt Barrier Reef (Q). Fairly common offshore in summer, and on Gt Barrier Reef; uncommon s. to Q-NSW border.

BLACK-NAPED TERN

Photographed at Chili Beach, northern Queensland October 2015

704          BLACK-NAPED TERN             Sterna sumatrana

Australia       (546)

30-32 cm, wingspan c. 60 cm. Found in tropical, subtropical seas: forages over lagoons, edges of reefs, coasts; mostly offshore. Range: coastal n. Aust., from Capricorn Group (se Q), n. and w. to islands off Cobourg Pen. (NT). Sedentary, dispersive.

LESSER CRESTED TERN

703          LESSER CRESTED TERN             Sterna bengalensis

Australia            (545)

37-42 cm, wingspan c. 90 cm. Found on offshore waters, islands, cays, reefs, beaches. Range: coastal n. Aust. from Shark Bay (WA) to c. Brisbane (Q); breeds from Bedout and Adele Is. (WA) to Capricorn group, s. GT Barrier Reef (Q); casual NSW and sw WA. Sedentary.

COMMON NODDY

Photographed at Portland Road, northern Queensland October 2015

702            COMMON NODDY           Anous stolidus

Australia       (544)

38-45 cm, wingspan c. 85 cm. Found over tropical, subtropical seas; cays, reefs, bouys and piles. range: in island colonies, some huge, from Abrolhos group (WA), n to Timor Sea; Torres Strait, Coral Sea; s. on Gt Barrier Reef to Bunker Group; also Norfolk Is., Lord Howe Is. 

MAGNIFICENT RIFLEBIRD

A juvenile or female Magnificent Riflebird. The rest are the male, photographed at Rainforest camping area, Iron Range, Queensland October 2015

701           MAGNIFICENT RIFLEBIRD           Ptiloris magnificus

Australia            (543)

Found in rainforests, monsoon forest, scrubs. 28-33 cm, male larger. Range: coast n. Cape York Pen. (Q) s. to Weipa on w. coast and to McIlwaith Ra., n. of Coen on e. coast. Fairly common. Sedentary.