This is a list of the wild birds found in Western Australia. The list includes introduced species, common vagrants, recently extinct species, extirpated species, some very rare vagrants (seen once) and species only present in captivity. 629 species are listed.
The taxonomy is based on Christidis and Boles, 2008. Their system has been developed over nearly two decades and has strong local support, but deviates in important ways from more generally accepted schemes.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. All of the birds below are included in the total bird count for Western Australia.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental – a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Western Australia (E) Endemic – a species endemic to Western Australia (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Western Australia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated – a species that no longer occurs in Western Australia although populations exist elsewhere (X) Extinct – a species or subspecies that no longer exists.
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
This order is not native to Western Australia, but feral populations of one species have become established. Common name Binomial Notes Common ostrich Struthio camelus (I)
Cassowaries and emu Order: CasuariiformesFamily: Dromaiidae
This family of flightless ratite birds is represented by two living species in Australia. Another two species are found in New Guinea. The extinct, geographically isolated King and Kangaroo Island emus were historically considered to be separate species to mainland emus. However, genetic evidence from 2011 suggests that all three are conspecific. Common name Binomial Notes Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
Magpie goose Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anseranatidae
The family contains a single species, the magpie goose. It was an early and distinctive offshoot of the anseriform family tree, diverging after the screamers and before all other ducks, geese and swans, sometime in the late Cretaceous. The single species is found across Australia. Common name Binomial Notes Magpie goose Anseranas semipalmata
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are adapted for an aquatic existence, with webbed feet, bills that are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Common name Binomial Notes Plumed whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni Wandering whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata Cape Barren goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae Freckled duck Stictonetta naevosa Mute swan Cygnus olor (I) Black swan Cygnus atratus Radjah shelduck Radjah radjah Australian shelduck Tadorna tadornoides Green pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus Australian wood duck Chenonetta jubata Garganey Spatula querquedula (A) Australasian shoveler Spatula rhynchotis Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata (A) Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope (A) Pacific black duck Anas superciliosa Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (I) Northern pintail Anas acuta (A) Gray teal Anas gracilis Chestnut teal Anas castanea Pink-eared duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus Hardhead Aythya australis Blue-billed duck Oxyura australis Musk duck Biziura lobata
Megapodes Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
Megapodiidae are represented by various species in the Australasian region. They are commonly referred to as "mound-builders" due to their habit of constructing large mounds to incubate their eggs. Common name Binomial Notes Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata Orange-footed scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt
Guineafowl Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
Numididae are not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species exist in Western Australia. Common name Binomial Notes Helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris (I)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Common name Binomial Notes Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus (I) Brown quail Coturnix ypsilophora Blue-breasted quail Excalfactoria chinensis Stubble quail Coturnix pectoralis Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus (I)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Common name Binomial Notes Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (A) Australasian grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Hoary-headed grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common name Binomial Notes Rock pigeon Columba livia (I) Spotted dove Spilopelia chinensis (I) Laughing dove Spilopelia senegalensis (I) Pacific emerald dove Chalcophaps longirostris Common bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera Brush bronzewing Phaps elegans Flock bronzewing Phaps histrionica Crested pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes Spinifex pigeon Geophaps plumifera Partridge pigeon Geophaps smithii White-quilled rock-pigeon Petrophassa albipennis Diamond dove Geopelia cuneata Peaceful dove Geopelia placida Bar-shouldered dove Geopelia humeralis Nicobar pigeon Caloenas nicobarica (A) Rose-crowned fruit-dove Ptilinopus regina Torresian imperial-pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Common name Binomial Notes Australian bustard Ardeotis australis
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
Common name Binomial Notes Lesser coucal Centropus bengalensis Pheasant coucal Centropus phasianinus Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus (A) Pacific koel Eudynamys orientalis Channel-billed cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo Chalcites basalis Black-eared cuckoo Chalcites osculans Shining bronze-cuckoo Chalcites lucidus Little bronze-cuckoo Chalcites minutillus Pallid cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus Fan-tailed cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis Brush cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus Oriental cuckoo Cuculus optatus
Frogmouths Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from India across southern Asia to Australia.
Common name Binomial Notes Tawny frogmouth Podargus strigoides
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Common name Binomial Notes Spotted nightjar Eurostopodus argus Gray nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka Savanna nightjar Caprimulgus affinis
Owlet-nightjars Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Aegothelidae
The owlet-nightjars are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from the Maluku Islands and New Guinea to Australia and New Caledonia.
Common name Binomial Notes Australian owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Common name Binomial Notes White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus Pacific swift Apus pacificus House swift Apus affinis vagrant
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Common name Binomial Notes Corn crake Crex crex (A) Lewin's rail Lewinia pectoralis (Ex) Chestnut rail Eulabeornis castaneoventris Buff-banded rail Gallirallus philippensis Black-tailed nativehen Tribonyx ventralis Australian crake Porzana fluminea Dusky moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa Eurasian coot Fulica atra Australasian swamphen Porphyrio melanotus Watercock Gallicrex cinerea White-breasted waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Rufous-tailed bush-hen Amaurornis moluccana White-browed crake Poliolimnas cinereus Red-legged crake Rallina fasciata (A) Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla Spotless crake Zapornia tabuensis
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Common name Binomial Notes Sarus crane Antigone antigone (A) Brolga Antigone rubicunda
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
Common name Binomial Notes Bush thick-knee Burhinus grallarius Beach thick-knee Esacus magnirostris
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Common name Binomial Notes Pied stilt Himantopus leucocephalus Banded stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Red-necked avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
Common name Binomial Notes Pied oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris Sooty oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
Common name Binomial Notes Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover Pluvialis dominicus (A) Pacific golden-plover Pluvialis fulva Gray-headed lapwing Vanellus cinereus (A) Banded lapwing Vanellus tricolor Masked lapwing Vanellus miles Lesser sand-plover Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover Charadrius leschenaultii Double-banded plover Charadrius bicinctus (A) Red-capped plover Charadrius ruficapillus Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus (A) Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula (A) Semipalmated plover Charadrius semipalmatus (A) Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius (A) Oriental plover Charadrius veredus Red-kneed dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus Hooded plover Thinornis cucullatus Black-fronted dotterel Elseyornis melanops Inland dotterel Charadrius australis
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Common name Binomial Notes Australian painted-snipe Rostratula australis
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
2 species recorded [1 extant native, 1 vagrant] Common name Binomial Notes Comb-crested jacana Irediparra gallinacea Pheasant-tailed jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus (A)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae