Classified Bird List Play

DIGITAL FIELD GUIDE: BIRD SPECIES COMMONLY FOUND IN THE MOGGILL CREEK CATCHMENT

Most photos in these lists were taken in the Catchment and most are the copyright of Ed Frazer. The supporting information is supplied by James Butler.

Links to bird call videos are provided courtesy of Tim Siggs. You can view all Tim’s videos at: https://www.youtube.com/c/TimSiggs

Note: Blue shaded rows indicate a dimorphic species, breeding and non-breeding or hepatic form

Search tip: To locate a specific bird, press CTRL + F, then type the bird’s name

1. WATER BIRDS
BIRD SPECIES		FORAGING SUBSTRATE	FOOD	NOTES	ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: Text, videos and bird calls
	Australasian Darter ♂ Snake-bird	Under water surface	Fish	94cm. Fairly common resident. Found in large shallow waters: reservoir and in Moggill Creek in deeper pools where there are fish. Roosts in trees and fences near the water. Another name is ‘snake bird’ because of the long-kinked neck coiled to strike.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – not taken in the Moggill Catchment	Australasian Darter ♀ Snake-bird	Under water surface	Fish
	Australasian Grebe ⚥ Little Grebe	Water surface and diving underwater	Small fish Freshwater insects	26cm. Common resident. Prefers still, shallow water: dams not creeks. Walks poorly on land, because its legs are so far back for diving. Can be mistaken for a duckling.	Feather Fascination articles: – February 2016 – March 2016 MCCG article by Ed Frazer Call of the Black-faced Monarch (courtesy of Tim Siggs)
	Australian Pelican ⚥	On and under water surface	Fish Birds	1.9m. Nomadic over large areas in response to climate events. Perhaps only possible site is the Reservoir and Rafting Ground Reserve from which they can be seen flying over the Brisbane River. Feed in large shallow waters.
	Australian Wood Duck ♂ Maned Duck or Goose	Grasslands	Grasses Occasional insects	50cm. Common resident. Not a good swimmer, nests in tree hollows, sometimes far from water. Can be found on grasslands near the riparian habitat.
	Australian Wood Duck ♀ Maned Duck or Goose	Grasslands	Grasses Occasional insects
	Black Bittern ⚥	Shallow water	Fish Amphibians	66cm. Resident. Roost and nest in trees, and are found in tree-lined wetlands. Feed during the day and night.
	Black Swan ⚥	Freshwater	Underwater and Emergent vegetation	1.4m Nomadic and highly dispersive. Only seen on Gold Creek Reservoir, prefers large open waters.
	Buff-banded Rail ⚥ Banded Landrail, Rail	Ground level, wet grasses	Plants Crustaceans Insects Seeds Fruit Frogs	33cm. Common resident but elusive. Prefers rank vegetation near wetlands, creeks, dams, well-vegetated urban gardens near bushland.	Feather Fascination article: October 2014
	Cattle Egret (Breeding) ⚥	Ground, grassy paddocks	Grasshoppers Insects	53cm. Common resident. Prefers grazing paddocks, follows cattle, horses; woodlands, wetlands. Best chance in paddocks with cattle or horses! Looks wonderful in breeding plumage.
	Cattle Egret (Non-breeding) ⚥	Ground, grassy paddocks	Grasshoppers Insects
	Dusky Moorhen ⚥ Waterhen	Freshwater swamps	Aquatic plants Insects Frogs	40cm. Common resident. Found near water in natural settings – wetlands, reservoir, and dams; and in urban settings ponds, small lakes.
	Eastern Great Egret ⚥ Large Egret, White Crane	Shallow water	Fish	1m. Nomadic and fairly common, dispersive in response to climate events like droughts and floods. Prefers shallow fresh waters. Can be found at the Reservoir, dams, and wetlands.
	Eurasian Coot ⚥	Swimming	Aquatic plants Insects Frogs	38cm. Nomadic and dispersive. Often in large flocks. Favour large water bodies, shallow enough to have underwater and emergent vegetation. Spend most of their time on the water, mostly away from the bank.
	Great Cormorant ⚥ Black Shag, Big Black Cormorant	Under water surface	Fish Crustaceans Insects frogs	92cm. Fairly common resident. Favours large bodies of water: Reservoir or very large dams on properties. Is nomadic, moving according to rainfall.
	Grey Teal ⚥	Freshwater surface	Water plants Snails Beetles Spiders Seeds	46cm. Nomadic and affected by climate events, may turn up anywhere on fresh water, reservoir and large dams. Mainly inland, retreats to coast in numbers during drought.
	Hardhead ♂ White-eyed Duck	Water surface and diving underwater	Seeds Flowers Grasses Sedges Invertebrates	60cm. Nomadic and affected by climate events, dispersive and irruptive. True diving duck, rarely on land. Probably only found on reservoir and bigger, deep dams.
	Hardhead ♀	Water surface and diving underwater	Seeds Flowers Grasses Sedges Invertebrates
	Intermediate Egret ⚥ Plumed Egret	Shallow water	Fish	70cm. Nomadic and fairly common, dispersive in response to climate events. Prefers shallow fresh waters. Can be found at Reservoir, dams, wetlands.
	Latham’s Snipe ⚥ Australian or Japanese Snipe	Shallow water and ground	Seeds & plant material Worms Spiders Insects Molluscs Centipedes	31cm. Migratory wader, here in summer. They are found in any vegetation around wetlands, in sedges, grasses, lignum, reeds and rushes. Use their long bills to probe the mud. Roost by day, feed at night, mornings and evenings.	Feather Fascination articles: – January 2015 – Sept 2015
	Lewin’s Rail ⚥ Lewin’s Water Rail	Mud layer wet grasses	Crustaceans Molluscs Worms Insects	27cm. Very rare, dispersive. Near Threatened Species (DERM); Significant (BCC). Prefers dense vegetation in wetlands near forests: reservoir, dams, riparian zone. Very elusive and hard to observe, it rarely comes onto open ground. Seen near Reservoir in May 2012.
	Little Black Cormorant ⚥ Little Black Shag	Under water surface	Fish	64cm. Common resident. Favours large bodies of water. Only found on Reservoir, not in creeks. Fish form 99% of its diet. It observed on the water it means there are fish in the water.
	Little Pied Cormorant ⚥ Shag	Under water surface	Crustaceans Insects Some fish	64cm. Common resident. Found in shallow waters: reservoir, Moggill Creek, dams, wetlands. Roosts on trees and logs to rest after feeding with wings outstretched to dry them. Roosts at night and nests, communally.
	Nankeen Night-Heron ⚥ Rufous Night-Heron	Shallow water	Insects Crustaceans Fish Amphibians	64cm. Nomadic, in response to rainfall. Feeds at night time, roosts during the day beside water.
	Nankeen Night-Heron ⚥ (Juvenile)	Shallow water	Insects Crustaceans Fish Amphibians
	Pacific Black Duck ⚥ Black Duck, Brown Duck	Freshwater surface	Water plants Snails Beetles Spiders Seeds	60cm. Common resident. Found on reservoir, dams, creeks, swimming pools, public gardens. Mostly stays on water. Cannot dive, feeds by upending.
	Pale vented Bush-hen ⚥	Ground level, wet grasses	Aquatic plants Insects Frogs	28cm. Uncommon resident. Conservation Status: Significant (BCC). Prefers tall grass in riparian zones and wetlands. Difficult to see in the grass, but does enter water and moves along streams, so can be found out in the open. Reservoir is the place.
	Plumed Whistling-Duck ⚥	Grasslands	Grass	62cm. Nomadic and dispersive. Night time they fly long distances to feed on grasslands. Day time flocks rest and sleep beside water with other waterfowls.
	Purple Swamphen ⚥ Bald Coot, Eastern Swamphen	Shallow freshwater grassy wetlands	Soft shoots of water Plants Frogs Snails	48cm. Fairly common resident. Prefers dense wet tall grasses near water. Not easily seen until it comes out onto open ground. Has adapted to urban landscapes: lakes, parks, playing fields near shelter.
	Royal Spoonbill ⚥	Shallow water, less than 40cm; fresh or salt water	Freshwater fish Shrimps in tidal flats Other crustaceans Insects	80cm. Nomadic, moving with the availability of habitat. Moves to the coast during droughts.
	Spotless Crake ⚥	Ground level, wetlands	Seeds Fruit and leaves of Aquatic plants Worms Snails Spiders Beetles	21cm. Cryptic resident. Freshwater wetlands with dense margins. More often heard than seen.
	White-faced Heron ⚥ Blue Crane	Shallow water	Fish	70cm. Common resident, locally nomadic. Found in many natural and urban habitats: creeks, wetlands, pools, dams, fishponds. Often seen in flight or near ponds in Moggill creek.
	White-necked Heron ⚥ Pacific Heron	Shallow water	Fish	1.06m. Locally nomadic and fairly common. Prefers shallow fresh waters. Can be found at Reservoir, dams, wetlands.
	Yellow-billed Spoonbill ⚥	Shallow fresh water	Freshwater insects and their larvae	92cm. Nomadic. Freshwater wetlands, dams, lagoons and swamps, and sometimes in dry pastures, but rarely uses saltwater wetlands. It can use much smaller areas of water than the Royal Spoonbill.

2. LAND BIRDS
BIRD SPECIES		FORAGING SUBSTRATE	FOOD TYPE	NOTES
	Australasian Figbird ♂ Green or Yellow Figbird, Banana-Bird	Canopy level	Fruit Other plant parts	30cm. Common resident, but nomadic in search of fruiting trees. Very noisy and in large numbers when a big fig tree is fruiting. Found in rainforests, eucalypt forests, riparian zones, backyards near forests. Male has red skin around eye.
	Australasian Figbird ♀	Canopy level	Fruit Other plant parts
	Australian Pipit ⚥	Ground	Insects Seeds	19cm. Rare in Catchment, but because of their widespread distribution, conspicuous behavioural displays, and their presence in open, often agricultural landscapes and on the sides of roads, pipits are one of the best-recognised small birds.
	Australian Brush-Turkey ⚥ Scrub Turkey	Forest floor	Seeds Grain Fruit Invertebrates	70cm. Common resident. Males build a large mound to incubate eggs from a number of females with environmental microbial heat. Young dig their way out of the mound and are then on their own with no parental involvement.
	Australian Hobby ⚥ Little Falcon	Aerial	Birds	35cm. Uncommon visitor maybe driven by climate events. Found in woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, and sometimes well-treed urban areas. Very fast, dark-headed falcon; very visible when hunting as it relentlessly pursues other birds.
	Australian King Parrot ♂	Canopy level	Seeds Fruits Nectar Flowers	44cm. Common resident, dispersive. Found in all natural habitats and in urban backyards and parks. Moves to wherever there are suitable trees or shrubs with fruits, flowers and seeds.
	Australian King Parrot ♀	Canopy level	Seeds Fruits Nectar Flowers
	Australian Magpie ⚥ Black-backed Magpie	Open ground far from cover	Ground dwelling invertebrates Insects Worms	44cm. Very common resident. Found at the edges of most forests and in clearings. Very common in the suburbs where there is open grasslands for them to feed. Wonderful singer.
	Australian Owlet-Nightjar⚥ Moth Owl	Ground to mid-level foliage at night	Nocturnal flying insects Insects on ground Foliage	24cm. Resident but difficult to detect. Roosts by day in entrance to tree hollow. Found in all habitats: woodlands, forests, riparian zones with suitable trees. Can be found near Reservoir. Very strange looking bird: large eyes and cat’s head!
	Australian Reed-Warbler ⚥ Clamorous Reed-Warbler, Reedbird, Water Sparrow	Reeds in ponds and water courses	Insects	17cm. Sedentary while habitat is suitable. Very loud, raucous call.
	Australian White Ibis ⚥ Sacred Ibis	Ground level	Small vertebrates Insects	76cm. Nomadic and fairly common, dispersive. Forages in wetlands, paddocks, lawns, garbage tips, urban parks and gardens. Ed’s note: Take a close look at this photo! It depicts an Ibis eating a cane toad. Ed Frazer, the photographer, watched the Ibis for about 5 minutes, in which time it made three trips to the dam to wash the toad, presumably to wash off the poisonous secretions. The toad was alive through most of this. The Ibis adjusted the toad’s position in its beak all the time – perhaps it was making it secrete poison so it could be washed off. It swallowed the whole thing and then just went on feeding along the edge of the pond. Quite remarkable!
	Azure Kingfisher ⚥	Shallow, slow moving or still water	Small crustaceans Aquatic insects	19cm. Common resident. Can only be found near water, it is a water kingfisher. It seeks prey from a perch about 1 m above the creek or pond. Usually travels by flying above the water. To find it sit beside Moggill Creek and wait and listen and watch.
	Barred Cuckoo-shrike ⚥ Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike	Canopy	Insects	26cm. Summer breeding migrant. Uncommon. The Reservoir is specified as one of the best place in Brisbane to see it. Note startling yellow eye.
	Bar-shouldered Dove ⚥ Pandanus Pigeon	Ground level	Grains Seeds of grasses Herbs Sedges	30cm. Common resident. Found in woodland with a grassy understorey and in nearby open areas, usually near water. Best chance near reservoir.
	Bell Miner ⚥ Bellbird	Canopy layer	Insects Nectar	19cm. Common resident in suitable habitat. Colonies are stationary, and loudly announce their presence with their constant diurnal calling. They are very cryptic in the canopy, and always on the move. Colonies are on Gap Creek Rd just before parking lot, and near the MCCG cottage on Gold Creek Rd.
	Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike ⚥ Blue-jay, Shufflewings, Summerbird	Canopy level	Invertebrates some plant material	36cm. Very common summer migrant from Papua New Guinea; but some remain for the winter. Found in rainforests, eucalypt forests, woodlands and riparian zones. Diagnostically, always shuffles its wings on landing on a branch.
	Black-faced Monarch ⚥	Mid layer and canopy level	Insects from foliage	19cm. Common Summer breeding migrant from PNG. Look for it is rainforests and eucalypt forests, it is often in the foliage from the mid-level to the canopy.
Photo courtesy of Jill and Ian Brown – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Black Kite ⚥ Fork-tailed Kite, Kite Hawk	Ground level	Lizards Small mammals Insects, especially grasshoppers Also a scavenger	55cm. Nomadic. Found in a great variety of habitats, from timbered watercourses to open plains. More normally seen in small groups, it may form huge flocks of many thousands of birds, especially during grasshopper plagues. Most numerous species of raptor in the world.
	Black-shouldered Kite ⚥	Ground level	Rodents Mice Grasshoppers	38cm. Nomadic: treed grasslands and on farms, along roads, and in vacant waste lands of urban and coastal areas. It prefers to hunt during the day, particularly early morning and late afternoon, often hovering with its wings held upright in a V-shape, before dropping down and grabbing prey with its talons.
	Blue-faced Honeyeater ⚥	Arboreal all	Arthropods Nectar Fruit	32cm. Common resident, more so in suburbs than in the forests. Contests its territories with the Noisy Miners.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Brahminy Kite ⚥ Red-backed Kite	Ground level	Fish Frogs Rodents Reptiles Insects	51cm. Nomadic and rare visitor. Found in open forests near water, riparian zone. Often seen soaring above, distinctive chocolate coloured body, white head.
	Brown Cuckoo-Dove ⚥ Brown or Pheasant Pigeon	Canopy layer	Fruit Berries Seeds	43cm. Common & nomadic. Found in rainforest trees carrying fruit. Can be approached when feeding. Moves to wherever trees are fruiting. Has a preference for thickets of wild tobacco. Many near reservoir.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Brown Falcon ⚥	Open grasslands and woodlands	Small mammals Insects Reptiles Small birds	50cm. Common resident. Perches on poles and other structures. Swoops down to take prey.
	Brown Goshawk ⚥ Australian Goshawk	Aerial, ground level	Small mammals Birds Reptiles Large insects	50cm. Common resident. Prefers open forests, woodlands, riparian zones; sometimes in urban parks. Has a distinctive “frowning” facial pattern.
	Brown Honeyeater ⚥	All levels of trees and shrubs	Nectar Insects	15cm. Common resident. Found in most forests and woodlands, but has adapted to parks and gardens where its constant call announces it presence. Look for birds in isolated trees in parks and streets.
	Brown Quail ⚥ Silver, Swamp Quail	Grasslands	Seeds Green shoots Insects	22cm. Common resident. Not easily seen. Prefers dense grasslands, often on the edges of open forests & wetlands. Best chance is near Reservoir.
	Brown Thornbill ⚥	Mid-level, forest understory	Insects	10cm. Very common resident. Always on the move, difficult to study carefully. Lovely call given often and near your ear because of the level at which they feed. Often found in multi-species groups: fantails, whistlers, finches, thornbills.
	Brush Cuckoo ⚥	Perches to take prey in flight or on ground	Insects, especially hairy caterpillars	23cm. Fairly common summer breeding migrant from Papua New Guinea. Prefers rainforests, forests, woodlands, riparian zones. Has a strong call that can be heard often, the bird is harder to see.
	Brush Cuckoo (Hepatic) ⚥	Perches to take prey in flight or on ground	Insects, especially hairy caterpillars
	Bush Stone-curlew ⚥ Bush Thick-knee, Weeloo, Wilaroo	Ground at night time	Insects Molluscs Lizards Seeds	59cm. Common resident. In the bush, prefer open woodland and forest, in the day roost cryptically amongst leaf litter and dry grasses; in the urban landscape they breed in car parks, grassy parks. At night as they feed they emit eerie calls.
	Channel-billed Cuckoo ⚥ Stormbird, Fig Hawk, Hornbill	Canopy specialist	Fruits, particularly native figs Seeds Insects Baby birds	66cm. Common summer migrant cuckoo, down from Papua New Guinea. Calls loudly for much of the day and night. Seeks fruiting trees in rainforests, woodlands, riparian zones, urban parks and streets. Eggs and young cared for by crows, pied currawong. Look for them being chased by crows.
	Chestnut-breasted Mannikin ⚥	Ground layer	Grass seeds, usually on the stalk rather than from the ground	13cm. Locally nomadic. Found in reed beds, long grasses, swamps and mangroves.
	Cicadabird ♂	Canopy	Insects	26cm. Summer breeding migrant from PNG. Heard more easily than seen. Male and female are very different colours. Its loud ventriloquistic call resembles the forest cicadas.
	Cicadabird ♀	Canopy	Insects
	Collared Sparrowhawk ⚥	Aerial	Birds	40cm. Fairly common resident. Found in open forests, woodlands, riparian zone. Often seen pursuing its prey in fast flight through forest. Best chances near reservoir.
Photo courtesy of Mike Ford	Common Bronzewing ⚥	Mostly near ground	Grain Seeds	36cm. Rare visitor mainly due to climate events. Found in open woodland. Very few found in the Catchment. Best chance is in cleared, open landscapes with seeding native grasses.
	Common Myna ⚥ Indian Myna, Mynah	All	Insects Food scraps Fruit	25cm. Feral species, introduced into Melbourne in 1860’s and has extended northwards. Aggressive. Very successful in the urban environment.
	Crested Pigeon ⚥ Topknot	Ground	Grain Seeds	34cm. Common resident. Can be found in many parks, in urban landscapes, backyards. Has a specialised feather in its wing that makes a distinctive sound when it takes off.
Photo courtesy of Jill and Ian Brown	Crested shrike-tit ⚥	Bark	Insects Spiders Fruits Seeds	19cm. Fairly common resident. Found in most of the habitats, especially rainforests & eucalypt forests. Tears at the bark noisily in search of insects. Look near the Reservoir.
	Dollarbird ⚥	Aerial	Insects	30cm. Summer breeding migrant from Papua New Guinea. Prefers rainforests, forests, riparian zones and urban development close to forests. “Dollar” bird because it has two white round splotches on its wings in flight.
	Double-barred Finch ⚥ Banded or Black-ringed Finch	Grass layer shrub layer	Seeds on ground Insects	11cm. Fairly common resident, but nomadic in search of seeding grasses. Found on grasslands, parks, paddocks, near water. Always in a flock and keep moving.
	Eastern Koel ♂ Cooee, Rainbird	Canopy specialist	Fruit	46cm. Common summer migrant cuckoo, down from Papua New Guinea. Calls loudly for much of the day. Not easily seen. Seeks fruiting trees in rainforests, woodlands, riparian zones, urban parks and streets. Sexes are strikingly different. Eggs and young cared for by mudlarks and friarbirds.
	Eastern Koel ♀ Cooee, Rainbird	Canopy specialist	Fruit
	Eastern Spinebill ⚥	Shrub layer	Nectar Honeydew Invertebrates	17cm. Winter altitudinal migrant, from high altitudes to low altitudes. Prefers forests, woodlands and flowering shrubs in gardens near forests. Are numerous in gardens with grevilleas flowering. Best place is near Reservoir or in your own garden if it has winter natives flowering.
	Eastern Whipbird ⚥	Low dense shrub layer	Invertebrates	31cm. Very common resident, and well known to everyone. The well-known call is a duetting song where the male’s “whip” lash is responded to by the female with a simple two note call that is uttered so as to appear continuous with the male’s.
	Eastern Yellow Robin ⚥	Ground layer	Pouncing on insects, spiders and other anthropods	16cm. Very common resident. Found in eucalypt forests, rainforests, prefers gulleys. Requires small diameter trees, as it perches sideways and drops to the ground on prey. Can be found are Reservoir and gulleys at Gap Creek. Pounces on prey from a low perch, usually on trunk.
	Emerald Dove ⚥ Emerald Pigeon, Green Dove, Green-Winged Pigeon	Ground under rainforest trees	Fallen fruit Seeds	28cm. Locally nomadic. Unlike other fruit-eating birds, this dove’s gut destroys the seeds that they eat which prohibits seed dispersal. Best chances in rainforests near reservoir, but moves through riparian zones.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Fairy Martin ⚥ Bottle Swallow	High aerial	Flying insects	13cm. Migratory. Moves north to New Guinea for winter. Colony bird: usually hunts and nests in large flocks.
	Fan-tailed Cuckoo ⚥	Perches to take prey in flight or on ground	Insects	27cm. Common resident, partially migratory. Prefers rainforests, forests, woodlands. Best place is around Reservoir. Has a beautiful voice that is often heard. When observed usually flies a few metres and then perches and looks back at observer.
	Forest Kingfisher ⚥	Ground level	Insects Worms Small reptiles	23cm. Common summer breeding migrant. Best place to find it is in forest around Reservoir. Prefers woodlands, riparian zones, it is a forest not a water kingfisher, its prey are land animals.
	Galah ⚥	Open ground level	Seeds Shoots Roots Insects Flowers	38cm. Common resident. Found in open woodlands, riparian zone, urban parks, playing fields, on power lines, fences. Appears to go west in the morning and returns east in the afternoon. Can be seen almost anywhere.
Photo courtesy of Mike Ford	Glossy Black-Cockatoo ⚥ Casuarina Cockatoo	Canopy layer	Very restricted diet of casuarina cones from selected trees	51cm. Resident, but can travel large distances.
	Golden-headed Cisticola ⚥ Barleybird, TailorBird	Grass layer shrub layer	Invertebrates	12cm. Fairly common resident. Found in tall grasses and rushes beside wetlands. Perches to sing from highest stalks. Not difficult to see because they come out of the long grass to sing.
	Golden Whistler ♂	Lower and mid layer of forest	Insects Spiders Other small arthropods Some berries	19cm. Very common resident, with an influx of others in winter which noticeably increases the numbers and observability. Found in rainforests and Eucalypt forests. Call is a beautiful series of whistles!
	Golden Whistler ♀	Lower and mid layer of forest	Insects Spiders Other small arthropods Some berries
	Green Catbird ⚥	Canopy	Mainly fruits Figs Flowers Insects Millipedes	32cm. Resident in more Western parts. Prefers fruiting and flowering rainforest trees, and large trees in deep gullies. Best place is the wetter, thicker-treed areas around Reservoir.
	Grey Butcherbird ⚥ Silver-backed Butcherbird	All levels but mainly ground	Insects Small birds Lizards Eggs	30cm. Very common resident. Found at the edges and on the ridges of most forests. Very common in the suburbs. Its dawn calling is spectacular.
	Grey Fantail ⚥	Canopy levels	Flying insects	17cm. Autumn, winter altitudinal migrant. Feeds on flying insects, usually higher in the canopy than the Rufous Fantail. Often found with other small birds in a feeding group.
	Grey Goshawk ⚥ White Goshawk	Aerial, ground level	Birds Small mammals Reptiles Insects	54cm. Common resident. Near Threatened species. Found in open forests, woodlands, riparian zone. Can be very white in colour and is known to mix with flocks of sulphur-crested cockatoos to camouflage itself so it can prey on ducks and stilts.
	Grey Shrike-thrush ⚥	Ground level and mid layer	Insects Spiders Mice Frogs Lizards Birds	26cm. Common resident. Searches for food on the ground, generally around fallen logs, and on the limbs and trunks of trees. Best voice in the Eucalypt forest, varied and tonal.
	Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo ⚥	Ground level or mid level of trees	Insects Caterpillars	17cm. Uncommon Summer migrant, down from Papua New Guinea or northern Australia. Prefers the open woodland. Not seen at the Reservoir in the last ten years. More often heard than seen, has a lovely repetitive call.
	Large-billed Scrubwren ⚥	All layers, but not on forest floor	Insects	13cm. Very common resident. Can be found in forests on trees, in foliage, climbing on trunk and branches, moves constantly. Best place is at Reservoir, where it is as common as White-browed Scrubwren but foraging much higher than the latter.
	Laughing Kookaburra ⚥ Laughing Jackass	All levels	Small animals Insects Eggs	47cm. Common resident. Can be found almost everywhere. Each group broadcasts its territory by chorus calling.
	Leaden Flycatcher ♂ Blue Flycatcher, Frogbird	Mid level to top of canopy	Flying insects Insects on foliage	16cm. Summer breeding migrant from PNG and north-east Queensland. Prefers open eucalypt forests and woodlands. When it lands on a branch it flicks its tail in a way that traces out a horizontal figure of eight. Found near Reservoir in forests and in gulleys leading off from Gap Creek Reserve.
	Leaden Flycatcher ♀ Blue Flycatcher, Frogbird	Mid level to top of canopy	Flying insects Insects on foliage
	Lewin’s Honeyeater ⚥	Mid layer and canopy	Fruit Nectar Insects Invertebrates Honeydew	22cm. Very common resident. Can be found in most habitats, and comes freely into urban backyards. Most honeyeaters utilize nectar for energy but they all need insects as a source of protein. The Lewin’s call is the most common forest bird call in the Catchment.
	Little Bronze-Cuckoo ⚥	All levels	Caterpillars Beetles Flies Ants	15cm. Spring, Summer migrant. Eggs and your cared for by gerygones. Prefer dryer open forests and woodlands.
	Little Corella ⚥	Ground level	Grains Grass seeds Bulbs Roots	39cm. Sedentary and nomadic. Very common, very widespread. All types of habitats across the width of Australia. Form large flocks. Need water every day.
	Little Eagle ⚥	Ground, shrub and canopy levels	Rabbits Other live mammals Insects	55cm. Adult birds are mainly sedentary, while the young birds disperse. It tends to inhabit open woodland, grassland and arid regions, shunning dense forest. Forages on the wing or from a high exposed perch.
	Little Friarbird ⚥	Canopy layer	Nectar Honeydew Invertebrates	29cm. Uncommon resident. Nomadic in search of blossoms, calls often as it feeds.
	Little Grassbird ⚥	Ground layer shrub layer	Insects Spiders Other anthropods	15cm. Nomadic to sedentary. Locally common. Found in swamps and marshes, preferring thick reed beds. Vegetation on drains in Catchment.
	Little Lorikeet ⚥	Canopy layer	Flowers Fruit	16cm. Common resident, much less obvious than the Rainbow and Scaly Lorikeets. Call is very high pitch. Found in most forest habitats and has adapted to urban treed landscapes.
	Little Shrike-thrush ⚥ Rufous Strike-thrush	Ground level and mid layer	Inspects Spiders	19cm. Common resident. Prefers the wetter forests: rainforests, Eucalypt forest, riparian zones with dense foliage. Wonderful voice. When observed it does not flee.
Photo courtesy of Chris Read	Long-billed Corella ⚥	Ground level	Grass seeds Grain crops Bulbs and roots Insects	41cm. Adults sedentary, young dispersive. Grasslands and grassy woodlands. Much less common than the Little Corella. Has a “red slash” across the throat.
	Magpie-lark ⚥ Mudlark, Peewee, Pewit	Open ground far from cover	Invertebrates Seeds Small vertebrates	30cm. Very common resident. Can be found wherever there are trees near water, and mud to make the nest.
	Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo ⚥ Pink Cockatoo	Open ground level	Seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants Fruit Roots Bulbs Insects	40cm. Resident. Nest in hollow trees. Open forests. (The individuals present in the Catchment are certainly the descendants of escapees. But the present flock is at least 20 years old and has been resident for that period.)
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Marbled Frogmouth ⚥ Plumed frogmouth	Ground level	Nocturnal insects	48cm. Resident. Found in deep, wet, gulleys in lowland wet forests. Roosts during the day, hunting and feeding at night. Hunt from low perches, stumps of low branches.
	Masked Lapwing ⚥ Masked Plover, Spurwinged Plover	Open ground level	Invertebrates	38cm. Very common resident in open bushland, edges of reservoir and dams, and in urban parks, playing fields, etc. Can be seen, and heard, almost anywhere. Known to swoop people who come too close during the breeding season, they lay eggs on bare ground.
	Mistletoebird ♂ Mistletoe Flowerpecker	Canopy level	Mistletoe fruit Nectar	11cm. Common resident. Nomadic in search for fruit. Found in any forest that supports the mistletoe plant. Digests the fleshy outer fruit parts and excretes the sticky seeds onto branches. Look in the canopy when mistletoe fruiting, revealed by call.
	Mistletoebird ♀	Canopy level	Mistletoe fruit Nectar
Photo courtesy of Mike Ford	Musk Lorikeet ⚥	Canopy layer	Flowers Fruit	23cm. Drought induced visitor, uncommon, nomadic, dispersive. Was last seen in great numbers in the Catchment in the 2009 drought, which brought them from the drier forests they prefer to the moister coast.
	Noisy Friarbird ⚥ Leatherhead	Canopy layer	Nectar Honeydew Eggs Baby birds Invertebrates	35cm. Common resident. Nomadic in search of forest blossoms. As it name implies it is very noisy wherever it is and its movements can be easily tracked.
	Noisy Miner ⚥ Mickey, Soldierbird	All layers	Nectar Honeydew Invertebrates	27cm. Common resident in urban settings, in narrow riparian zones, and on the edges of forests. Their aggressive behaviour towards small woodland birds is well known. They will usually only share their territory with the large black and white birds: magpies, butcherbirds, currawongs.
	Noisy Pitta ⚥ Buff-breasted Pitta	Forest floor	Insects Woodlice Worms Snails Berries Fruit	21cm. Common resident, but not easily seen. Prefers wetter, darker rainforest and wet eucalypt forest floors. Most recent reports are from around the Reservoir. If found, it allows careful observation as it feeds in litter.
	Olive-backed Oriole ⚥	Canopy	Fruit Insects Seeds Nectar	28cm. Very common resident. Found in rainforests, eucalypt forests and woodlands and riparian zones. Calls often in breeding season. Can be found with figbirds on fruiting trees. Very strong mimic. Bill is bright red. Usually alone.
	Oriental Cuckoo ⚥	Grass level, trunk, low branches	Hairy caterpillars	33cm. Very rare summer non-breeding migrant, breeds in and north of Japan. Prefers rainforests, forests and riparian zone.
	Oriental Cuckoo ⚥ (Hepatic)	Grass level, trunk, low branches	Hairy caterpillars
	Pacific Barn Owl ⚥ Screech Owl, White Owl	Ground level	Small mammals, mainly rodents and birds Some insects Frogs Lizards	40cm. Nomadic. Open woodlands, grasslands; farms; towns. Very uncommon in the Catchment.
	Pacific Baza ⚥ Crested Hawk	Canopy and aerial	Stick insects Frogs Grubs Reptiles Small mice	45cm. Common breeding resident. Only hawk found in well-treed urban areas. Otherwise in open forests, woodlands, riparian zones. Can be found throughout the Catchment; lovely to watch feeding dismembered stick insects to young.
	Painted Button-quail ⚥	Leaf-littered ground level	Seeds Fruit Insects	19cm. Fairly common resident. Prefer open, dry woodland with fallen timber on the ground. Foraging leaves platelets, which indicates their presence. Are seen more readily than the previous button-quail.
	Pale-headed Rosella ⚥	All layers, ground to canopy	Seeds Fruit Grasses Flowers Herbs Berries Nectar Insects	32cm. Common resident. Prefers open habitats, grasslands and woodlands, but can be found in forest. Has adapted to urban settings and can be found in grassy reserves, clearings, orchards.
	Paradise Riflebird ⚥ Female or juvenile male	Forest floor to high in the canopy	On trunks and branches for insects, spiders and centipedes Fruit	30cm. Rare visitor: found in subtropical and temperate rainforests, mostly in mountains and foothills, and adjoining wetter eucalypt forests, like the west of the Catchment.
	Peaceful Dove ⚥	Ground level	Small grass seeds sedges Small insects	21cm. Common resident. They need to drink at least twice a day, so prefer woodlands near water, riparian habitats, parks and gardens, Reservoir. Has a call that is very distinctive and very loud, and often used.
	Peregrine Falcon ⚥ Black-cheeked Falcon	Aerial	Birds,:pigeons and ducks	47cm. Uncommon visitor maybe driven by climate events. Prefers cliffs and gorges, steep terrain, which it even finds in the middle of Brisbane on tall buildings. Famous throughout the world for its speed and power, and general all round magnificence.
	Pheasant Coucal ⚥ (Non Breeding) Cane Pheasant, Swamp Pheasant	Ground and lower layers of trees	Insects Small vertebrates Lizards Birds	70cm. Common resident, well adapted to the urban landscape, visiting house backyards, crossing roads, wandering across lawns; also, found in the Catchment forests, and around the reservoir.
	Pheasant Coucal ⚥ (Breeding)	Ground and lower layers of trees	Insects Small vertebrates Lizards Birds
	Pied Butcherbird ⚥	All levels but mainly ground	Small reptiles Frogs and birds large Insects	36cm. Very common resident. Found at the edges and on the ridges of most forests. Very common in the suburbs. Its dawn calling is spectacular.
	Pied Currawong ⚥	All layers of forest and on the ground	Fruit Vertebrates Invertebrates	50cm. Very common resident. In most forests and in urban settings: parks, picnic grounds, reserves.
Photo courtesy of Chris Read	Powerful Owl ⚥	Canopy level	Ringtail Possum Great Glider Tawny Frogmouths Cockatoos	66cm. Fairly common resident. Vulnerable species in Queensland. Wonderfully loud call can be heard at night. Roost cryptically in day often with prey in its talons; but can be revealed by alarm calls of small birds. Prefers forested gullies and ridges, hilly woodlands but also city parks. Australia’s largest owl: 66cm high.
	Rainbow Bee-eater ⚥ Rainbow Bird	Aerial	Flying insects Bees and wasps Dragonflies Beetles Butterflies	28cm. Fairly common dispersive resident. Prefers open woodland habitats; needs open ground suitable for burrows in which to nest. Can be seen in large flocks feeding on the wing calling in a wonderful chorus. “Rainbow” because of it multi-coloured feathering.
	Rainbow Lorikeet ⚥	Canopy layer	Nectar Pollen Fruit Seeds	32cm. Very common resident but nomadic in search of flowering eucalypts. Can be seen and heard almost everywhere at any time. Has adapted to the urban landscape, congregating in the evening on certain street trees, making a racket!
	Red-backed Fairy-wren ♂	Open grassland layer	Insects Seeds	13cm. Common resident. Require tall grass. They spend most of the cooler parts of their day foraging in grass 60%; then preening/loafing in thorny shrub 17%; then being vigilant in trees 14%. Smallest Fairy-wren.
	Red-backed Fairy-wren ♀ And young males	Open grassland layer	Insects Seeds
	Red-browed Finch ⚥	Ground and shrub layer	Seeds Insects	12cm. Common resident. Found in groups in open forests gulleys, moving rapidly through the shrub layer. Wings made an audible noise when they take flight. The male courts female with a large (12cm) green grass stalk held horizontally in his beak.
Image courtesy of Chris Reid – not taken in the Moggill Catchment	Regent Bowerbird ♂	Canopy	Fruit Berries Insects	30cm. Resident in more Western parts. Prefers fruiting and flowering rainforest trees, and large trees in deep gullies. Best place is the wetter, thicker treed areas around Reservoir. Feeds on wild tobacco fruit.
	Regent Bowerbird ♀ Juvenile male or female	Canopy	Fruit Berries Insects
	Restless Flycatcher ⚥ Scissors Grinder, Dish Washer	Mid-level canopy	Flying insects Spiders Centipedes	22cm. Uncommon resident, partly nomadic. Reveals itself with its famous “Scissors Grinder” call. Found in open Eucalypt forests and woodlands.
	Rose Robin ♂	Low to mid layer	Insects	13cm. Fairly common winter migrant. Found in gulleys in rainforests and eucalypt forests and in riparian zones. Can be found at Reservoir and in gulleys off clearing at Gap Creek Reserve.
	Rose Robin ♀	Low to mid layer	Insects
	Rose-Crowned Fruit Dove ⚥ Red-Crowned Fruit Dove	Canopy level	Fruits Insects	25cm. Nomadic and dispersive in search of food trees. Feeds on fruiting trees in rainforests, adjacent eucalypt forests & woodlands. Look near Reservoir.
	Rufous Fantail ⚥	Low to mid layer	Insects	Summer breeding altitudinal migrant. Goes back to the hills in winter, and as it leaves, the Grey Fantails arrive.
	Rufous Songlark ⚥	Ground layer	Insects Spiders Other arthropods	17cm. Favours open grassland, grassy open woodland, and farmed land.
	Rufous Whistler ♂	Canopy layer	Arthropods	18cm. Very common resident. Found in open Eucalypt forests and woodlands. More often on ridges.
	Rufous Whistler ♀	Canopy layer	Arthropods
	Russet-tailed Thrush ⚥	Ground, forest floor	Insects	27cm. Uncommon resident. Found on floor of rainforests, eucalypt forests with leaf-litter and debris on the floor. Cryptically coloured to be very hard to detect in leaf-litter. Best chance is around reservoir in closed forests.
	Sacred Kingfisher ⚥	Aerial and ground layer	Lizards Frogs Worms Beetles Bugs Spiders Grasshoppers	23cm. Common summer breeding migrant, but some remain for the winter. Can be found in forest around Reservoir, but also other forest habitats on ridges. Prefers woodlands, riparian zones, it is a forest not a water kingfisher, its prey are land animals.
Photo courtesy of Mike Ford – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Satin Bowerbird ♂	Canopy	Fruits Insects	32cm. Common resident. The male bowerbird is solitary and builds famous bower with blue decorations. Only female builds nest, incubates eggs & raises young. Best chances near reservoir, prefers rainforest.
	Satin Bowerbird ♀ Juvenile male or female	Canopy	Fruits Insects
	Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet ⚥	Canopy layer	Nectar Pollen Fruit Seeds	24cm. Very common resident but nomadic in search of flowering eucalypts. Less obvious and fewer in number to the Rainbow Lorikeet, and less comfortable in the urban setting.
	Scarlet Honeyeater ♂	Canopy layer	Nectar Honeydew Invertebrates	11cm. Very common resident, with some increased migration in Spring. Found in big numbers high in the canopy feeding on eucalypt flowers. Often revealed by their calls.
	Scarlet Honeyeater ♀	Canopy layer	Nectar Honeydew Invertebrates
	Shining Bronze-Cuckoo ⚥	All levels	Caterpillars Beetles Flies Ants	18cm. Common Summer migrant, down from Papua New Guinea or northern Australia; a few remain here as well. Eggs and young cared for by thornbills, wrens and flycatchers. Prefer rainforest, open forest, gardens.
	Silvereye ⚥ White-eye, Waxeye, Grape-eater	All layers mainly high in canopy	Insects Jumping spiders Fruit	13cm. Very common resident, but nomadic. Found in most forests and in suburban trees. Usually in a flock, and travel quickly through the canopy of the forest, calling often.
Image courtesy of Tom Tarrant – not taken in the Moggill Catchment	Southern Boobook ⚥ Mopoke, Morepork	Ground level	Small birds Rats Mice Moths Grasshoppers	36cm. Common resident, easily heard at night almost anywhere, but difficult to see when it roosts in daytime. Its roost can be revealed by alarm calls of small birds. Can be found in forests, but also in urban settings. Quite a small owl.
	Spangled Drongo ⚥	Aerial sallying and canopy layer	Grubs Fying insects Fruit Nectar	32cm. Common summer breeding migrant, wintering in PNG. Some stay for winter. Found in rainforests and Eucalypt forests. Very noisy birds, calling often, mimic.
	Speckled Warbler ⚥	Ground level, grasses	Insects Seeds	13cm. Rare resident. Look for them on the ground, usually in pairs. In the Catchment, they prefer the drier ridges with grasses and rocks under the forest trees.
	Spectacled Monarch ⚥	Lower and mid layers	Insects below the canopy in foliage, tree trunks	16cm. Common summer breeding migrant from north-eastern Queensland. Can be found in mid-layers of rainforests and gulleys in Eucalypt forests.
	Spotted Turtle Dove ⚥ Turtle Dove, Spotted Dove	Ground layer	Seeds Grains	32cm. Common resident. Feral species. Found in urbanised landscapes: streets, parks, gardens and open woodlands. Introduced in 1860’s.
	Spotted Pardalote ⚥ Diamond Bird	Canopy layer leaf gleaners	Insects, especially psyllids sugary exudates from leaves	10cm. Common resident with some winter migration that boosts numbers. Pardalotes are more common where trees are mature. Call is strong and distinctive and often heard in the forest.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Spotted Quail-thrush ⚥	Ground layer	Invertebrates in leaf litter	28cm. Rare Resident, hard to detect. On the ground it is cryptic; it flushes readily and has a wide range of highly audible calls.
	Square-tailed Kite ⚥	Outer edges at canopy level	Birds, especially honeyeaters Insects	56cm. Uncommon resident. Near threatened species. Prefers tall trees in woodlands, open forests and riparian zone. Difficult to find.
	Straw-necked Ibis ⚥	Ground level	Small vertebrates Insects	76cm. Nomadic and common, dispersive. Forages in wetlands, paddocks, woodlands, lawns, garbage tips, urban parks and gardens.
	Striated Pardalote ⚥ Pickwick, Wittachew, Chip-Chip	Canopy layer Leaf gleaners	Insects and their larvae	12cm. Common resident with some winter migration that boosts numbers. Striated more common than Spotted Pardalote. Call is very common in urban areas as they are not dislodged by Noisy Miners. Difficult to see birds as they are small & high in canopy, and fly from canopy to canopy.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Striated Thornbill ⚥	Canopy	Insects	10cm. Common resident. Prefers wetter eucalypt forests and woodlands. Best chance near Reservoir.
	Striped Honeyeater ⚥	Canopy layer	Nectar Honeydew Invertebrates	23cm. Fairly common resident. Prefers drier forest habitats. Often found in parties that call regularly which can lead you to them.
	Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo ⚥ White Cockatoo	All levels, ground to canopy	Seeds of native trees Pinecones Seeds of ground plants Insects	51cm. Common resident. Can be seen and heard almost everywhere at any time. Locally nomadic in search of seeding trees and seeding grasses.
	Superb Fairy-wren ♂ Blue Wren, Jenny Wren	Open ground around trees and shrubs	Insects Seeds	14cm. Resident. Least common of the three fairy wrens. Prefers dense low cover in most habitats, including urban habitats: parks, reserves, gardens.
	Superb Fairy-wren ♀	Open ground around trees and shrubs	Insects Seeds
	Superb Fruit-dove ♂ Purple-Crowned Fruit Dove	Canopy level	Fruits Berries	24cm. Very rare nomadic visitor, first photographed in 2017. Feeds on fruiting trees mainly in rainforests, adjacent Eucalypt forests and riparian habitats.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Swift Parrot ⚥	Outer canopy	Nectar from flowering Eucalypts	26cm. Uncommon winter migrant. All birds return to Tasmania to breed in Spring/Summer. They return to the mainland in Winter. The Catchment is one of the furthest points they travel North. Its size is similar to the more common Scaly-breasted Lorikeet.
	Tawny Frogmouth ⚥ Frogmouth Owl, Morepork	Ground level	Nocturnal insects Worms Snails Reptiles Frogs	50cm. Common resident. Found in open forests, woodlands, riparian zones, especially near tracks, clearings, urban spaces, houses. Roost cryptically during the day; call frequently, repetitively during the night.
	Tawny Grassbird ⚥	Grass layer shrub layer	Insects	19cm. Uncommon resident. Requires tall grass. Best chance in grasslands around reservoir. They perch on grass and sing. Longer tails than Cisticola. Not as dependent on water nearby.
	Topknot Pigeon ⚥ (Flock)	Canopy level	Fruits	46cm. Nomadic, moves in response to climate events. Goes where there is available rainforest fruit. Often in large flocks flying high over forest. Came in large numbers to MCC in 2009 as great drought brought them nearer the coast.
	Topknot Pigeon ⚥	Canopy level	Fruits
	Torresian Crow ⚥	Ground layer	Eat almost anything seed Insects Pet foods Human food scraps	53cm. Common resident. Can be seen almost anywhere.
	Tree Martin ⚥ Tree Swallow	Aerial	Flying insects	14cm. Fairly common resident. Nests in tree hollows. Can be seen hawking in the sky. Groups sit on power lines and fences in open country and urban areas.
	Varied Sittella ⚥ Barkpecker, Tree Runner	Bark of high branches in canopy	Invertebrates	13cm. Fairly common resident but nomadic. They glean from tree trunks or branches, moving downwards on trunks and along the topside or underside of branches. Usually in groups. Best spot is forest near reservoir. Have strikingly yellow legs. Very distinctive body shape that makes identification easier.
	Varied Triller ⚥	Canopy layer	Fruit Seeds Insects	18cm. Common resident. Found in open forests and woodlands and riparian zones. Best chances near Reservoir. Its call is a ‘trill’.
	Variegated Fairy-wren ♂ And ♀ in photo	Shrub layer	Insects A small amount of seeds	15cm. Very common resident. The birds feed around the base of small shrubs, and seldom stray into the open. Found in forests and in urban settings. Always on the move through the vegetation.
	Wedge-tailed Eagle ⚥ Eaglehawk	Ground level	Vertebrates Rabbits Hares	1.1m. Common resident. Found in steep terrain, on tallest tree. Can be seen high in sky from most parts of Catchment and breeds in the Catchment. Hunts in woodlands and grasslands.
	Welcome Swallow ⚥ Australian or House Swallow	Aerial	Flying insects	15cm. Common resident. Usually in flocks, found easily in the sky hawking insects, or over mown grass on playing fields, or perched on power lines.
	Whistling Kite ⚥	Ground level	Mammals Birds Fish Reptiles Insects	60cm. Nomadic and a rare visitor. Found in open forests near water, riparian zone. Often seen soaring high above, searching for food. Often makes distinctive whistling call while it is hunting.
	White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike ⚥ Little Cuckoo-shrike, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike	Canopy level	Invertebrates Some plant material	28cm. Common Resident but nomadic. Found in most habitats. Best around Reservoir.
	White-bellied Sea-Eagle ⚥ White Breasted Sea-Eagle	Water surface level	Fish Turtles Sea snakes Birds	90cm. Common resident but dispersive over its large territory. Reservoir is only area of water that can support their feeding behaviour. Can be found near the sea or large inland bodies of fresh water. Excellent flier for its size, brilliant hunter.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	White-breasted Woodswallow ⚥	Aerial	Flying insects	18cm. Nomadic. Found most easily at Kenmore Village on the power lines, it has nested in that area during the summer.
	White-browed Scrubwren⚥ Spotted Scrubwren	Dense scrub layer just above ground	Invertebrates Some seeds and fruits	13cm. Very common resident. Found in dense vegetation within two metres of the ground in forests, riparian zones, and in parks and gardens.
	White-eared Monarch ⚥	Canopy level	Insects	14cm. Fairly common resident. Look for it characteristically sallying, hovering and fluttering around the outer foliage of rainforest trees or trees in the riparian zone. One of the best places in Brisbane to see this difficult-to-find bird is at the Reservoir.
	White-headed Pigeon ⚥ Baldy, Baldy Pigeon	Canopy level	Seed Fruit	41cm. Locally nomadic and highly dispersive seeking fruit trees. Only rarely seen, flies strongly and directly. Has adapted to the fruit of the Camphor Laurel tree. So look for them perched in those trees.
	White-naped Honeyeater⚥ Black-cap	Canopy level	Nectar Honeydew Invertebrates	15cm. Common resident with some migration movement along the coast. Found in most forest and woodland habitats. Always high In the canopy, difficult to see; best detected by their high pitched calls.
	White-throated Gerygone ⚥ Bush or Native Canary	Canopy level	Insects	12cm. Common resident. Prefers open forests, woodlands, riparian zones. Very distinctive call which reveals its presence, but sometimes hard to see in the canopy. Best place is near Reservoir.
	White-throated Honeyeater ⚥	Canopy layer	Nectar Invertebrates Honeydew Fruit	15cm. Very common resident. Found in most forest and woodland habitats. Always high In the canopy, difficult to see; best detected by their high pitched calls.
	White-throated Needletail ⚥ Spine-tailed Swift	Aerial: from near ground to very high (2000m)	Flying insects	21cm. Summer migrant, breeds in Siberia, threatened by loss of habitat on migration route through China. Form large flocks, high in the sky, best seen by floating on back in swimming pool. Look for them in front of summer storms.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	White-throated Nightjar ⚥ Laughing Owl	Ground level at night	Nocturnal insects	37cm. Resident but difficult to detect. Roost cryptically on forest floor in daytime, on ridges, near bare ground, with rocks, bracken. Seen by walking carefully in preferred habitat by day or watch it swoop above forest clearings on dusk.
	White-throated Treecreeper ⚥ Little Treecreeper, Woodpecker	Forages on rough bark, starting from base of tree	Mainly ants Other invertebrates Nectar	18cm. Very common resident. Easily seen if searched for on trunk of rough-barked tree not in foliage. Its call is very loud and varied, and it calls often in all seasons. It feeds by walking up tree trunk from low down picking ants from the crevices of rough bark.
	White-winged Triller ⚥	All layers	Mainly insects, fruit and seeds	19cm. Nomadic resident. Found in open forests and woodlands and riparian zones.
	Willie Wagtail ⚥ Black-and-white Fantail	Open ground far from cover	Insects	22cm. Common resident. The third of the fantails. Feeding substrate is very different to the other two. Found in most habitats. But is easily seen as it comes into any open grassed area in urban suburbs: parks, playing fields.
	Wompoo Fruit-Dove ⚥ Bubbly Jack, King Pigeon, Magnificent Fruit-Dove	Canopy level	Fruit (mainly figs)	50cm. Rare nomadic visitor. Largest and most beautiful of the fruit pigeons. Feeds on fruiting trees mainly in rainforests, adjacent eucalypt forests and riparian habitats.
	Wonga Pigeon ⚥	Ground level	Mainly seeds, plus fallen fruit and insects	40cm. Common resident. Feeds entirely on the floor of rainforest, open eucalypt forest and quiet gardens near bush, easily flushed with explosive flight. Very strong simple call that is repeated ad nauseam.
Photo courtesy of Tom Tarrant – taken outside Moggill Catchment	Yellow Thornbill ⚥	Canopy	Insects	10cm. Fairly common resident. Prefers drier woodlands, riparian habitats and urban parks and gardens.
	Yellow-faced Honeyeater ⚥	Canopy layer	Nectar Pollen Fruit Invertebrates Honeydew	18cm. Common resident, but others are winter migrants. Prefer forests and woodlands. Can be easily found in Gap Creek Reserve, where its frequent calls announce its presence there.
	Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo ⚥	All levels	Seeds of native trees and pinecones Seeds of ground plants Insects	65cm. Fairly common, seasonally nomadic, in search of seeds. Can be found in all of the habitats in the Catchment, but mostly in the forests where there are hakeas, casuarinas and banksias.

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Common Bronzewing ⚥

Mostly near ground

Grains
seeds

36cm. Rare visitor mainly due to climate events. Found in open woodland. Very few found in the Catchment. Best chance is in cleared, open landscapes with seeding native grasses.

Common Bronzewing ⚥

Mostly near ground

Grains
seeds

36cm. Rare visitor mainly due to climate events. Found in open woodland. Very few found in the Catchment. Best chance is in cleared, open landscapes with seeding native grasses.

Crimson Rosella ⚥
Red Lowry

All levels

Seeds
Insects- eg: galls

37cm. Uncommon resident. The Catchment is at the extreme northern end of it distribution which extends south along the coast to SA. Its preferred habitat is the wetter forests, rainforests and riparian zones.

Crimson Rosella ⚥
Red Lowry

All levels

Seeds
Insects- eg: galls

Moggill Creek

Catchment Group

DIGITAL FIELD GUIDE: BIRD SPECIES COMMONLY FOUND IN THE MOGGILL CREEK CATCHMENT