Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
Innes NP, Yorke Peninsula, SA
A common duck of much of coastal southern Australia, the Chestnut Teal is a beautiful, richly-marked species with males sporting a chestnut chest, white flanks and an iridescent green head. Females are a typical mottled brown colour.
Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor)
Granite Island CP, Victor Harbor, SA
Aptly-named, this is the smallest of all penguin species, standing only around 40cm tall. They are largely nocturnal in Australia, emerging from their burrows at dusk en-masse to go out to sea and hunt.
The Little Penguin is Australia's only resident species and is common around southern coasts. It also occurs in New Zealand.
The Little Penguin is Australia's only resident species and is common around southern coasts. It also occurs in New Zealand.
Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
Coffin Bay, Eyre Peninsula, SA
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Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)
Fisheries Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA
Three black and white cormorants are found around Australia's coast and this is the largest species. It occurs around the whole coastline of the country and will also wander inland to other areas such as rivers and seasonal ponds.
The Pied Cornorant is very similar the Little Pied Cormorant but is slightly larger and has a grey, rather than yellow bill, along with patches of yellow, blue and pink skin around the bill. The Black-faced Cormorant is also black and white but lacks the coloured skin patches and has its black 'hood' extending below the eyes.
The Pied Cornorant is very similar the Little Pied Cormorant but is slightly larger and has a grey, rather than yellow bill, along with patches of yellow, blue and pink skin around the bill. The Black-faced Cormorant is also black and white but lacks the coloured skin patches and has its black 'hood' extending below the eyes.
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Innes NP, Yorke Peninsula, SA
As its name suggests, this little wader is fond of sandy, open beaches where it scuttles along the water-line probing for small invertebrates. They are amsing to watch as they race away from incoming waves, only to follow them out again as the water recedes.
Breeding birds are a rich brick-red colour. In winter, the birds turn a pale grey and appear very pale from a distance. The darker markings of this individual may show that it was a juvenile.
The Sanderling has a wide global distribution and is a common winter wader as far away as the British Isles and northern Europe.
Breeding birds are a rich brick-red colour. In winter, the birds turn a pale grey and appear very pale from a distance. The darker markings of this individual may show that it was a juvenile.
The Sanderling has a wide global distribution and is a common winter wader as far away as the British Isles and northern Europe.
Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillis)
Innes NP, Yorke Peninsula, SA
This attractive small wader is widespread in Australia and can be seen far inland in a variety of wet habitats.
This species can be recognised by the black eye-stripe shoulder patches and its chestnut-coloured cap.
This species can be recognised by the black eye-stripe shoulder patches and its chestnut-coloured cap.
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus mides ssp.mides)
Granite Island CP, Victor Harbor, SA
A familiar and common bird across much of Australia, including at inland water bodies, the Masked Lapwing looks like no other Australian bird. The yellow facial wattles and hangly, long legs give this bird a slightly bizarre, comical appearance.
Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus)
Innes NP, Yorke Peninsula, SA
The only all-black oysterctacher in Australia, this handsome species occurs all around coastal Australia where the habitat is rocky.
Granite Island CP, Victor Harbor, SA
Granite Island CP, Victor Harbor, SA
Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae)
Innes NP, Yorke Peninsula, SA
The ubiquitous 'seagull' of southern Australia, large flocks of this bird are frequently seen in urban areas. The Silver Gull can be seen almost anywhere around the coast of Australia but is less common in northern areas.
The Silver Gull is smaller than most of the other Australian gulls and can be recognised by its pale grey back, white iris and red beak.
The Silver Gull is smaller than most of the other Australian gulls and can be recognised by its pale grey back, white iris and red beak.
Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus)
juvenile birds, Coffin Bay NP, Eyre Peninsula, SA
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Crested Tern (Sterna bergii)
Seal Bay CP, Kangaroo Island, SA
The Terns are the most diverse group of coastal seabirds in Australia, discounting the petrels and other essentially offshore species. The Crested Tern is among the most common and occurs around the entire coastline. Its yellow beak makes it easy to recogsise and distinguish from the Caspian Tern. The Lesser Crested Tern is a very similar but slightly smaller bird of northern Australia.
