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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: Struthioniformes   Family: Struthionidae

This order is not native to Western Australia, but feral populations of one species have become established.

Cassowaries and emu

Order: Casuariiformes   Family: 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.

Magpie goose

Order: Anseriformes   Family: 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.

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: 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.

Megapodes

Order: Galliformes   Family: 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.

Guineafowl

Order: Galliformes   Family: Numididae

Numididae are not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species exist in Western Australia.

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: 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.

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: 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.

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

Frogmouths

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Podargidae

The frogmouths are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from India across southern Asia to Australia.

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Owlet-nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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.

Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: 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.

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Painted-snipes

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

2 species recorded

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Buttonquail

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.

Penguins

Order: Sphenisciformes   Family: Spheniscidae

Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Only one species, the little penguin, breeds on the Australian coast.

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are a family of large seabird found across the Southern and North Pacific Oceans. The largest are among the largest flying birds in the world.

Southern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The southern storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. Their flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium nasal septum, and a long outer functional primary flight feather.

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas or darters are cormorant-like water birds with long necks and long, straight bills. They are fish eaters which often swim with only their neck above the water.

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed, a distinguishing feature among the order Pelecaniformes.

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with distinctive pouches under their bills. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Cockatoos

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae

Old World parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Pittas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Scrub-birds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Atrichornithidae

Bowerbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptilonorhynchidae

Australasian treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Climacteridae

Fairywrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Maluridae

Honeyeaters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

Bristlebirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dasyornithidae

Pardalotes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pardalotidae

Thornbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acanthizidae

Pseudo-babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pomatostomidae

Quail-thrushes and jewel-babblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclosomatidae

Cuckooshrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

Sittellas

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Neosittidae

Whipbirds and wedgebills

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Psophodidae

Australo-Papuan bellbirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oreoicidae

Shrike-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Falcunculidae

Whistlers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

Fantails

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

Monarch flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

Australasian robins

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Petroicidae

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Cisticolas and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

Bulbuls

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Bush warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Flowerpeckers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

See also

• List of Australian birds
• Lists of birds by region

References

1. Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Western Australia". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
2. "Birds of Western Australia, the complete checklist". WICE (World Institute for Conservation and Environment). Retrieved 16 August 2021.
3. Christidis, Leslie; Boles, Walter (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Melbourne: CSIRO. ISBN 978-0-643-09602-8.
4. Christidis, Leslie; Boles, Walter (1994). The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. ISBN 978-1-875122-06-6.
5. "Birds Australia Checklist". Birds Australia. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
6. Clements, James F. (2022). Birds of the World: A Checklist (6th ed.). Cornell University Press.

• Serventy, D.L.; Whittell, H.M. (1976) . A Handbook of the Birds of Western Australia. Perth, WA, Australia: University Press of Western Australia.
• Johnstone, R.E.; Storr, G.M. (1998). Handbook of Western Australian Birds. Volume 1 – Non-Passerines (Emu to Dollarbird). Oxford University Press.

• Lists of birds of Australia
• Birds of Western Australia
• Lists of biota of Western Australia