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Australia: 2000 onwards

This page is part of the main list of Australian bird books which is split by date.

Bird books: 2000 onwards
Bird books: 1999 to 1900
Bird books: 1899 to 1794

Australian bird art

Australian bird art

Australian states and external territories

Christmas Island
New South Wales/ACT
Norfolk Island
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

Australian species

Bowerbirds
Cassowary
Cockatoos
Emu
Fairy-Wrens
Kookaburra
Lyrebirds
Pardalote

Australian series

HANZAB
Birds of Australia series
RAOU monographs
Collins regional guides
The State of Australia's Birds
Australian Nat. Hist. Series

Australian publishers

CSIRO
Nat. Lib. Australia

Oceania/Australasia

Oceania

The Australian Bird Guide

Peter Menkhorst, Danny Rogers, Rohan Clarke, Jeff Davies, Peter Marsack, Kim Franklin

2017

"Looking at more than 900 species, The Australian Bird Guide is the most comprehensive field guide on Australian birds available, and contains by far the best coverage of southern seabirds. With 249 color plates containing 4,000 stunning images, this book offers a far more in-depth treatment of subspecies, rarities, and overall plumage variation than comparative guides. The artwork meets the highest standards, and the text is rigorously accurate and current in terms of identification details, distribution, and status. The Australian Bird Guide sets a new bar for coverage of Australia's remarkable avifauna and is indispensable to all birders and naturalists interested in this area of the world, including the southern oceans. Brand-new guide with an attractive look and design249 color plates containing 4,000 superb images by some of the most talented illustrators working in Australia today."

Australasian Eagles and Eagle-Like Birds

Stephen Debus

2017

"An illustrated record of sea-eagles, harpy eagles, booted eagles and eagle-like hawks in Australasia.Eagles are awe-inspiring birds that have influenced much human endeavour. Australia is home to three eagle species, and in Melanesia there are four additional endemic species. A further three large Australian hawks are eagle-like. Eagles, being at the top of the food chain, are sensitive ecological barometers of human impact on the Earth's ecosystem services, and all of the six Australian species covered in this book are threatened in at least some states (one also nationally). Three of the four Melanesian tropical forest endemics are threatened or near-threatened.In Australasian Eagles and Eagle-like Birds, Dr Stephen Debus provides a 25-year update of knowledge on these 10 species as a supplement to the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (HANZAB) and recent global treatises, based partly on his own field studies. Included are the first nest or prey records for some Melanesian species. This book places the Australasian species in their regional and global context, reviews their population status and threats, provides new information on their ecology, and suggests what needs to be done in order to ensure the future of these magnificent birds."

An Uncertain Future: Australian Birdlife In Danger

Geoffrey Maslen

2017

"In An Uncertain Future, Geoffrey Maslen takes us into the fascinating lives of Australian birds, showing us how intelligent they are, the significant threats they face due to disappearing habitats and climate change and how essential these angels of the air are to our own survival. Drawing on numerous interviews with researchers and biologists studying birdlife in Australia and dozens of scientific reports from around the world, Maslen reveals a dire picture of what plummeting bird populations means for humanity."

Where Song Began: Australia's Birds and How They Changed the World

Tim Low

2016

This book was first published in Australia in 2014.

"This eye-opening book tells the dynamic but little-known story of how Australia provided the world with songbirds and parrots, among other bird groups, why Australian birds wield surprising ecological power, how Australia became a major evolutionary center, and why scientific biases have hindered recognition of these discoveries. From violent, swooping magpies to tool-making cockatoos, Australia's birds are strikingly different from birds of other lands-often more intelligent and aggressive, often larger and longer-lived. Tim Low, a renowned biologist with a rare storytelling gift, here presents the amazing evolutionary history of Australia's birds. The story of the birds, it turns out, is inseparable from the story of the continent itself and also the people who inhabit it."

Australia's Fascinating Birds

Don Goodsir

4th edition

Brolga Publishing

2016

"Fascinating Australian Birds looks at both better-known and special interest birds. Many which are likely to be seen where Australians live and travel. It features beautiful full colour illustrations and handy facts about each bird's habitat, nesting habits and activities. Perfect as a gift, field guide or even for the coffee table."

Cranes, Herons and Storks of Australia

David Hollands

2016

"David Hollands has spent 16 years traversing Australia to find, study and photograph the 17 species which make up this book. His passion and enthusiasm for his subjects shine through in the text; lively, accurate, informative and beautifully written, not only about the birds but about the expeditions to find them. The book is richly illustrated with over 200 of the author's photographs."

A Natural History of Australian Parrots: A Tribute to William T. Cooper (1934–2015)

Joseph M. Forshaw

Nokomis Publications

2016

"Presented as a deluxe edition, this book is truly a combination of art and science presenting many previously unpublished Cooper drawings, sketches and paintings. Containing more than 300 artworks, it is fully cased in grey Ballantine cloth, with black blocking and marbled endpapers. The book is landscape format printed on fine quality satin art paper. This book adopts an entirely new approach with the integration of an updated technical text and an exciting visual record of the beauty, diversity and appeal of Australian parrots. It is a tribute to William (Bill) Cooper, and features numerous previously unpublished field sketches, preliminary drawings and spectacular paintings of parrots in their natural environment. No Australian artist has left such a wealth of scientifically accurate visual records of Australian parrots engaging in their daily activities, and now for the first time readers of this book can enjoy and appreciate this outstanding legacy."

Pigeons and Doves in Australia

Joseph M. Forshaw

CSIRO

2015

"From dense rainforests of north Queensland, where brilliantly plumaged Superb Fruit-Doves Ptilinopus superbusare heard more easily than seen, to cold, windswept heathlands of Tasmania, where Brush Bronzewings Phaps elegans are locally common, most regions of Australia are frequented by one or more species. For more than a century after arrival of the First Fleet, interest in these birds focused on the eating qualities of larger species. In addition to contributing to declines of local populations in some parts of Australia, excessive hunting brought about the extinction of two species on Lord Howe Island and another species on Norfolk Island. In Pigeons and Doves of Australia, Joseph Forshaw and William Cooper have summarised our current knowledge of all species, including those occurring on Christmas, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, and with superb artwork have given readers a visual appreciation of the birds in their natural habitats. Historical accounts of extinct species are also included. Detailed information on management practices for all species is presented, ensuring that Pigeons and Doves in Australia will become the standard reference work on these birds for ornithologists and aviculturists."

A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of Australia

Dean Ingwersen

2015

"This easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 bird species most commonly seen in Australia is perfect for resident and visitor alike. High quality photographs from one of Australia's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers climate, vegetation, biogeography and the key sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of Australia."

Bird Minds: Cognition and Behaviour of Australian Native Birds

Gisela Kaplan

2015

"In her comprehensive and carefully crafted book, Gisela Kaplan demonstrates how intelligent and emotional Australian birds can be. She describes complex behaviours such as grieving, deception, problem solving and the use of tools. Many Australian birds cooperate and defend each other, and exceptional ones go fishing by throwing breadcrumbs in the water, extract poisonous parts from prey and use tools to crack open eggshells and mussels. Kaplan brings together evidence of many such cognitive abilities, suggesting plausible reasons for their appearance in Australian birds. Bird Minds is the first attempt to shine a critical and scientific light on the cognitive behaviour of Australian land birds. In this fascinating volume, the author also presents recent changes in our understanding of the avian brain and links these to life histories and longevity."

Green Guide to Garden Birds of Australia

Peter Slater and Sally Elmer

2015

"This new title in New Holland's award-winning Green Guides series investigates the ever-popular subject of the birds in Australia's back yards. Identification spreads cover all the key species and families likely to occur in gardens across Australia, including many species of pigeons, parrots, cuckoos, fantails, butcherbirds and honeyeaters. Iconic birds such as Tawny Frogmouth, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and Laughing Kookaburra sit alongside less familiar visitors such as the Australian Owlet-nightjar, Pacific Baza, Weebill and Apostlebird. There are also sections covering introduced species, whether or not to feed garden birds, and the types of plant which supply the best cover for nesting and sources of nectar and berries for attracting birds into the garden."

Birds of Australia

Ken Stepnell

Reed New Holland

2015

"One of the first three titles in an exciting new series of concise field guides. This is the ultimate keep-in-your-pocket guide to Australian birds, measuring a mere 90 × 130 mm. It may be diminutive in size but it punches well above its weight in terms of usefulness, being packed with more than 300 images of all the species most likely to be encountered in Australia. For each of the 200+ main species accounts there is a photograph for identification and a brief written account listing key features, range and habitat, food and behaviour. There are also shorter ‘similar species‘ accounts for another 100+ species which include a photograph and brief description. The book covers all of the most common and widespread species likely to be encountered in Australia – from kookaburras to finches and ducks to parrots – along with some of the more spectacular scarce species to look out for such as Southern Cassowary, Malleefowl, Helmeted Honeyeater and Gouldian Finch."

Australian Predators of the Sky

Penny Olsen

2015

"This book begins with fascinating descriptions by award-winning natural history author Penny Olsen on the discovery and illustration of birds of prey in Australia, and their characteristics and ecology, followed by full-colour illustrations of each species by a variety of artists, accompanied by intriguing notes about the birds. 'Australian Predators of the Sky' comprises over 200 striking paintings, lithographs and engravings of all 34 Australian species-25 diurnal birds of prey such as eagles, hawks and falcons, and nine owls such as hawk-owls and barn-owls."

Birds of Australia: A Photographic Guide

Iain Campbell, Sam Woods, Nick Leseberg

2014

"Australia is home to a spectacular diversity of birdlife, from parrots and penguins to emus and vibrant passerines. Birds of Australia covers all 714 species of resident birds and regularly occurring migrants and features more than 1,100 stunning color photographs, including many photos of subspecies and plumage variations never before seen in a field guide. Detailed facing-page species accounts describe key identification features such as size, plumage, distribution, behavior, and voice. This one-of-a-kind guide also provides extensive habitat descriptions with a large number of accompanying photos. The text relies on the very latest IOC taxonomy and the distribution maps incorporate the most current mapping data, making this the most up-to-date guide to Australian birds."

Finding Australian Birds: A Field Guide to Birding Locations

Tim Dolby and Rohan Clarke

2014

"From the eastern rainforests to central deserts, Australia is home to some 900 species of birds. This book covers over 400 Australian bird watching sites conveniently grouped into the best birding areas, from one end of the country to the other. This includes areas such as Kakadu in the Top End and rocky gorges in the central deserts of the Northern Territory, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, rainforests distributed along the eastern Australian seaboard, some of the world's tallest forests in Tasmania, the Flinders Ranges and deserts along the iconic Strzelecki and Birdsville Tracks in South Australia, and the Mallee temperate woodlands and spectacular coastlines in both Victoria and south west Western Australia. Each chapter begins with a brief description of the location, followed by a section on where to find the birds, which describes specific birdwatching sites within the location's boundaries, and information on accommodation and facilities. The book also provides a comprehensive 'Bird Finding Guide', listing all of Australia's birds with details on their abundance and where exactly to see them."

Where Song Began: Australia's Birds and How They Changed the World

Tim Low

2014

"Tim Low has a rare gift for illuminating complex ideas in highly readable prose, and making of the whole a dynamic story. Here he brilliantly explains how our birds came to be so extraordinary, including the large role played by the foods they consume (birds, too, are what they eat), and by our climate, soil, fire, and Australia's legacy as a part of Gondwana. The story of its birds, it turns out, is inseparable from the story of Australia itself, and one that continues to unfold, so much having changed in the last decade about what we know of our ancient past. Where Song Began also shines a light on New Guinea as a biological region of Australia, as much a part of the continent as Tasmania. This is a work that goes far beyond the birds themselves to explore the relationships between Australia's birds and its people, and the ways in which scientific prejudice have hindered our understanding."

Glimpses of Australian Birdlife

Peter Slater and Sally Elmer with Raoul Slater

2014

"This beautifully photographed book captures the variety and brilliance of Australian birds in their natural habitat. Glimpses of Australian Birdlife by Sally Elmer and Peter Slater features stunning photos of small and large bush-birds and waterbirds, as well as a brief passage about how the photo was taken. The authors have spent many days travelling Australia to catch a glimpse of these birds, photographing them in flight, resting, hunting for prey and nesting. Short poems and haikus, by Peter Slater, accompany some of the images."

Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Australian Birds

Editor: Stephen T. Garnett, Donald C. Franklin

2014

"This is the first climate change adaptation plan produced for a national faunal group anywhere in the world. It outlines the nature of threats related to climate change for the Australian bird taxa most likely to be affected by climate change, and provides recommendations on what might be done to assist them and an approximate cost of doing so. It also features an analysis of how climate change will affect all Australian birds, explains why some species are likely to be more exposed or sensitive to it than others, and explores the theory and practice of conservation management under the realities of a changing climate."

The Naturalist in Australia

William Saville-Kent

Cambridge University Press

2014

"Educated at King's College, London, the naturalist and marine biologist William Saville-Kent (1845–1908) went on to work at the British Museum and in aquariums at Brighton, Manchester and Westminster. He spent many years in Australia as a fisheries expert, and during this time he made extensive surveys of the natural world. The present work, first published in 1897, was intended to give a non-scientific audience a glimpse of the fantastic array of wildlife in Australia. The author discusses the many varieties of birds, lizards, fish and other sea life, insects (an entire chapter is devoted to termites), and vegetation. He was also able to take advantage of the photographic technology of the time and include around fifty collotype images, which complement the many other illustrations of the plants and animals he writes about, providing a vivid overview of the natural world in late nineteenth-century Australia."

Best 100 Birdwatching Sites in Australia

Sue Taylor

2013

"Where can you see 400,000 breeding pairs of rockhopper penguins? Where is the best place in Australia to observe Yellow Chats? And where is the only place in Australia you can have a close encounter with nesting Lesser Noddies? Well-known birder and author of How Many Birds Is That?, Why Watch Birds? and John Gould's Extinct and Endangered Birds of Australia, Sue Taylor will make you want to pack your binoculars and hit the road, as she takes you on a tour of her top 100 Australian birdwatching sites: from suburban parks to remote off-shore islands."

Birding Australia: A Directory For Birders

Lloyd Nielsen

2013

"Updated annually, "Birding Australia" is a directory offering the most comprehensive and up-to-date snapshot of birds and birding services across Australia. Good birding areas, key species, best time to visit each region, suggested itineraries, regional maps, local birding contacts, birding tours and guides (including pelagic), accommodation and essential information such as climate, travel, driving in the outback, health and safety tips. Birding Australia set the trend when first published in 2002 and continues to do so, offering birders a wealth of relevant information at their fingertips. The International Edition contains essential information for birders visiting Australia for the first time. The Australian Edition contains additional sections on the island territories: Lord Howe, Norfolk, Macquarie, Heard, Christmas, Cocos Keeling, Torres Strait, plus Ashmore Reef."

Wildlife of Australia

Iain Campbell and Sam Woods

Princeton University Press

2013

"Ideal for the nature-loving traveler, Wildlife of Australia is a handy photographic pocket guide to the most widely seen birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and habitats of Australia. The guide features more than 400 stunning color photographs, and coverage includes 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs likely to be encountered in Australia's major tourist destinations. Accessible species accounts are useful for both general travelers and serious naturalists, and the invaluable habitat section describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife. Animal species with similar features are placed on the same plates in order to aid identification."

Australian Bird Names: A Complete Guide

Ian Fraser and Jeannie Gray

2013

"Australian Bird Names is aimed at anyone with an interest in birds, words, or the history of Australian biology and bird-watching. It discusses common and scientific names of every Australian bird, to tease out the meanings, which may be useful, useless or downright misleading! The authors examine every species: its often many-and-varied common names, its full scientific name, with derivation, translation and a guide to pronunciation. Stories behind the name are included, as well as relevant aspects of biology, conservation and history. Original descriptions, translated by the authors, have been sourced for many species."

Living Waters: Ecology of Animals in Swamps, Rivers, Lakes and Dams

Nick Romanowski

2013

"Wetlands are often seen as the ultimate symbol of beauty and tranquillity, their clear waters sheltering mysterious animals in a world where change is gentle and slow, from dragonflies skimming above their own reflections to the fishes glimpsed briefly below. Yet Australian wetlands are among the most varied and changeable habitats found anywhere, and the many creatures that live out their lives in and around water are superbly adapted to some of the most unpredictable ecosystems in the world. This book follows the diverse common themes and patterns that link inland waters from Tasmania to the tropics. It shows how cycles of change, the ways that different wetland animals travel through and between wetlands, and the interactions of the animals themselves create an ever-changing ecological kaleidoscope. Drawing on what is known of the biology, ecology and even the genetics of many of the most abundant, widespread and successful groups of animals, the author shows similarities to wetlands in other parts of the world, as well as some of the more extreme environments and specialised animals that are unique to this continent. Far more than a natural history, Living Waters explains the underlying forces that drive ecological change and movement in Australian wetlands, from the particular needs and habits of some specialised waterbirds to swarms of dragonflies and damselflies that may flourish for a few months before disappearing for years, and fishes found gasping in drying pools far from the nearest permanent water just hours after a desert deluge."

Flocks of Colour

Penny Olsen

National Library of Australia

2013

"What name could be a more apt description of Australia than 'The Land of Parrots', a name inspired by late sixteenth-century maps showing a southern region labelled 'Psittacorum regio'? This beautiful book takes a close look at parrots in Australia, from the first published illustration of an Australian parrot - a Rainbow Lorikeet collected live on Cook's 1770 voyage - to William T. Cooper's twentieth-century watercolour of the elusive Night Parrot. With introductory essays by ornithologist Penny Olsen, Flocks of Colour covers two and a quarter centuries of discovery and illustration of Australia's avifauna. It features a rich portfolio of images of all the Australian parrots, by various artists including John Gould, Edward Lear, Neville W. Cayley and William T. Cooper, selected from the collections of the National Library of Australia."

The Naturalist in Australia

William Saville-Kent

Cambridge University Press

2013

Originally published in 1897

"Educated at King's College, London, the naturalist and marine biologist William Saville-Kent (1845–1908) went on to work at the British Museum and in aquariums at Brighton, Manchester and Westminster. He spent many years in Australia as a fisheries expert, and during this time he made extensive surveys of the natural world. The present work, first published in 1897, was intended to give a non-scientific audience a glimpse of the fantastic array of wildlife in Australia. The author discusses the many varieties of birds, lizards, fish and other sea life, insects (an entire chapter is devoted to termites), and vegetation. He was also able to take advantage of the photographic technology of the time and include around fifty collotype images, which complement the many other illustrations of the plants and animals he writes about, providing a vivid overview of the natural world in late nineteenth-century Australia."

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia

Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight

9th Edition

2012

"The definitive and most respected guide to Australian bird identification, The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia is a must for both experts and amateurs. First published in 1980, Graham Pizzey's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia combines a depth and breadth of knowledge with beautiful, full-colour illustrations by Frank Knight. Comprehensive and fully updated, this 9th edition of The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia is more user-friendly than ever before. Species entries have been re-ordered and updated to reflect the new taxonomy, and The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia has been expanded to include eighteen new species as well as a new section on vagrant species. It also features new information on bird family groups, more than 750 distribution maps based on the most recent bird atlas data, as well as a new Quick Find Index, to assist with quick identification of birds in the field."

Birds of Australia

Ken Simpson and Nicholas Day

Christopher Helm / Bloomsbury

8th edition

2012

" This is the completely revised eighth edition of Australia's best-selling field guide, with close to 600,000 copies sold. In 132 color plates of remarkable beauty and precision, Nicolas Day captures the details of all 780 of Australia's birds. Succinct text by Ken Simpson and other experts gives key points of identification for every species, as well as information about the birds' abundance and patterns of movement. Detailed color distribution maps accompany the species text. This updated edition includes three replacement plates, eleven additional rare species, taxonomic revisions, and additional color as well as black-and-white illustrations. "The Vagrant Bird Bulletin" contains illustrations and a map for all rare species. A useful breeding summary for every species gives immediate information regarding their annual breeding cycles. All readers, whether beginning or experienced birdwatchers, ornithologists, students, or travelers, will find "Birds of Australia" an unrivaled companion for discovering the unique birdlife of this remarkable continent."

Birds of Prey of Australia: Field Guide

Stephen Debus

2nd edition

2012

"Birds of Prey of Australia is an illustrated field guide to diurnal raptors, a bird group that many people find among the most difficult birds to identify. Raptors are popular and iconic birds, and important ecologically as well as in legislation, with some species listed as threatened. Birds of Prey of Australia will enable people to more easily identify them. It also provides a brief overview of the biology of raptors and an indication of the current state of knowledge on them. Birds of Prey of Australia has been completely revised and updated, with 15 years of new data, a section on difficult species-pairs (split-images providing direct contrast), and rearranged in modern field-guide format, making it easy to use and enabling rapid identification of 'difficult' raptors."

Grassfinches in Australia

Joseph M Forshaw and Mark Shephard

2012

"After a lapse of almost half a century since publication of Klaus Immelmann's eminent work on finches, based on extensive field studies, the time has come for a new examination of Australian grassfinches. In Grassfinches in Australia, Joseph Forshaw, Mark Shephard and Anthony Pridham have summarised our present knowledge of each species, and have given readers a visual appreciation of the birds in their natural habitats and in aviculture. The resulting combination of superb artwork and scientifically accurate text ensures that this volume will become the standard reference work on Australian grassfinches. In addition to enabling aviculturists to know more about these finches in the wild as a guide to their own husbandry techniques, detailed information on current management practices for all species in captivity is provided. The book also includes colour plates depicting some of the more common mutations held in Australian and overseas collections."

Waders: The Shorebirds of Australia

David Hollands and Clive Minton

2012

"Waders! Few people can fail to be inspired and fascinated by them. Many make huge and hazardous migrations to and from distant parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Many take on colourful plumage for breeding, while others retain their full beauty throughout the year. The massed throng of long-legged birds on the rising tide! The noisy piping and flashy brilliance of a flight of oystercatchers! The eerie wails and cries of stone-curlews in the night! These are the sights and sounds of waders – as dramatic as any in the bird world. Where do they come from? Where do they nest? How do we recognise them? Waders: The Shorebirds of Australia provides a comprehensive account of all the 80 Australian species. Waders: The Shorebirds of Australia is written in an engaging, personal style with over 300 wonderful photographs."

Fascinating Australian Birds

Don Goodsir, Tony Oliver, Nicola Oram

2012

"This is an illustrated field guide to the better-known and special interest birds which you are likely to see when you visit Australia. It features beautiful full colour illustrations and handy facts about each bird's habitat, nesting habits and activities."

John Gould's Extinct and Endangered Birds

Sue Taylor

2012

"In 1838, John Gould, the father of Australian ornithology, visited Australia with the intention of gathering material for his great work on Australian birds. In the resulting publication, The Birds of Australia: In Seven Volumes (1848), and the accompanying Supplement (1869), Gould named, for the first time, no fewer than 32 Australian bird species. Gould's words about the Norfolk Island Kaka were prophetic – the last bird of its kind died in a cage in London in 1851. Since then, a number of other species illustrated in The Birds of Australia have become extinct and others are now facing extinction. John Gould's Extinct and Endangered Birds of Australia features 59 plates of birds from Gould's eight-volume work, birds that today are threatened or that no longer exist. Featuring exquisite full-colour lithographs reproduced from the National Library of Australia's copy of The Birds of Australia, John Gould's Extinct and Endangered Birds gives an insight into the history of each bird's European discovery, as well as its subsequent fortunes or misfortunes."

Complete Guide to Finding the Birds of Australia

Richard Thomas, Sarah Thomas, David Andrew and Alan McBride

2nd edition

2011

"First published in 1994, The Complete Guide to Finding the Birds of Australia was the first ever book of its type in Australia – a complete guide to locating every resident bird species in Australia, plus supplementary information on where to find rarities, migratory species and logistical information. This fully revised second edition expands on the best-selling appeal of the first, describing the best-known sites for all of Australia's endemic birds, plus vagrants and regular migrants such as seabirds and shorebirds. It covers all states and territories, and is the first guide to include all of Australia's island and external territories. A comprehensive Bird Finder Guide details site information on all Australian bird species, and the authors provide valuable travel advice, including transport, climate and accommodation. Profusely illustrated with colour photographs of interesting, unique or unusual Australian birds, this book is a must-have for all birdwatchers living in Australia or visiting from overseas."

Photographic Field Guide: Birds of Australia

Jim Flegg

2011

"This highly successful book features all 840 bird species that live on or visit the Australian continent. Following a brief introduction about bird biology, habitats and bird families, the main part of the book comprises species entries. Each species is depicted in a photograph; sometimes there are two where male and female vary or breeding plumage is different. A map shows each species' distribution in and around Australia, and the text gives details of size, colour, shape, behaviour, calls and habitat. This second edition has updated maps, general text information and common and Latin names. In addition, several photographs have been replaced with better ones."

Birding Australia: A Directory For Birders

Lloyd Nielsen

2011

"This comprehensive directory is designed for birders visiting Australia for the first time. Good birding areas (the majority within reach of main population centres and the chance of seeing the special birds of the area), key species, best time to visit, suggested itineraries, regional maps, birding tours and guides (including pelagic), local contacts, birding clubs, accommodation, climate, travel, driving in the outback, relevant websites, plus essential health and safety tips."

Birding Australia: A Directory For Birders

Lloyd Nielsen

2011

"This comprehensive directory for birders lists good birding areas, key species, best time to visit, suggested itineraries, Australian Island Territories, regional maps, birding tours and guides (including pelagic), local contacts, birding clubs, accommodation, climate, travel, driving in the outback, relevant websites, plus essential health and safety tips."

Field Guide To The Birds of Australia

Ken Simpson & Nicolas Day

8th edition

2010

"Since it was first published in 1984, Simpson & Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia has been one of the most - if not the most - respected bird guide in the country. It has sold over 500 000 copies. The guide contains 132 superb full-colour plates showing all Australian bird species; key points of identification using the latest classification system; distribution maps for all species; over 900 black and white line illustrations; breeding information; a vagrant bird bulletin; a core library list; and easy-to-use indexes. This eighth edition has been revised and updated, including some beautiful new plates."

Birds of Australia

Ken Simpson & Nicolas Day

Princeton University Press

8th edition

2010

"This is the completely revised eighth edition of Australia's best-selling field guide, with close to 600,000 copies sold. In 132 color plates of remarkable beauty and precision, Nicolas Day captures the details of all 780 of Australia's birds. Succinct text by Ken Simpson and other experts gives key points of identification for every species, as well as information about the birds' abundance and patterns of movement. Detailed color distribution maps accompany the species text. This updated edition includes three replacement plates, eleven additional rare species, taxonomic revisions, and additional color as well as black-and-white illustrations. The Vagrant Bird Bulletin contains illustrations and a map for all rare species. A useful breeding summary for every species gives immediate information regarding their annual breeding cycles. All readers, whether beginning or experienced birdwatchers, ornithologists, students, or travelers, will find Birds of Australia an unrivaled companion for discovering the unique birdlife of this remarkable continent."

Waterbirds Of Australian

Don Hadden

2010

"Australia supports a fascinating variety of waterbirds, from the Jabiru (more properly known as the Black-necked Stork) to two native hens. Amongst the shorebirds are about 30 migratory waders. There are ibis and spoonbills, extremely secretive and discreetly plumaged crakes and rails, and 23 species of the Ardeidae family of herons, egrets, bitterns and night-herons. All have been captured in their natural environment by nature photographer Don Hadden, following on from his Birds of Australia and Birds of the Outback."

Birds of the Outback

Don Hadden

2010

"The beauty of these birds, such as the tiny delicate Emuwren that lives exclusively among Spinifex clumps, the unmistakable majestic Wedge-tailed Eagle and the elusive Chestnut-breasted Whiteface of the gibber plains of South Australia, are all captured in their natural environments by peripatetic nature photographer Don Hadden."

Australian Bustard

Mark Ziembicki

2010

"Based on the first major study of the species, the author explores the bustard's ecology and behaviour, its drastic decline since European settlement, and the conservation issues affecting it and its environment. Colour photographs of juvenile and adult birds complement the text as well as showcase particular behaviours, such as the spectacular display routines of males when mating, which is unique among Australian birds."

The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds

Peter Slater, Pat Slater, Raoul Slater

2009

"This is a new and updated version of the very popular Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds and includes 64 new or extensively revised colour plates, incorporating all the new birds observed in Australia, including Tasmania and islands and territories since 1986. Also included is a re-organisation of the guide into broad habitats - seabirds, shore birds, inland water birds and bush birds; updated common and scientific names, revised maps, and a new visual index to aid beginners in finding the most appropriate pages in the guide."

Boom and Bust: Bird Stories for a Dry Country

Libby Robin, Rob Heinshohn and Leo Joseph

2009

"In Boom and Bust, the authors draw on the natural history of Australia's charismatic birds to explore the relations between fauna, people and environment. They consider changing ideas about deserts and how these have helped to understand birds and their behaviour in this driest of continents. The book describes the responses of animals and plants to environmental variability and stress. It is also a cultural concept, capturing the patterns of change wrought by humans in Australia, where landscapes began to become cultural about 55,000 years ago as ecosystems responded to Aboriginal management. In 1788, the British settlement brought, almost simultaneously, both agricultural and industrial revolutions to a land previously managed by fire for hunting. How have birds responded to this second dramatic invasion?"Boom and Bust" is also a tool for understanding global change."

The Owls of Australia: A Field Guide to Australian Night Birds

Stephen Debus

Photographs: David Hollands

Envirobook

2009

"This book summarises the features and biology of Australian nocturnal birds, which include some of the most impressive birds found in this region. The owls, and their look-alikes, the frogmouths, feature in this handy and fully illustrated book, which has been written for ordinary bird-lovers, naturalists, and ornithologists. The guide is particularly useful because of the difficulty of identifying some closely similar owl or frogmouth species. Volume 4 of the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, from which the text derives, in a rewritten form, was the first exhaustive review of Australian owls, and contains high-quality colour illustrations of all plumages, including birds in flight. Eight of the colour plates found in the Handbook are reproduced in The Owls of Australia. There are profiles of the biology and behaviour of each species."

The Field Guide to Birds of Australia

Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight

8th edition

2008

"The definitive and most respected guide to Australian bird identification. First published in 1980 Graham Pizzey's field guide combines a depth and breadth of knowledge with beautiful full-colour illustrations by Frank Knight. This 8th edition was updated and revised by scientific editor Peter Menkhorst and includes 46 newly recorded or recently described species plus essential information on 820 species of birds with 250 full-colour plates including more than 2500 individual portraits specially painted for this book and 750 distribution maps. Field marks are highlighted in the text to help birdwatchers distinguish between similar species and full details of the nesting habits voice characteristics habitats and range for every species make this a must for both experts and amateurs."

Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds

Les Christidis and Walter E. Boles

2008

"Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds lists all those species of birds that have been recorded from the Australian mainland, Tasmania, island territories and surrounding waters. Based on the authors original book, The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories, it includes any new species for which records have been accepted by the Records Appraisal Committee of Birds Australia. It also includes all extant and recently extinct (post-1800) native species, as well as new species, accepted vagrants and introduced species that have become established and continue to survive in the wild.The book provides brief explanations for taxonomic changes in the literature and for those adopted within it, including the citations for such work. Its geographical coverage includes Christmas Island, Cocos-Keeling Islands, Heard Island, Lord Howe Island, Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island and the islands of Torres Strait, and also Ashmore Reef, owing to the number of vagrant species that have recently been reported from there. It also includes vagrants from the Australian Antarctic Territory that have not been recorded elsewhere in Australia or its territories; incorporates extensive systematic and taxonomic changes since 1994; and, includes recently extinct native species as well as established introduced species."

A Wild Australia Guide: Birds

Lynne Adcocks and Steve Parish

2008

"This great southern continent has been separated from the rest of the world for thousands of years. In that time, its flora and fauna have evolved uniquely. Many of Australia's bird species are found nowhere else on the planet, while others are regular visitors from beyond its shores. Showcasing many of these beautiful residents and visitors alike, this practical field guide introduces you to the diversity of colours, forms and behaviours that constitute Australia's prolific bird life. Perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to put a name to, or simply know a little more about these feathered creatures, this Wild Australia Guide is packed with high-quality photographs and concise information."

Birds of Australia

Don Hadden

2008

"Australian birds are unique. This book features photographs that showcase the birds in intimate environments - from sea and shore birds to night birds, honeyeaters and finches. It features over 100 birds in their native habitats."

Birds of Australia

Ian Rohr

2008

"The birds of Australia make their homes in different habitats, from the coast to the dry inland. How many have you seen? This book full of beautiful pictures will introduce you to a variety of birds and includes: a full-colour map showing the different bird habitats; colourful photographs and illustrations of the birds; text full of interesting and fun information; activities to test your knowledge; and an index and a list of websites where you can find more information."

Owls, Frogmouths and Nightjars of Australia

David Hollands

2008

"This is the most comprehensive book ever published on all seventeen Owls, Nightjars and Frogmouths of Australia. The author has spent over twenty years observing and photographing them to produce an intimate and evocative picture of the lives of these mysterious birds. The book is richly illustrated with over 200 of the author's photographs, taken in the wild and showing all aspects of the birds' lives."

Birds of Australia and its Island Territories: A Checklist

Compiles by: Phil Gregory

2008

A checklist of Australian birds.

Australian Guide To Birds

Bob Winters

2008

An introductory book that covers around 180 species.

Birding Australia: A Directory For Birders

Lloyd Nielsen

2008

Shorebirds of Australia

Andrew Geering, Lindsay Agnew and Sandra Harding

2007

"Shorebirds of Australia brings together the latest information about the evolutionary history, taxonomy, migration and breeding and feeding ecology of shorebirds found in Australia. Complete with colour photographs and up-to-date distribution maps, it provides descriptions and tips to assist with the identification of all species of shorebird in Australia, which comprise about 10 per cent of Australia's total avifauna. In addition to information about their habitats, their most significant threats are mentioned, as well as actions in place to help conserve these birds. The book is a valuable reference for a broad range of people, from the amateur birdwatcher and field naturalist to professional ornithologists and land managers entrusted with the responsibility of managing Australia's natural resources, especially its wetlands and coastal regions."

Brolga Country: Travels In Wild Australia

Mitch Reardon

2007

"On assignment in outback Australia, wildlife photographer and writer Mitch Reardon encounters a rancher whose infectious desire to protect the habitat of Australia's only native crane, the Brolga, inspires him to go on a journey to find these magnificent birds. Brolga Country records Reardon's progress through some of Australia's wildest and most remote country, from the wilderness of Cape York Peninsula where the sprawling rivers, billabongs, lakes and swamps of Lakefield National Park support vast assemblages of wetland birds to Bool Lagoon in South Australia, the last stronghold of the southern Brolgas."

Handbook of Australian, New Zealand, and Antarctic Birds: Volume 7: Boatbill to Starlings

Editor: P. J. Higgins, J.M. Peter, S.J. Cowling

Oxford University Press

2006

"The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antartic Birds is one of the world's major ornithological projects. This final volume, published in 2 parts, is the culmination of almost two decades of dedication by the editors, artists and volunteers who have now realised the vision to publish a comprehensive summary of our knowledge of all the known bird species that have been recorded in Australia, New Zealand and Antartica."

This volume (in 2 parts) covers 168 species, including the flycatchers, currawongs, riflebirds, ravens, bowerbirds, grass finches, swallows and white-eyes."

CSIRO List of Australian Vertebrates: A Reference with Conservation Status

Mark Clayton, John C. Wombey, Ian J. Mason, R. Terry Chesser, Alice Wells

2006

"This completely updated edition gives the latest listings on conservation status for all known Australian amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. It indicates each species' status on a state-by-state basis and also gives details for subspecies. Additionally, it provides a 'one-stop-shop' listing of the correct species names for all Australian vertebrates. It will be an indispensable reference tool and guide for all persons working with and publishing on Australia's vertebrate fauna, particularly those dealing in legal matters and environmental inventory and management programs."

The Field Guide to Birds of Australia

Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight

7th edition

2005

"This revised edition of the classic field guide to Australian birds represents the most up-to-date, comprehensive and stunningly illustrated handbook available. Features include: updated essential information on 778 species of birds; 250 full-color plates (many revised especially for this edition), with more than 2,500 individual portraits; field marks highlighted in the text and illustrations to help birdwatchers distinguish between similar species; full details of breeding and nesting habits, voice characteristics, habitats and range of each species; and more than 700 distribution maps."

Know Your Birds: Australia's Most Common Birds

Louise Egerton

2005

"Ok, so you can tell a pigeon from a seagull but what about a Magpie from a Currawong? Or a native Noisy Miner from an introduced Indian or Common Myna? There are over 750 species of birds in Australia, so it's not surprising that most of us give up trying to know them. Know Your Birds narrows the field to Australia's best known birds, those you are most likely to see around our towns and cities. Between the pages of this book - no matter where you live in Australia - you will find a great many familiar birds. Each of the 80 entries features a photographic portrait of a well-known bird. From these alone you will be able to identify most of the birds that you see. The accompanying text is all about how these birds live: their foibles, habits, social lives and domestic arrangements."

Herons, Egrets and Bitterns: Their Biology and Conservation in Australia

Neil McKilligan

2005

An account of the origins, classification and biology of the Herons, Egrets and Bitterns of Australia. Each of the 14 Australian species is describe with information including their distribution and movements, feeding, breeding, population dynamics and conservation.

Birds of South-Eastern Australia

Alan Reid

Illustrations: Susan McInnes

2005

A set of 7 books. Each book is approximately 100 page and covers the birds of a specific habitat range. This is a revised edition of a set of books originally published by the Gould League in the 1970/1980s. The books in the set are:

1. Urban Areas
2. The Ranges
3. Oceans, Bays and Beaches
4. Inland Waters
5. Dry Country
6. Rare
7. Farmlands

The Big Twitch: One Man, One Continent, a Race Against Time: A True Story About Birdwatching

Sean Dooley

2005

"This work shows one man's quest to realise a boyhood dream and break a national record. It is an outrageously funny combination of travelogue, confessional, and major ornithological achievement! Sean Dooley seems like a well adjusted, functioning member of society...but beneath the respectable veneer he harbours a dark secret: he is a hard-core birdwatcher! Taking a year off to try and break the Australian record - Sean has to see more than 700 birds in 12 months. Travelling the length and breadth of the continent, he stops at nothing in search of this birdwatching Holy Grail, blowing his inheritance, his career, not to mention any chance he has of finding a girlfriend. Part confessional, part travelogue, this is a true story about obsession, seeking the meaning of life, and searching for the elusive Grey Falcon."

Birds of Australia

Ken Simpson & Nicolas Day

7th edition

2004

"This is the seventh edition of the most comprehensive one-volume book of identification for Australian birds. Completely revised with all new maps, text and many new or revised colour plates, this guide is a must for all birdwatchers, students and travellers."

Field Guide To The Birds of Australia

Ken Simpson and Nicholas Day

Christopher Helm

7th edition

2004

"Seventh edition of this standard reference for the birds of Australia. There are 20 new colour plates, and a new distribution map for each species showing subspecies distribution where appropriate. Over 1000 black and white illustrations, many new or redrawn , illustrate behaviours, flight silhouettes, detailed comparisons between related species and other useful identification pointers. Texts have all been considered, revised, rewritten and rearranged to offer better sequencing and standardisation."

Field Guide To The Birds of Australia

Ken Simpson & Nicolas Day

Princeton University Press

7th edition

2004

"This is the completely revised seventh edition of Australia's best field guide, with more than 500,000 copies sold over its lifetime. In 132 colour plates of remarkable beauty and precision, Nicolas Day has captured the details of all of Australia's 760 birds. Succinct text by Ken Simpson and other experts gives key points of identification, as well as information about the birds' abundance and patterns of movement. Every species text is accompanied by a detailed map showing the boundaries of breeding and non-breeding populations. This updated edition includes sixteen new or revised colour plates, all new distribution maps with sub-species shown, and more than 900 black-and-white illustrations. The Vagrant Bird Bulletin has been extended to include 74 species, while a useful breeding summary for every species gives immediate information regarding their annual breeding cycle. All readers, whether beginners or experienced birdwatchers, ornithologists, students or travellers, will find Simpson and Day's "Birds of Australia" an unrivalled companion to discovering the unique birdlife of this remarkable continent."

The New Atlas of Australian Birds

Geoff Barrett, Andrew Silcocks, Simon Barry, Ross Cunningham and Rory Poulter

2004

"The culmination of the largest continent-wide survey of birds in the world, The New Atlas of Australian Birds documents the seasonal distribution and breeding maps for over 650 bird species. Change maps are also presented for 250 species, identifying those that are more common or less common since the first Atlas of Australian Birds was completed 20 years ago."

Field Guide To Australian Birds

Michael Morcombe

2nd revised edition

2004

"This is the most comprehensive field guide to Australian birds published. Simple, clear design links text and paintings; unique system of organisation of information; includes breeding section; maps define variances in ranges and subspecies."

Field Guide To Australian Birds: Compact Edition

Michael Morcombe

2nd revised edition

2004

"This slimline, compact edition contains the same information on mainland and Tasmanian birds as his best-selling handbook, the Field Guide to Australian Birds. Features include plastic jacket, QuickFind system of colour tags and Quick Index ensure durability and ease of use in the field."

Handbook of Australian, New Zealand, and Antarctic Birds: Volume 6: Pardlotes to Shrike-thrushes

Editor: P. J. Higgins and J.M. Peter

Oxford University Press

2003

"This volume provides detailed descriptions of 107 species, including the pardalotes, gerygones and thornbills, the robins, babblers, wedgebills and quail-thrushes, in addition to the monarchs, flycatchers and fantails. Forty-three colour plates by renowned bird artists such as Peter Marsack and Peter Slater depict all of these species of bird in fine detail, showing those small differentiations in plumage which may be used to determine accurately the age and sex of individual birds."

Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of Australia

David Hollands

2nd edition

2003

"Swift, sleek, predatory and breathtakingly beautiful in action, birds of prey have always had a fascination for man. In Eagles Hawks and Falcons of Australia, David Hollands has achieved his goal of finding studying and photographing all twenty-four diurnal birds of prey in Australia. This comprehensive and authoritative work is divided into three sections: the essays – written to capture the spirit of each bird as well as to present the ornithological facts; the field guide – designed to summarize the facts likely to be used in the field, including many new observations previously unpublished; the color plates – over one hundred and fifty superb photographs depicting each species in a dramatic and original format, taken both at the next and in flight. This magnificent book is essential reading for all raptor enthusiasts and for every serious ornithologist. For this second edition of Eagles Hawks and Falcons of Australia, David Hollands has revised the whole text and made additions to several chapters, based on recent field expeditions. The color sections have been expanded to make room for a number of new photographs."

Australian Birds Their Nests and Eggs

Gordon Beruldsen

G & E beruldsen

2003

A guide to the nests and eggs of those Australian birds that are known to breed in Australia and on offshore islands.

Photographic Field Guide: Birds of Australia

Jim Flegg

2002

"This is a bird-identification guide with a difference. Instead of using colour plates of paintings to identify the species, it features photographs, covering all 840 bird species that live or visit the Australian continent. Following a brief introduction about bird biology, habitats and bird families, the main part of the book comprises species entries. Each species is depicted in a photograph, or two where male and female vary or breeding plumage is different. A map shows each species' distribution in and around Australia, and the text gives details of size, colour, shape, behaviour, calls and habitat. The at-a-glance symbols at the end of each entry indicate major habitat types."

Australian Parrots

Joseph M. Forshaw and William T. Cooper

3rd edition

2002

"A comprehensive account of Australia's parrot, lorikeet and cockatoo species in the wild and in captivity; this is regarded as the bible on Australia's parrot species."

Seabird Atlas of South-eastern Australian Waters

Tim A. Reid, Mark A. Hindell, David W. Eades and Mike Newman

Royal Australian Ornithologists Union

2002

"An atlas showing the distribution of 85 species and subspecies of pelagic and other seabirds in waters from southern New South Wales, south to waters well beyond Tasmania (48°S) and west to south-eastern South Australia, including Bass Strait. Also included is a helpful introduction to the geography of the region such as rises and troughs in the ocean floor and the locations and timing of different ocean currents, as well as a discussion of the contribution of the atlas to seabird biology, and potential uses of the Seabird Atlas Database and its implications for management of the marine ecosystem in south-eastern Australia and beyond."

Handbook of Australian, New Zealand, and Antarctic Birds: Volume 5: Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats

Editor: P. J. Higgins, J.M. Peter, W.K. Steele

Oxford University Press

2001

"HANZAB is one of the world's major ornithological projects. The first four volumes have attracted several awards, critical praise and an international market. Volume 5 covers 118 species: kingbirds and tyrant-flycatchers; New Zealand wrens; pittas; lyrebirds; scrub-birds; Australian tree-creepers; Australasian wrens (fairy-wrens, grasswrens, and emu-wrens); honeyeaters and chats."

Where to Find Birds in Australia

John Bransbury

2001

"The only fully comprehensive site guide for Australia. Divided into chapters covering each of the 8 states, it is packed with information on routes, access, permits, accommodation, best time to visit, plantlife and, of course, birds. It is illustrated with detailed maps for every locality plus many colour photographs. It is indispensable."

The Flight of the Emu: A Hundred Years of Australian Ornithology 1901-2001

Libby Robin

2001

"The Flight of the Emu tells the story of Australian birding in the twentieth century. The Emu is the journal of the former Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union, now known as Birds Australia. In this engrossing book, Libby Robin describes the achievements and the increasing importance of ornithology in Australia–both amateur and professional–over the past hundred years. From Bass Strait to the Kimberley, collectors have searched for and identified hundreds of species of Australian birds. This is a discipline in which exceptional amateur contributions have helped to shape science. Libby Robin explores the tensions between amateur and professional ornithologists, and discusses issues of conservation and environmental management, scientific collecting, smuggling and bird protection. She tells stories from campouts, expeditions and congresses derived from oral history, letters and ‘reading between the lines' of published reports. The search for the Night Parrot, the protection of the Lyrebird, the identification of the Noisy Scrub-bird, have all involved enthusiastic bird lovers as well as scientists. Ornithological research takes place in museums, universities, government agencies, community groups and the CSIRO. Bird-banding has introduced many people to the passion of ornithology, as well as providing a method of valuable data-collection about birds. The Flight of the Emu also details international scientific expeditions and the influences of Australian birds on international debates."

How Many Birds is That?: From the Forty Spotted Pardalote on Bruny Island to the White-tailed Tropicbird on Cape York

Sue Taylor

2001

"This is a humorous and informative account of the author's quest to notch up sightings of 600 not-so-common Australian birds. A so-called 'twitcher', Sue Taylor is a bird lover who will go to any lengths and travel any distance to achieve her goal. Here, she documents - in a light and chatty style, and accompanied by many photographs - the trips, the birds, the Australian landscape, her frustrations and her excitement."

Birds of Prey of Australia: Field Guide to Australian Raptors

Stephen Debus

2001

Reprint of 1998 edition. 150 pages with colour and b/w illustrations.