Masked Lapwings
These odd-looking birds are large (35 - 39 cm) plovers. Habitats are varied, but they favour sites with short grass, often near water. You will see or hear them almost every day in much of Australia. In Canada our closest equivalent is probably the Killdeer.
These odd-looking birds are large (35 - 39 cm) plovers. Habitats are varied, but they favour sites with short grass, often near water. You will see or hear them almost every day in much of Australia. In Canada our closest equivalent is probably the Killdeer.
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Bush Stone-Curlew
Bush Stone-Curlews are even larger (55 - 60cm) ground nesters. They are secretive, well-camouflaged birds which though large are hard to see. They will often freeze motionless or skulk away slowly. At night their eerie wailing, mournful and spine-chilling calls are one of the most characteristic sounds of the bush, carrying far across the countryside. The two on the right were seen in an old cemetery on the outskirts of Cairns and were barely visible in the strong light and shade against the weathered tombstones.
Bush Stone-Curlews are even larger (55 - 60cm) ground nesters. They are secretive, well-camouflaged birds which though large are hard to see. They will often freeze motionless or skulk away slowly. At night their eerie wailing, mournful and spine-chilling calls are one of the most characteristic sounds of the bush, carrying far across the countryside. The two on the right were seen in an old cemetery on the outskirts of Cairns and were barely visible in the strong light and shade against the weathered tombstones.
Beach Stone-Curlew
Beach Stone-Curlews are confined to the marine tidal zone of Australia's northern beaches. Nests are on the ground, on sandy or stony beaches, whether sheltered or exposed to ocean breakers. Like the Bush Stone-Curlews, their legs bend 'backwards'.
(Move mouse over images below to see captions or enlarge photos).
Beach Stone-Curlews are confined to the marine tidal zone of Australia's northern beaches. Nests are on the ground, on sandy or stony beaches, whether sheltered or exposed to ocean breakers. Like the Bush Stone-Curlews, their legs bend 'backwards'.
(Move mouse over images below to see captions or enlarge photos).
Tawny Frogmouth (left) widespread and Papuan Frogmouth (right) tropical rainforest only
Frogmouths are among the strangest-looking of Australia's birds. Nocturnal, they can sometimes be seen roosting in daytime. The birds are superbly camouflaged, looking like old weathered wood or bark. If disturbed during the day, they will adopt a 'frozen' attitude, beak uplifted to resemble the end of a branch, eyes narrowed to slits, but carefully watching the intruder, like the bird on the right. She is sitting on a nest, and a chick is barely visible just below her neck on the left.
Frogmouths are among the strangest-looking of Australia's birds. Nocturnal, they can sometimes be seen roosting in daytime. The birds are superbly camouflaged, looking like old weathered wood or bark. If disturbed during the day, they will adopt a 'frozen' attitude, beak uplifted to resemble the end of a branch, eyes narrowed to slits, but carefully watching the intruder, like the bird on the right. She is sitting on a nest, and a chick is barely visible just below her neck on the left.
Southern Cassowary
This very rare bird of Australia's tropical rainforest is flightless and massively built. They stand up to 1.75 metres tall! Females are larger than males and both sport a tall spongy casque on their heads, coarse floppy dark blue-black feathers and long crimson wattles hanging down from the sides of their heads. Secretive and elusive, they are herbivores, essential to the regermination of rainforest plant seeds on which they feed. They are extremely hard to see in the wild. Always intimidating, they are known to be dangerously unpredictable. On each massive leg each foot has three toes, the middle one of which has a very long claw, used to eviscerate a perceived enemy. You don't want to get between a cassowary and its chick!
This very rare bird of Australia's tropical rainforest is flightless and massively built. They stand up to 1.75 metres tall! Females are larger than males and both sport a tall spongy casque on their heads, coarse floppy dark blue-black feathers and long crimson wattles hanging down from the sides of their heads. Secretive and elusive, they are herbivores, essential to the regermination of rainforest plant seeds on which they feed. They are extremely hard to see in the wild. Always intimidating, they are known to be dangerously unpredictable. On each massive leg each foot has three toes, the middle one of which has a very long claw, used to eviscerate a perceived enemy. You don't want to get between a cassowary and its chick!