The Canning River and surrounding areas provide a wide range of habitats for . The wetlands and streamline are fringed by melaleucas Species Profiles and Flooded Gums. On the uplands are species, Jarrah and Marri. Bush Birds Note - a second guide is available, detailing waterbirds found along the Canning River. shoreof the birds Canning River Profile Codes Abundance Status The South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare C – Common Res – Resident (SERCUL) is an independent Natural Resource Management M – Moderately Ir – Irregular visitor body. SERCUL brings together the community, business common Mi – Migratory and government to develop and implement projects that U – Uncommon N – Nomadic improve the health of our waterways and other ecosystems. For more information contact: R – Rare IA – Protected 69 Horley Road (off Kenwick Link), Beckenham, WA by international T 08 9458 5664 l www.sercul.org.au l Breeding agreement B – Breeds in CRRP T – Threatened

PIGEON, DOVE The Canning River Eco Education Centre (CREEC) lies within the Canning River Regional Park (CRRP) and is focused on increasing awareness and understanding of the Canning LAUGHING DOVE > River and the Park through school and community Introduced from India, environmental education programs. CREEC also provides now widespread. support and facilities for local environmental groups, businesses and government organisations. C, Res, B For more information contact: Cnr of Kent Street and Queens Park Road, Wilson, WA T 08 9461 7160 l [email protected] < SPOTTED DOVE www.canning.wa.gov.au/creec/ Introduced from Africa-Asia. This guide was jointly funded by SERCUL and CREEC. Slightly larger than Laughing Samulkiewicz Kathy by Kingfisher: photograph Sacred Dove, with a spotted collar. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Artists: J. Blyth, P. Free, S. Tingay, P. Agar. M, Res All content is subject to copyright ©. Queries to BirdLife WA. COMMON BRONZEWING > Bird Guide No 67A Revised November 2013. Wary, flies noisily. Feeds on the Members of BirdLife Western Australia are offered a variety ground. Call is a deep penetrating of activities and services including conservation and ‘oom oom’. More easily seen early research projects, excursions, campouts, surveys and social morning or late afternoon. activities. There is also a library and books for sale at the R, Res office. To view the full range of bird guides visit the website. Australia’s voice for birds since 1901 Raptor BirdLife Australia is dedicated to achieving outstanding conservation results for our native birds Hunters with strongly hooked bills, powerful feet and and their habitats. With our specialised knowledge talons for catching and tearing prey. and the commitment of an Australia–wide network of volunteers and supporters, we are creating a bright future for Australia’s birds. EASTERN OSPREY > Large raptor whose diet is fish. birdlife.org.au Nests further downstream. U, Ir BirdLife Western Australia 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat, WA, 6014

T 08 9383 7749 l [email protected] WESTERN AUSTRALIA facebook.com/BirdLifeAustralia l @BirdlifeOz

COCKATOO, PARROT COCKATOO, PARROT

Colourful birds with strong curved bills for eating < RAINBOW LORIKEET seeds, nuts, fruit and insects. Most are gregarious, Derived from aviary escapees in the < BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE forming flocks. All the species in this area nest in tree 1960's. Now occurs all over Perth and Small neat hawk, sometimes hollows. beyond. Varied diet of blossoms, seeds, mistaken for a Silver Gull. fruit and insects. RED-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO > Hovers over open country. Small flocks seen more frequently C, Res, B R, Ir over recent years. Natural foods are < AUSTRALIAN RINGNECK BROWN GOSHAWK > Marri & Jarrah nuts; in CRRP also Locally has a mixed yellow – green U, Res feeds on Cape Lilac berries. Female breast (further south, they are green; and has a barred tail. to the north yellow). Feeds on ground, COLLARED SPARROWHAWK M, Ir, T in shrubs or higher in trees. Both similar. Goshawk has 'glaring' expression, longer rounded tail; C, Res, B often flies through trees when hunting. Sparrowhawk has ‘surprised’ < CARNABY'S BLACK-COCKATOO expression, square tail and more Breeds inland, moves back to RED-CAPPED PARROT > slender legs. coast summer – autumn. Bill is adapted for extracting seeds Feeds on pine, banksia and U, Res from Marri nuts. Silent feeder but hakea seeds. Distinctive < SWAMP HARRIER also has a soft chattering call. drawn-out ‘wee-yu’ call. Large, dark raptor with a Female much duller. pale rump. Often cruises over U, Mi, T U, Res Wilson Lagoon. Nests on ground among dense reeds. Cuckoo U, Res GALAH > Range has expanded Cuckoos rely on other birds to incubate their eggs south from the Murchison and feed their young. area. Feeds mainly on the ground in small parties. HORSFIELD'S BRONZE-CUCKOO C, Res, B Similar to Shining Bronze-Cuckoo but with distinct white eyebrow. Arrives in winter. Host species are LITTLE EAGLE > Corella flocks around Perth have become established fairy-wrens and thornbills. Soars on flat wings with from escapes or releases from aviaries. All flocks are R, Mi short fanned square tail; ‘M’ highly mobile and noisy. underwing pattern. SHINING BRONZE-CUCKOO > LITTLE CORELLA > Arrives late winter. Host When perched, note feathered Smallest and plainest corella, with legs and rear head crest. species are thornbills which the shortest bill. build enclosed nests. U, Ir M, Res, B U, Mi WESTERN CORELLA > Slightly larger than Little Corella; has more colour around the face and throat and longer upper bill. R, Ir < PALLID CUCKOO < AUSTRALIAN HOBBY Arrives autumn, leaves early Small falcon with blackish LONG-BILLED CORELLA > summer. Lays eggs in nests of head and black face. Long slender upper-bill. Appears to . Song is a rising A fast, determined hunter. have a bold red slash across breast. scale of mellow whistles. U, Res, B U, Res R, Mi Pardalote BUTCHERBIRD, CURRAWONG GREY SPOTTED PARDALOTE > Species Profiles BUTCHERBIRD > Winter visitor. Feeds on insects. Song is a mellow Call is two or three notes: 'dee- piping. Sits quietly in dee' or 'sleep dee-dee'. a tree before diving R, Mi on its prey. M, Res, B

Owl < AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE Lives in groups, proclaims territory by melodious song. Feeds on small reptiles SOUTHERN BOOBOOK > and insects. Male’s back is white; Roosts in thick foliage during < STRIATED PARDALOTE female’s back is mottled. C, Res, B the day; from dusk it sits Colourful small bird. Searches watchfully ready to dive on for leaf bugs among eucalypt Fantail insects. Two note call: 'boo- foliage. Two note 'chip-chip' book'. call. Nests in tree hollows. GREY FANTAIL > U, Res C, Res, B Present all the year, more numerous in winter-spring. Inquisitive. Catches insects in flight. Kingfisher & Bee-Eater C, Res/Mi, B

LAUGHING KOOKABURRA > A large group of birds found throughout Australia. < WILLIE WAGTAIL Introduced to the South-West They feed on nectar using slender curved bills and Bold, active, conspicuous. of WA from Victoria in the long brush-tipped tongues. They also eat insects. Prefers open areas. Feeds on 1890's. Nests in tree hollows. insects, spiders and worms. M, Res, B WESTERN SPINEBILL > C, Res, B More likely in autumn. Feeds mainly in the lower branches. Raven, Crow Note fine curved bill. Female much less colourful. R, Ir AUSTRALIAN RAVEN > Ominvorous. Wary, intelligent; < SACRED KINGFISHER < SINGING HONEYEATER capitalises on presence of humans. Returns each September. Nests Common garden bird, Builds a substantial stick nest. in hollows. Feeds on insects smaller than wattlebirds. C, Res, B and small reptiles. Harsh kek Note the black stripe kek kek call. through the eye. M, Mi, B C, Res, B WHISTLER & MONARCH RAINBOW BEE-EATER > Present Oct – March. WESTERN WATTLEBIRD > Excavates a nesting tunnel in Rarely seen in CRRP though < RUFOUS WHISTLER Spirited song. In non- sandy areas. Eats bees and occurs in nearby gardens. Note breeding season, usually other insects caught in flight. dark shading on chin and throat solitary. Female is much M, Mi, B, IA and copper in wings. Chortling call is less raucous than Red plainer with streaked breast. Wattlebirds. M, Res, B R, N

FAIRY-WREN, GRASSWREN > The largest of our honeyeaters MAGPIE-LARK > SPLENDID FAIRY-WREN > with fleshy, red neck wattles. Mud nest builders which Male in breeding plumage Noisy and aggressive to other retain same mate and is unmistakeable. Prefers birds. territory for life. Male dense shrubby areas C, Res, B has a black chin. such as Liege St Wetland. C, Res, B Insectivorous. Ra, Res, B White-Eye SCRUB-WREN, ALLIES

< BROWN HONEYEATER SILVEREYE > < WHITE-BROWED Small honeyeater with a long Moves in flocks SCRUBWREN curved bill. Has a number of searching for grubs, Prefers dense scrub. Feeds loud, musical calls. aphids, berries and on insects and spiders. nectar. Has a number of Strong scolding call when C, Res/N, B thin, high calls. disturbed. C, Res/N, B R, Res NEW HOLLAND HONEYEATER > WEEBILL > Swallow, Martin Australia's smallest bird. More common in CRRP < WELCOME Flutters outside foliage. over recent years. Active, SWALLOW Strong 'weebee, weebee' call noisy. Note yellow wing Present all year; more often heard before bird is panel and high-pitched abundant in summer. seen. call. Builds a mud nest. M, Res M, Res, B Catches insects in flight. C, Res/Mi, B Cuckoo-Shrike, Triller < WESTERN GERYGONE Easily located by its TREE MARTIN > slow, dreamy, wistful call. BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE > Most abundant in summer. Breeds in Searches for insects in Diet is insects, berries and hollows. Pale rump and only slightly foliage. seeds. Shuffles wings on landing; forked tail distinguishes them from distinctive undulating flight. swallows. M, Res M, Res, B M, Mi, B YELLOW-RUMPED THORNBILL > Flowerpecker Largest thornbill with bright yellow rump. Feeds in small < MISTLETOEBIRD parties in low foliage or on Moves locally, usually to find the ground. fruiting mistletoe. Also eats other M, Res, B berries and insects. Female is lighter with pale red under tail. M, N < WHITE-WINGED TRILLER < INLAND THORNBILL Arrives in early summer. The male's Small birds, usually singly or black and white breeding plumage in pairs. The only thornbill is much more striking than female's that cocks its tail like a wren. brown colouring. Dedicated to the late Allan Jones, who produced U, Res. R, Mi, B so many bird guides for Birds Australia WA (now BirdLife WA).