AUSTRALIAN CHECKLIST 2008 This Australian Checklist, compiled by Lloyd Nielsen, covers the Australian mainland and Tasmania. It does not cover the Australian political island territories, some of which have little affinity with Australian bird species. It can be copied for personal use only, and should be printed in its entirety. This checklist incorporates the latest taxonomic opinions and developments, using the following references: Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds Les Christidis & Walter E Boles 2008 The Directory of Australian Birds Passerines R Schodde & I J Mason 1999 Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds Volumes 1-7 Handbook of Western Australian Birds Volumes 1& 2 R E Johnstone & G M Storr 1998-2004 Endemics are printed in bold [V] = Vagrant [RV] = Rare visitor [H] = Hybrid [I] = Introduced [Extinct] Order now follows the order of Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds Les Christidis & Walter E Boles 2008, officially adopted by Birds Australia. Some taxons previously regarded as a full species no longer appear on the list e.g. Lesser Sooty Owl is now regarded as a subspecies of Sooty Owl. Gould’s Bronze-Cuckoo is now regarded as a subspecies within the Little Bronze-Cuckoo complex. Cox’s Sandpiper is now known to be a natural hybrid between Pectoral and Curlew Sandpipers.