South Australia is a state in Australia with 487 species of bird recorded.
This list is based on the 1996 classification by Sibley and Monroe (though there has been a recent (2008) extensive revision of Australian birds by Christidis and BolesSystematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds), which has resulted in some lumping and splitting. Their system has been developed over nearly two decades and has strong local support, but deviates in important ways from more generally accepted schemes. Supplemental updates follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.
This list also uses British English throughout. Any bird names or other wording follows that convention. 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 South Australia (E) Endemic - a species endemic to South Australia (I) Introduced - a species introduced to South Australia as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ostriches Order: StruthioniformesFamily: Struthionidae
This order is not native to Australia, but feral populations of one species have become established.
Common ostrich, Struthio camelus (I)
Cassowaries and emu Order: CasuariiformesFamily: Casuariidae
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.
Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae
Magpie goose Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Magpie goose, Anseranas semipalmata (A)
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Plumed whistling-duck, Dendrocygna eytoni Cape Barren goose, Cereopsis novaehollandiae Freckled duck, Stictonetta naevosa Black swan, Cygnus atratus Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah (A) Australian shelduck, Tadorna tadornoides Australian wood duck, Chenonetta jubata Australian shoveler, Spatula rhynchotis Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (I) Mallard × Pacific black duck, Anas platyrhynchos × supercilisoa (I × native hybrid) Grey teal, Anas gracilis Chestnut teal, Anas castanea Pink-eared duck, Malacorhynchus membranaceus Hardhead, Aythya australis Blue-billed duck, Oxyura australis Musk duck, Biziura lobata
Megapodes Order: GalliformesFamily: 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.
Australian brushturkey, Alectura lathami (I) Malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: 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.
Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I) Brown quail, Synoicus ypsilophora (A) Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Stubble quail, Coturnix pectoralis
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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.
Australasian grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Hoary-headed grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis (I) Common bronzewing, Phaps chalcoptera Brush bronzewing, Phaps elegans Flock bronzewing, Phaps histrionica Crested pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes Spinifex pigeon, Geophaps plumifera Diamond dove, Geopelia cuneata Peaceful dove, Geopelia placida
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Australian bustard, Ardeotis australis
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus Pacific koel, Eudynamys orientalis Channel-billed cuckoo, Scythrops novaehollandiae (A) Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis Black-eared cuckoo, Chrysococcyx osculans Shining bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus Pallid cuckoo, Cuculus pallidus Fan-tailed cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis Brush cuckoo, Cacomantis variolosus (A)
Frogmouths Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from India across southern Asia to Australia.
Tawny frogmouth, Podargus strigoides
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Spotted nightjar, Eurostopodus argus
Owlet-nightjars Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
Australian owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles cristatus
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus Pacific swift, Apus pacificus House swift, Apus nipalensis (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Lewin's rail, Lewinia pectoralis Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis Black-tailed nativehen, Tribonyx ventralis Australian crake, Porzana fluminea Dusky moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla Spotless crake, Zapornia tabuensis
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Brolga, Antigone rubicunda
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Bush thick-knee, Burhinus grallarius Beach thick-knee, Esacus magnirostris
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin straight bills.
Pied stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus Banded stilt, Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Red-necked avocet, Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Pied oystercatcher, Haematopus longirostris Sooty oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Gray-headed lapwing, Vanellus cinereus Banded lapwing, Vanellus tricolor Masked lapwing, Vanellus miles Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Double-banded plover, Charadrius bicinctus Red-capped plover, Charadrius ruficapillus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (A) Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (A) Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus Red-kneed dotterel, Erythrogonys cinctus Hooded plover, Thinornis cucullatus (A) Black-fronted dotterel, Elseyornis melanops Inland dotterel, Peltohyas australis
Plains-wanderer Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Pedionomidae
The plains-wanderer is a quail-like ground bird. They are excellent camouflagers, and will first hide at any disturbance. If they're approached too close, they will run as opposed to flying, which they are very poor at.
Plains-wanderer, Pedionomus torquatus
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
Australian painted-snipe, Rostratula australis
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A) Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus