by
David Ong
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This
photo gallery features birds found in northern Victoria and the southern
Riverina.

Shy
Hylacola
Uncommon.
This Heathwren is found in the south and east of the region, e.g. in
the forests around Bendigo. Individuals are not necessarily shy and
may be observed fairly close by for minutes at a time. (499)

Brown
Songlark
Moderately
common in grassland. It is sometimes seen perched on a stump or fence
post. This bird was sitting on a post along Gladfield Road, west of
Pyramid Hill. Distribution: widespread throughout the Australian mainland.
(508)

Rufous
Songlark
The Rufous
Songlark prefers grassy woodlands with dead trees. (509)
Clamorous
Reed-Warbler
Moderately
common in or near reeds, especially during summer. Most Reed-warblers
migrate north from our area during winter. (524)

Golden-headed
Cisticola
Uncommon
locally. The Golden-headed Cisticola prefers grassland near a water
source. It is sometimes seen in grass along roadsides and alongside
sewerage treatment ponds. Distribution: south-eastern, eastern and northern
Australia. (525)

Superb
Fairy-wren
Common.
Only adult males have light blue caps and dark blue to black masks and
bibs. (529)

White-winged
Fairy-wren
Uncommon
in this area, the southern edge of their range. This inland species
seems to prefer grass, reeds or lignum close to a water source. As the
photo to the right shows, the female (right) and immatures are grey
rather than blue like the male (left). This pair was photographed along
Gladfield Road, west of Pyramid Hill. (535)

White-breasted
Woodswallow
This
species is often observed in flocks throughout northern and eastern
Australia. Our region is close to the southern limit of its range. Birds
may sit very close together on a limb. (543)

Dusky
Woodswallow
Moderately
common. This species is found throughout southern and eastern Australia.
(547)
Brown
Treecreeper
Although
classed as endangered, it is common in local forests. The Brown Treecreeper
seems to prefer relatively undisturbed areas of indigenous vegetation.
It is often observed foraging on the ground and crawling up tree trunks.
It seems to prefer box trees to red gum. The photo was taken at Terrick
Terrick. (555)

White-throated
Treecreeper
Common
in riverside red-gum forests. It spends much less time on the ground
than the Brown Treecreeper. (558)
Varied Sittellas (549) are sometimes observed (e.g. nesting at The Five
Mile Reserve, Moama). Sittellas tend to crawl down trees rather than
up.

Mistletoebird
Found
in all States except Tasmania, the Mistletoebird eats and spreads the
sticky seeds of mistletoes. (564)

Spotted
Pardalote
Moderately
common. A small, attractive bird often found in forest and bushland
areas throughout southern, south-eastern and eastern Australia and in
Tasmania. The rump of local birds is not as vivid a yellow as the mallee
form. (565)
The
Striated Pardalote (976) is common in our district (photo near the end
of this section).

Silvereye
Common.
Found throughout much of south-western, south-eastern and eastern Australia,
including Tasmania, the Silvereye is often seen feeding in local gardens
and forests. They are regarded as a pest by most fruit and grape growers.
(574)

Brown-headed
Honeyeater
Uncommon.
Found throughout much of south-western, south-eastern and eastern Australia.
(583)

Tawny-crowned
Honeyeater
Uncommon.
Found throughout much of southern Australia, the Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
is sometimes observed in the Kamarooka (where this photo was taken),
Whipstick and Wellsford Forests. (593)

White-fronted
Honeyeater
Uncommon
in Echuca-Moama, preferring inland areas. David took this photo in Kamarooka
Forest (part of Greater Bendigo National Park). (594)
Singing
Honeyeater
Moderately
common in plantations of native (not necessarily indigenous) trees and
in box-ironbark forests. This species is widely distributed across much
of Australia. These shots were taken along O'Dea Road, east of Echuca
(at a stop mentioned in our pdf birding brochure number 7, Kanyapella
and Wyuna). (608)

Yellow-faced
Honeyeater
Uncommon;
prefers forested areas to the south and east of the region, such as
Kamarooka Forest (part of Greater Bendigo National Park) where this
shot was taken. Its range extends as far north as Townsville and as
far east as Port Augusta. It is not found in western NSW, WA, NT or
Tasmania. (614)


Purple-gaped
Honeyeater
Uncommon,
preferring areas to the west (into WA) and south, such as Kamarooka
Forest (part of Greater Bendigo National Park) where this snap was taken.
It is not found in northern Australia, further east or in Tasmania.
(620)

Yellow-plumed
Honeyeater
Uncommon,
preferring areas to the west (its range extends into WA) (622)

Noisy Miner
Common.
Aggressive toward most other birds. It is not usually found in the middle
of forested areas, prefering the edge of bushland and urban areas. This
bird was pictured at Cussen Park, Tatura. (634)

Red
Wattlebird
Common,
especially in home gardens with native plants. It may chase away other
birds. It is so named because a red 'wattle' hangs from its neck. (638)

Blue-faced
Honeyeater
Relatively
uncommon. The bird to the left is an immature, lacking blue around its
eye. The bird to the right is an adult. Blue-faced Honeyeaters (641)
are sometimes observed on flowering shrubs in our area, e.g. in Barmah
Town and at Picnic Point.

Spiny-cheeked
Honeyeater
Uncommon
locally. Common throughout much of inland Australia, this species is
only occasionally sighted in our area. (640)
Other
honeyeaters of our district include Noisy Friarbird (645), Little Friarbird
(646), Noisy Miner (634), White-plumed (625), and Black (589). All bar
the Black Honeyeater are common.

Noisy
Friarbird
Moderately
common. The raucous and discordant squawks of this bird make its presence
obvious as it feeds on nectar. It can be readily identified by the hump
('wart') on its beak. (645)

Little
Friarbird
Moderately
common. The Little Friar Bird (646) is not as noisy as its cousin. It
can be distinguished from the Noisy by the blue skin around its eye
and by the fact that its beak has no 'wart'.

Australian
(Richards) Pipit
Moderately
common along grassy roadsides where they may perch on a fence post.
This shot was taken west of Pyramid Hill. Common throughout Australia.
(647)

Singing
Bushlark
relatively
uncommon, preferring grassland areas. (648)

Diamond
Firetail
Moderately
uncommon. This bird seems to prefer relatively undisturbed areas of
indigenous vegetation. These photos were taken at Terrick Terrick. This
species is often observed along Sages Road (Gulpa Island) and at the
Five Mile Reserve (as outlined in our brochures on Mathoura
and Perricoota Road) (652)

Zebra
Finch
A common
inland species, the Zebra Finch (653) is often observed, and breeds,
in our district. Its untidy nests are often in Box Thorn, prickly wattle
or lignum.
Red-browed
Finch
Moderately
common. This bird was photographed alongside Gulpa Creek, Mathoura.
Distribution: eastern Australia. (662)

Olive-backed
Oriole
Moderately
common. Usually observed as an individual or pair, rarely in a flock,
this species found throughout south-eastern, eastern and northern Australia
but is not found in Tasmania or in Australia's south-west. The species
nests locally over summer, e.g alongside the Campaspe River in Rochester.
(671)

White-winged
Chough
Common
in box forest. A flock lives in Victoria Park bushland behind Echuca
College. (Digitally enhanced by webmeister; photographer unknown). (693)


Pied
Currawong
Common
to the south-east of the region; a winter migrant to Echuca-Moama. (694)
Pied
Butcherbird
Uncommon.
Our region is the southern edge of its range. It is sometimes observed
feeding on road kill north of Mathoura. There have been isolated sightings
of this bird as far south as Elmore and Axedale (east of Bendigo) so
its range may be extending southwards. (700)

Australian
Magpie
Very
common. The Magpie (705) has adapted to urban conditions where residents
can enjoy its melodic calling at dawn. Our region is a transition zone
between white-backed and black-backed forms. This specimen has an unusual
mottled appearance. Photo taken in Deniliquin by K Stockwell.

Restless
Flycatcher
Similar
in appearance to Willie Wagtail and Leaden Flycatcher, the Restless
Flycatcher (728) has a tendency to hover. Often seen along McKindlay's
Road Moama at the entrance to Benarca State Forest.
Leaden Flycatcher (relatively uncommon; 365), Jacky Winter
(moderately common; 377) and Grey Fantail (moderately common; 361) are
sometimes observed in our district.
Australian
Raven and Little Raven
These
two corvid species are very common in our district. (930), (954)

Striated
Pardalote
Common
in local forests, this species is found throughout most of Australia.
(976)
Other
common birds of our district include Magpie Lark (415), Dusky Woodswallow
(547), House Sparrow, Blackbird (991), Mistletoebird (564), Tree Martin
(359), Fairy Martin (360) and Starling (999). Unfortunately, Indian
Mynahs have recently been sighted in our district.
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