Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines

Recent classifications of Australian birds have been limited to lists of "species" which are inadequate as biodiversity indicators. The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines fills a huge gap in ornithological knowledge by separating out and listing not only 340 species of song-birds but also the 720 distinct regional forms. Covering about half the national bird fauna, the Directory provides science and the community with baseline information about what bird it is and where it lives in an Australia-wide context. Identity is taken down to the level of distinct regional population. No other compendium on Australian birds does this.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Rationale – the Ultrataxon Concept Taxonomic Definitions and Concepts Materials English Names Format of Text Vagrants and Introductions Closing Date General Abbreviations References The Families of Australian Perching Birds The Major Groups Circumscription and Criteria Sequences References Conspectus of Species and Ultrataxa (with official numbers and conservation status) Checklist of New and Re-circumscribed Taxa Newly Described Subfamilies Newly Described Subgenera Newly Described Ultrataxa Re-combined Species Re- or Newly-split Species Newly Added Species The Taxa Family PITTIDAE, Pittas Family MENURIDAE, Lyrebirds Family ATRICHORNITHIDAE, Scrub-birds Family CLIMACTERIDAE, Treecreepers Family MALURIDAE, Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens Family PARDALOTIDAE, Pardalotes Family ACANTHIZIDAE, Scrubwrens, Thornbills and allies Family MELIPHAGIDAE, Honeyeaters and Australian Chats Family PETROICIDAE, Australasian Robins Family ORTHONYCHIDAE, Logrunners Family POMATOSTOMIDAE, Australasian Babblers Family EUPETIDAE, Whipbirds, Quail-thrushes and Jewel-babblers Family NEOSITTIDAE, Sittellas Family PACHYCEPHALIDAE, Whistlers, Shrike-thrushes and allies Family DICRURIDAE, Fantails, Drongos and Monarchs Family PARADISAEIDAE, Birds-of-Paradise Family ARTAMIDAE, Butcherbirds, Currawongs and Woodswallows Family CAMPEPHAGIDAE, Cuckoo-shrikes, Trillers and Minivets Family ORIOLIDAE, Old World Orioles and Figbirds Family CORVIDAE, Crows and Jays Family CORCORACIDAE, Australian Mudnesters Family PTILONORHYNCHIDAE, Bowerbirds Family MUSCICAPIDAE, Old World Flycatchers and Thrushes Family STURNIDAE, Starlings and Mynas Family HIRUNDINIDAE, Swallows and Martins Family PYCNONOTIDAE, Bulbuls Family ZOSTEROPIDAE, White-eyes Family SYLVIIDAE, Old World Warblers Family ALAUDIDAE, Larks Family DICAEIDAE, Flowerpeckers Family NECTARINIIDAE, Sunbirds and Spiderhunters Family PASSERIDAE, Old World Sparrows Family MOTACILLIDAE, Pipits and Wagtails Family ESTRILDIDAE, Grass Finches Family FRINGILLIDAE, Old World Finches Supplementary List – VAGRANTS Glossary Geographical, Ecological and Geological Time-Scale Terms Taxonomic, Phylogenetic, Genetic, Methodological, Conceptual and General Biological Terms Morphological, Osteological, Anatomical and Related Terms References Index of Scientific Terms Index of Common Names