Birds of the Illawarra,Shoalhaven and Adjacent Highlands, (part 24 Swallows to Thrushes)
         based on: Chafer, C.J., Brandis, C.C.P. & Wright, D. 1999. Handbook of Birds found in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Adjacent Tablelands.
                                                                                                                                     Illawarra Bird Observers Club, Wollongong

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Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Moderately common, resident: Singly or pairs in all forest types wherever parasitic mistletoe occurs and is fruiting. Feeds almost exclusively on mistletoe berries.


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White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosternus
Rare, nomadic: Open forest, farming areas, and sandy river banks. Nepean and lower Wollondilly River valleys; nesting at Menangle Park, August 1940; further observations from Bents Basin, November 1973; Picton, March 1986; Mt. Tianjarra, November 1998.


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Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
Common, resident: All habitats, particularly urban and agricultural with preferred nesting sites in man-made structures such as culverts and bridges.


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Tree Martin Hirundo nigricans
Moderately common, nomadic: Small to large flocks in open forest and agricultural areas. Nesting August-February, sometimes using abandoned nests of Fairy Martins.


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Fairy Martin Hirundo ariel
Uncommon, nomadic: Open country, rivers and streams. Nests in colonies, usually under bridges and in culverts along watercourses. Careful identification is required to separate this and the similar Tree Martin in flight.


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Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
Moderately common, resident: Introduced species found singly or small groups in urban and agricultural areas, orchards, blackberry undergrowth, edges of rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. First recorded in Wollongong in 1948, Camden in 1956, and now spread throughout coastal areas of the region. Scarce west of the escarpment outside the Camden - Picton area.


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Clamorous Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
Moderately common, breeding summer migrant: Singly, pairs or small groups in reedbeds of wetlands, drains, dams and watercourses throughout the region including settled areas.Coastal habitat is being steadily reduced by reclamation of wetlands.


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Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis
Rare, resident: Tall ungrazed grassland, tussocks, reedlands of freshwater wetlands and coastal heathlands.Two pairs nesting on the west side Lake Illawarra, January 1978, observed in same location January, 1980, 1990 1991, and April 1996. Observations at Comonderry Swamp, September 1980, Comerong Island, 1985, Dunmore Swamp, May 1986 to 1988 and lower Rocklow Creek in winter 1995.


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Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus
Uncommon, resident: Reedlands and sedgelands of wetlands and lagoons, rank grassland and clumpy vegetation around lake margins; more often heard than seen. Populations may be declining due to habitat reduction along the coast.


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Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi
Uncommon, summer visitor: Irregular visitor in open woodland and agricultural environments, especially during periods of inland drought. Nesting at Douglas Park, November 1975, and irregularly along the Wollondilly River valley in most years. Irregular records from Shoalhaven floodplain east of Nowra and throughout the lightly wooded tablelands in dry years. Rare on the Illawarra coastal plain with a few records from North Wollongong, Dapto, Marshall Mount, Albion Park, Minnamurra floodplain and around Werri Lagoon, usually only in summer during inland droughts. 


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Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis
Scarce, summer visitor: Irregular visitor in open grassy agricultural areas. Recorded from Maldon, November 1954; Werombi, September 1972; Berry, December 1976 (8 birds) and Jamberoo, 1990 and 1993. Nesting on Pig Island inthe Shoalhaven River during the 1950s, Jamberoo, 1967, and Dapto, 1976.


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Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis
Moderately common, resident: Singly, pairs or small groups in rank grasslands, especially around wetlands, andsaline backwaters mainly along the coastal strip.


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Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
Common, resident and winter visitor: Pairs to large flocks in all types of forest country, orchards and farmlands, urban parks and gardens with birds of the Tasmanian subspecies wintering or passing through the region during April to September. Resident subspecies nesting from October to February. A bird banded at Mt Keira, April 1968 recovered near Wonthaggi, Victoria, January 1971.


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Bassian Thrush Zoothera lunulata
Uncommon, resident: Singly or in family groups on the floor of escarpment rainforests and moist sclerophyll forests with abundant leaf litter. Occasionally moves to coastal dune forests and urban gardens in dry winters.


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Common Blackbird Turdus merula
Uncommon, resident: Introduced species found singly or pairs in gardens in urban areas and thickets in the surrounding countryside. Generally confined to towns on the Moss Vale plateau, such as Robertson, Moss Vale, Mittagong and Berrima, with an increasing number of observations in Wollongong suburbs and around Nowra since 1979. Recorded at Bellambi Point, Perkins Beach dunes, Killalea SRA and Seven Mile Beach in 1995-96 indicating an expansion of its coastal population.


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Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Common, resident: Introduced species that forms large flocks and occupies communal roosts in autumn and winter in open forest, agricultural and urban areas.


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Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Common, resident: Introduced species in pairs to small flocks in cities and towns and roadsides. First recorded in the Wollongong district in 1961, spreading southward along the highways from County of Cumberland and increasing at the expense of native hollow-nesting birds. Now present in all disturbed environments throughout the region.


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