BIRD field guide. Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen. climatewatch.org.au. When to look: Throughout the year. Its eyes are red-brown

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BIRD field guide Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen Throughout the year Its eyes are red-brown Pied Butcherbird: has a completely black head and bib that is separated from its black back by a

1 BIRD field guide Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen Throughout the year Its eyes are red-brown Pied Butcherbird: has a completely black head and bib that is separated from its black back by a completely white collar. Its underparts are white The back of its neck, upper tail and shoulders are white in males and grey in females The rest of its body is black Magpie-lark: is smaller with a smaller beak Currawong: doesn t have large areas of white on its body, especially on the back of the neck. Also won t have the red iris Square-tipped tail One toe faces backwards and three face forwards Images courtesy of ClimateWatch users Luca Mav and Nicola Storey 2016

BIRD field guide Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis Commonly breeds July to January Black bill Grey back and head Western Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria griseogularis): occurs in south-western and

2 BIRD field guide Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis Commonly breeds July to January Black bill Grey back and head Western Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria griseogularis): occurs in south-western and southern Australia, mainly west of the Eyre Peninsula, so the range of this species does not overlap with that of the Eastern Yellow Robin. Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito): smaller than an Eastern Yellow Robin, with olive-coloured upperparts, a pale face and lighter, pale-yellow underparts and lacks pale yellow eyebrow. Yellow underparts Image courtesy of Nadiah Roslan

Dark slate grey on top and on wings Other robins: won t have the white outermost tail feather nor white edging on the next feather.

3 BIRD field guide Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea Commonly breeds August to January Bright orange breast and throat White stripe on folded wing Scarlet Robin: has black upperparts and throat, red underparts and a larger white patch above its beak. Dark slate grey on top and on wings Other robins: won t have the white outermost tail feather nor white edging on the next feather. White lower belly and undertail Images courtesy of David Cook Wildlife Photography Female: mostly greybrown, pale buff strip on wing, outermost tail feather mostly white

slightly shorter tail. The female has yellowish underparts.

4 BIRD field guide Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis Migrates to lowlands in winter; breeds Aug to Feb Olive-green back and wings White throat Mangrove Golden Whistler (Pachycephala melanura): the male has brighter underparts than the Golden Whistler, has a broader collar, and a slightly shorter tail. The female has yellowish underparts. It also has a longer beak and is only found in the mangroves of coastal northern Australia. Adult male: Bright yellow underody Images courtesy of David Cook Wildlife Photography Adult female: Grey upperparts with pale olive tinge

BIRD field guide Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa Some migrate north during winter; nests Jul to Jan Fine white shafts to all but central pair of tail feathers White eyebrow and throat wings often

5 BIRD field guide Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa Some migrate north during winter; nests Jul to Jan Fine white shafts to all but central pair of tail feathers White eyebrow and throat wings often drooped Grey breast band Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys): slightly larger, lacks the shades of grey on body and wings; lacks a white patch on throat and white edging and tips to tail feathers. Northern Fantail (Rhipidura rufiventris): is larger with a larger, broader bill. It seldom fans its tail (which is not tilted upwards) and is generally much less restless. Its breast band is overlain with pale streaks. Images courtesy of Colin Mulvogue

Nest: domes, bulky; of sticks, bark, fern fronds and moss, on ground, bank, head of fern or to 25 m in tree fork.

6 BIRD field guide Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae All year. Breeds June to October Native pheasant up to 1 m, including tail. Plan rich brown above, coppery on wings; deep grey below; legs and feet dark grey. Nest: domes, bulky; of sticks, bark, fern fronds and moss, on ground, bank, head of fern or to 25 m in tree fork. Tail of male long and train-like, usually horizontal: two clubbed lyrates, about 60 cm long Similar to Albert s Lyrebird, which is restricted to an area around the Border Ranges, on the Queensland-New South Wales border. The Albert s Lyrebird is redder in colour and the male s tail is less elaborate. Images courtesy of Nadiah Roslan

BIRD field guide Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor Blue colouring on crown, wings, and cheek Sept to Jan is breeding season, nesting season is Sept to Nov, migratory birds are in southeastern Australia

7 BIRD field guide Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor Blue colouring on crown, wings, and cheek Sept to Jan is breeding season, nesting season is Sept to Nov, migratory birds are in southeastern Australia from Feb to Mar and Sept to Oct Red patches around bill, throat, and wing Females have duller coloration with a creamy bar under wing Musk Lorikeet has a green patch under its wings instead of the red of the Swift Parrot. Scaly-breasted Lorikeet has scaly, yellow markings over its underbody while Swift Parrots have uniform yellow-green breast and belly. The Swift Parrots distinctive flight call, streamlined body, and long pointed tail enable it to be readily identified. Its long pointed tail is red and purple Image courtesy of Christ Tzaros

BIRD field guide Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena August to March Metallic blue-black on top Eyes and bill are black Barn Swallows have a dark blue to black breast-band across its throat, separating

8 BIRD field guide Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena August to March Metallic blue-black on top Eyes and bill are black Barn Swallows have a dark blue to black breast-band across its throat, separating its red chin from white chest/underparts. Other swallows lack the rust-coloured forehead and throat. The White-backed Swallow has a pale-grey head, and the Red-rumped Swallow has a red rump and streaked, chestnut underparts. Swifts are larger with longer and more-curved wings. Fairy or Tree Martin have shorter, squarer tails and white coloured rump. Its forehead, throat, and upper breast are rust in colour Light to dark grey on its breast and belly, grey legs and feet A white band or row of spots on the long tail feathers A distinctive deeply forked tail Images courtesy of Alan Collins

FROG field guide Southern Brown Tree Frog or Ewing s Tree Frog Litoria ewingi Throughout year, particularly from late winter Pale fawn cream, orange to light brown or green body.

9 FROG field guide Southern Brown Tree Frog or Ewing s Tree Frog Litoria ewingi Throughout year, particularly from late winter Pale fawn cream, orange to light brown or green body. Wide brown band from its eyes to down its back Narrow black or brown stripe from its snout, through to its eye, to shoulder Victorian Frog / False Ewing s Tree Frog (Litoria paraewingi): generally smaller, with a slower call and not normally found in the same areas. Verreaux s Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxi): has dark or black blotches on its sides, Lesueur s Tree Frog (Litoria lesueuri): has a visible ear drum (a darker patch just behind its eye). Listen to call: a a series of rapid, harsh whirring, pulsing notes creeee creee creee creee creee repeated 5-15 times Half webbed toes; no webbing on fingers Images courtesy of FlickrCC

FROG field guide Southern Bullfrog, Eastern Banjo or Eastern Pobblebonk Frog Limnodynastes dumerilii August to April Grey to olive green, dark brown or black back, with dark marbling or flecks.

10 FROG field guide Southern Bullfrog, Eastern Banjo or Eastern Pobblebonk Frog Limnodynastes dumerilii August to April Grey to olive green, dark brown or black back, with dark marbling or flecks. Warty or rough back Listen to call: a single bonk or plonk that is usually repeated every few seconds Pale yellow stripe that runs from eye to arm Prominent gland on outer back leg Northern Banjo Frog (L. terraereginae): has red colouration around its groin. Giant Banjo Frog (L. interioris): has a bright orange or yellow belly with no mottling. Common Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus sudelli, Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus australiacus) and Mallee Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus pictus): don t have the gland on the outer side of hind legs. Images courtesy of Stephen Mahony

FROG field guide Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peronii August to April Spotted Marsh Frog: has spots rather than stripes on its back. Dark spots and stripes on its limbs.

11 FROG field guide Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peronii August to April Spotted Marsh Frog: has spots rather than stripes on its back. Dark spots and stripes on its limbs. Long, slender fingers and toes have no webbing Barking Marsh Frog: also has spots rather than stripes on its back. Salmon-Striped Frog: has pink-toorange stripes and lacks the twocoloured iris. Usually a pale stripe running down middle of back. Pale to grey-brown back with darker brown stripes Two-coloured iris that is golden brown above and dark brown below. White belly which is often flecked with brown Image courtesy of B.G Thompson

5-15cm across, stems to 5cm long 1-4 pendulous sprays of 2-17 pale yellowishgreen to brown

12 PLANT field guide Butterfly Orchid Sarcochilus australis Throughout year. Flowers October to December Semi-pendulous epiphytic orchid. 5-15cm across, stems to 5cm long 1-4 pendulous sprays of 2-17 pale yellowishgreen to brown flowers, lip white with yellow tints and purple stripes Images courtesy of Atlas of Life; BettyDonWood and Bowerbird; Matt Campbell (flower inset)

PLANT field guide Blanket-leaf Melaleuca lanceolata

drooping, mostly 10 25 cm long and 2 5 cm wide, oblong or

13 PLANT field guide Blanket-leaf Melaleuca lanceolata Throughout year. Flowers mainly during summer Shrub or small tree to 8 m high Yellow or orange flower clusters Leaves soft, drooping, mostly cm long and 2 5 cm wide, oblong or lanceolate with woolly white underside Underside of leaves Images courtesy of FlickrCC; John Tann and Tim Rudman

PLANT field guide Cherry Ballart Exocarpos cupressiformis Throughout year; usually

Numerous branchlets are hairy and flaky at first then become smooth and straight.

improcera is a small stunted tree restricted to inland Queensland.

14 PLANT field guide Cherry Ballart Exocarpos cupressiformis Throughout year; usually flowers September - May Flowers yellowgreen in short, dense, clusters that are usually 6 mm long. Shrub or small pyramidal tree, commonly 8-10m high, yellowish green or bronzy. Numerous branchlets are hairy and flaky at first then become smooth and straight. Eucalyptus sideroxylon subsp. improcera is a small stunted tree restricted to inland Queensland. Leaves: scalelike, triangular, 0.5 mm long and 2 3 mm long on new growth. Fruits/seeds: globular, small, hard, greenish inedible nut at the end of a swollen orange to red stalk Images courtesy of Annabel Carle and Geoff Carle

PLANT field guide Sweet Bursaria (Blackthorn) Bursaria spinosa subsp.

in NSW, fruiting occurs from June to July Capsules are 7 mm in length and 9 mm in width and contain 4

lasiophylla is another subspecies that is similar but found in eucalypt woodlands with heavier soils.

15 PLANT field guide Sweet Bursaria (Blackthorn) Bursaria spinosa subsp. spinosa Woody shrub or small tree that grows 5-10 m in height Flowering occurs from December to February in NSW, fruiting occurs from June to July Capsules are 7 mm in length and 9 mm in width and contain 4 seeds Fruits are dark brown, flattened capsules in clusters Bursaria spinosa subsp. lasiophylla is another subspecies that is similar but found in eucalypt woodlands with heavier soils. Often found at higher altitudes in tablelands or low mountain ranges in SE Australia. White, fragrant flowers that are 6-10 mm in width Images courtesy of L. von Richter

PLANT field guide Victorian Christmas Bush Prostanthera lasianthos Evergreen shrub or small tree that grow 1-6 m in height From late spring through early summer; flowers appear

pink to pale muave with purple and orange spots inside Another Prostanthera species ( mint bush ): won t have fine hairs on the inside and outside of the flowers, which can be

16 PLANT field guide Victorian Christmas Bush Prostanthera lasianthos Evergreen shrub or small tree that grow 1-6 m in height From late spring through early summer; flowers appear from Nov to Mar, fruit appear after flowering Bright yellow-green to dark green leaves Leaves generally have a toothed or curved edge Funnel-shaped flowers that are white or pink to pale muave with purple and orange spots inside Another Prostanthera species ( mint bush ): won t have fine hairs on the inside and outside of the flowers, which can be seen with a magnifier on the Victorian Christmas Bush. The mericap is about 2 mm in length and contains one seed Flowers are slightly sented Images courtesy of Nuytsia@Tas via Flickr

Black spot on forewing (one spot for males and two for females) Another white butterfly: won t have the two or

17 INSECT field guide Cabbage White Butterfly Pieris rapae From September through summer Black tip on forewing. Up to 5 cm wingspan. Black spot on forewing (one spot for males and two for females) Another white butterfly: won t have the two or three black spots on the upper side of the forewing. Also, the underside of its hindwing won t be yellow. From underneath, the forewing is white while the hindwing is yellowish Image courtesy of ClimateWatch users

INSECT field guide Common Brown Butterfly Heteronympha merope October through May It is difficult to identify these butterflies when they are resting with their wings closed.

Shouldered Brown (Heteronympha penelope): has darker markings near the wing bases giving it a shouldered look, and an extra eyespot on the hindwing Forest Brown or Cyril s Brown Butterfly (Argynnina

18 INSECT field guide Common Brown Butterfly Heteronympha merope October through May It is difficult to identify these butterflies when they are resting with their wings closed. Banks Brown Butterfly (Heteronympha banksii banksii): has an eyespot only on its hindwings, not on all wings. Shouldered Brown (Heteronympha penelope): has darker markings near the wing bases giving it a shouldered look, and an extra eyespot on the hindwing Forest Brown or Cyril s Brown Butterfly (Argynnina cyrila): has more black markings on its upperside. Mostly orange, with obvious raised vein in middle of forewing. Small eye-spot on each wing. Underside of wings are paler with faint markings Males lack pale patches. Females have yellow and dark brown patches near tip of forewings Image courtesy of ClimateWatch users

INSECT field guide European Wasp Vespula germanica Spring to autumn English Wasp: black marking on each yellow band on its abdomen tapers to a point, while it is a triangle shape on the European wasp.

19 INSECT field guide European Wasp Vespula germanica Spring to autumn English Wasp: black marking on each yellow band on its abdomen tapers to a point, while it is a triangle shape on the European wasp. It is also restricted to the eastern parts of Melbourne and Gippsland region. Transparent wings Yellow legs; black antennae Paper wasp: has a longer, thinner body, orange-brown antennae, back legs that hang down during flight, and is often seen hovering. Its nest is smaller, usually above ground and looks like honeycomb cells without an outer covering. Other wasps: most don t have the vivid yellow and black markings. Bee: has black legs, dull yellow bands on its abdomen with no black dots. Bright yellow and black bands across abdomen. Pair of black spots and black triangle on each yellow band. Image courtesy of Malcolm Tattersall

INSECT field guide Fiddler Beetle Eupoecila australasiae From early summer when adults emerge Violin-shaped markings on its back Shiny black back and head Bright yellow-green markings Green Scarab

20 INSECT field guide Fiddler Beetle Eupoecila australasiae From early summer when adults emerge Violin-shaped markings on its back Shiny black back and head Bright yellow-green markings Green Scarab Beetle: has a shiny green back with no distinct markings. Jewel Beetle: has red markings on its back. Golden Stag Beetle: has a yellow-green shiny back with no distinct markings. Other Scarab beetles: have brown to black markings on a gold back (rather than gold markings on a dark brown back) and lack the violinshaped markings on their backs. Dark brown to black legs Image courtesy of Greg Miles

Native Australian Bees: while it is difficult to see, native bees don t have hairy eyes like the Honey Bee.

21 SPECIES field guide Honey Bee Apis mellifera Early spring to weather below 13 o C Hairy abdomen with black and brown (or yellow or orange) stripes. Black head, upper body and legs A wasp: has yellow legs, brighter yellow bands on its abdomen and lacks the hairiness of the Honey Bee. Native Australian Bees: while it is difficult to see, native bees don t have hairy eyes like the Honey Bee. Also a Honey Bee usually has obvious baskets full of pollen on its legs. Usually has baskets of pollen on its legs Images courtesy of ClimateWatch users Luca Mav and Nicola Storey 2016

MAMMAL field guide Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus September to April at night during feeding Distinctive fur on its legs that extends to its ankles Black wings Dark grey to brown body

22 MAMMAL field guide Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus September to April at night during feeding Distinctive fur on its legs that extends to its ankles Black wings Dark grey to brown body Another flying fox won t have leg fur, which extends to the ankle on the Greyheaded Flying-fox. Golden-orange fur encircling its neck Lighter grey fur on its head Image courtesy of B.G. Thomson (

MAMMAL field guide Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps July to October at night during feeding Black stripe from its nose, over its head, and along its back Large, hairless ears Mostly grey body It is

23 MAMMAL field guide Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps July to October at night during feeding Black stripe from its nose, over its head, and along its back Large, hairless ears Mostly grey body It is about 28 cm long (including its tail) Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis): about twice as big with a bushier tail, a longer and pointier face, longer and narrower ears, and more distinct facial markings. The Squirrel Glider is also less vocal. White belly The last quarter of its tail is black and it often has a white tip Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis): much larger (about 60 cm long), has a buff-coloured belly and generally shorter tail hair. Images courtesy of David Cook Wildlife Photography

24 REPTILE field guide Garden Skinks L. guichenoti and L. delicata Sept to Feb Image: Lampropholis delicata Of the two species, L. guichenoti usually has a heavier looking body and a more obvious stripe running along sides compared to L. delicata Mainly grey-brown to bronze. Total length 8-10 cm Eastern Water Skink: larger when adult (25 cm to 30 cm long), with small black spots on its back and white and black spots on its side. Blue-tongue Lizard: larger, with a tail shorter than its body, and doesn t have the stripe running along each side of its body. Dark stripe from its nostril, across eye, along each side to its tail L. delicata s range extends into north Queensland and Tasmania Images courtesy of Stephen Mahony

BIRD field guide. Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen. climatewatch.org.au. When to look: Throughout the year. Its eyes are red-brown

BIRD field guide. Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen. climatewatch.org.au. When to look: Throughout the year. Its eyes are red-brown BIRD field guide Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen Throughout the year Its eyes are red-brown Pied Butcherbird: has a completely black head and bib that is separated from its black back by a completely