Animals

Breeding season: November to January in south, August to January in north. Clutch size is two to eight. Gathers in small flocks before returning to summer breeding areas. Both sexes choose the building site in a sandy bank and dig a long tunnel leading to a nesting chamber, which is often lined with grasses. Both sexes incubate the eggs and feed the young, sometimes with the assistance of 'helpers'.

Viviparous (live young) with an average clutch size of two.

Breeding season: variable, usually during the tropical wet season. Clutch size is 8-14. During the day, they congregate in large numbers with other waterfowl, on the margins of lagoons, swamps and mangrove creeks, for preening and sleeping. At night they fly out, often quite long distances, to feed on grasslands. In the breeding season, they leave the water and nest on the grassy plains.

Like all Cuckoos, the Pallid Cuckoo is a parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds. This species usually lays its eggs in the nests of honeyeaters, flycatchers and similar birds with cup-shaped nests. The female cuckoo removes one of the host's eggs and replaces it with one of her own. The cuckoo egg usually closely resembles the host egg, and the unsuspecting host hatches it along with its own. The cuckoo egg usually hatches more quickly and the young cuckoo instinctively forces the other eggs (or chicks) out of the nest.

They are often seen in pairs or in small groups of up to 15 birds. At the start of the breeding season flocks disperse into pairs. After the pair has formed, the male accompanies the female at all times until the eggs have been laid and chases other birds.

Breeding season: July to December. Clutch size is 12. They pair up only during the breeding season. The male briefly defends a small territory and guards the female before egg-laying and during the early incubation period. After about five days, he abandons the female, leaving her to incubate the eggs, feed and raise the ducklings. The nest is a grass bowl, lined with down and well hidden on the ground or in a hole.The female leads the ducklings to water soon after hatching. They are able to swim, feed and fend for themselves. They are a highly adaptable species.

Breeding season: any time of the year, after a long period of rain. Clutch size is two to four. They are thought to pair for life. The nest site is a suitable tree hollow, lined with shavings of wood, which is used for several years. Both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young chicks. The chicks hatch naked and are dependant on their parents.

Breeding season: usually September to March (any time of year, after rains provide good conditions). Clutch size is three or four. Builds a nest where suitable cover can be found, such as under overhanging grasses, small shrubs or fallen branches. The nest itself is a scrape in the ground lined with grass or fine sticks. It sometimes has a hood and has a tunnel-like track leading to the entrance. The male incubates the eggs, broods and feeds the young.

Clutch size is two to five. It often nests in colonies with other herons. The nest is a large platform of sticks placed in a tree or shrub over water. Roosts in trees near water, often in groups.

Breeding season: any time of the year (influenced by rainfall). Clutch size is three. Breed in response to heavy rain. Its nest is a shallow depression scratched in the ground, with small stones, twigs and other material scraped out of the depression, ringed around the outside. They gather in flocks and run to escape from danger, only taking flight at the last moment.