Our understanding of Australian birds is enriched by the fossil record, which provides a unique window into their past diversity and evolution.
In this talk I will provide an overview of the prehistoric avifauna of Australia, based on our recently published checklist of all Australian fossil birds. I will present examples of birds that have become extinct in Australia, such as giant fowl and flamingos, and those that have flourished, such as songbirds. I will also describe how the aridification of Australia has shaped Australia’s past and present bird life. Our work shows that the fossil record offers valuable insights into the biology, ecology and evolutionary history of Australian birds, but that there are still many taxonomic and temporal gaps to be filled.
Dr Jacqueline Nguyen from the Australian Museum presented her work in an online seminar on Tuesday, 15 September 2020.
For details of access to this e-seminar or more information about our seminars and future announcements, please contact
Hervé Sauquet.