A review of the smaller birds from the late Miocene Alcoota local faunas of Australia with a description of a new anatid species

The Alcoota Local Fauna, in the Northern Territory, Australia is the most important late Miocene vertebrate fossil site in Australia. It derives from the Waite Formation a fluvio-lacustrine series deposited 9-7 Ma and is associated with a second, slightly younger (7-6 Ma) and more depauperate fauna, the Ongeva LF. These local faunas are well known for the presence of giant mihirung birds (Dromornithidae: Dromornis stirtoni, Ilbandornis woodburnei, I. lawsoni) and many mammals, but smaller birds have yet to be reported. Here we review the smaller bird fossils from the Alcoota and Ongeva local faunas reporting nine taxa from 26 specimens representing two anatids, one described as new, two phoenicopterids, a ciconiid, two accipitrids, an anhingid and a charadriiform. They indicate the presence of water deep enough for diving birds and marginal wading habitats.