This is the first of four parts on the birds of Australia and its territories. It includes: over 200 genus available names; 14 families, 12 subfamilies, 10 tribes; 130 living indigenous and established feral species; over 700 species available names; nomina nuda, incertae sedis and taxa confirmanda; subgeneric arrangements; subspecific arrangements; alternative taxonomic arrangements; many new taxonomic and nomenclatural decisions; synonymies, with authorities; detailed qualifications of the status of names; location and status of type material; new type designations; type localities; summaries of distribution and ecology; ecological keywords; and extensive literature citation. It should be of interest to ornithologists, taxonomists, zoogeographers, fauna survey and management authorities, ecologists, environmental consultants and veterinary authorities.