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AUSTRALIA'S OUTBACK: Kakadu to Uluru

9th - 21st October 2006

Leaders: Iain Campbell (& Sam Woods as co-guide)
Participants: Stephen and Anne Cameron

Rainbow Pitta, Fogg Dam (Sam Woods)

Report written by Sam Woods

Its not just the birds that draw people to the Northern Territory - sure the Top End has some cool avian residents, (not least the Rainbow Pitta that thrilled us on our first morning), but there are plenty of other attractions. From the absorbing aboriginal rock art and culture of Kakadu, to the mighty monolith of Uluru (more commonly known as Ayer's Rock), in the heart of Australia's Red Center. A phenomenal site, and a true geological wonder. The Northern Territory is a really attractive region for birding, and culturally fascinating. The tour went well, with over 250 species seen, including some of the most highly-prized in the territory. Among these were the rarely recorded Yellow Chat, the just plain gaudy Gouldian Finch, the exquisite Purple-crowned Fairywren (that had a tough battle with a vivid blue male Splendid Fairwren for the biggest wow-factor on the tour!), an array of colorful parrots including the dazzling Hooded Parrot, a species that is endemic to the territory, the continent's rarest raptor, Red Goshawk, and the comical and charismatic Spinifex Pigeon. Along the way we experienced some of Australia's most dramatic scenery, while red dust kicked up from our tires we enjoyed great views of Uluru in the setting sun when the rock turns a burnished orange color, and birding our way through the towering flame-orange sandstone chasm of Ormiston Gorge in the heart of the red center will also be hard to forget, as will the towering sandstone outcrop of Nourlangie Rock an outlier of the mighty Arnhem Land escarpment in World famous Kakadu National Park. Other animals are also an important aspect of any outback trip, and we got repeated looks at a number of marsupials, including some hulking Red Kangaroos, the largest of all the Kangaroo species; the much rarer Black-footed Wallaby loafing about on a sandstone outcrop in the MacDonnell Ranges; whilst the gentle cruise into the Yellow Water Billabong in Kakadu National Park produced great views of several huge 'salties', or Saltwater Crocodiles, loitering on a mud bank close to our boat.

9th October
This being our inaugural tour to the Northern Territory, we decided to just go for it, and so the tour started with one of the busiest, most bird-packed days of the tour. Shortly after dawn (and not long after Stephen and Anne's international arrival), we were watching the sunrise over Fogg Dam, a haven for waterbirds, and a great place to get the bird list off to a flying start. However before we turned our attention to the wetland birds, we made our way into the monsoon forest that borders the dam. The hot and humid forest there is home to one of the Top Ends most vibrantly colored birds - the 'tasty' Rainbow Pitta. Soon after dawn the forest was echoing to the sound of a pair of these stunning endemics, and we were soon scurrying in toward this tantalizing whistle. Before long a movement in the treetops and a flash of electric blue had us homing in on this Aussie beauty and we were treated to excellent views of the pitta, that was virtually the first bird of the tour. Nice start. We then headed to the marsh and enjoyed the wetland spectacle that is Fogg Dam, where thousands of waterbirds included the strange Magpie-Goose (that was formerly an endemic monotypic family); striking Pied Herons; Green Pygmy-Geese; Royal Spoonbills, Rajah Shelducks, Comb-crested Jacanas and a Buff-banded Rail. It was not all about wetland birds though as Crimson Finches, glowed scarlet from the nearby bushes, while Rainbow Bee-eaters were equally colorful hawking insects around the dam, and our only Black-chinned Honeyeaters of the tour were found in the same area. It was then back in the car for one of those famous, long outback drives, along never ending roads passing through some superb vistas that became a regular feature of this tour.

One of the undoubted star birds of the Top End - Rainbow Pitta left and center, and Pied Heron right, both Fogg Dam (Sam Woods)

Later in the day we rolled in to Pine Creek, picking up Red-backed Kingfisher en-route, where finding our first Hooded Parrot was surprisingly straightforward, drinking some of the precious water supply on a watered lawn in town. Having got the pitta and this rare parrot of the Top End with relative ease, we found ourselves with time on our hands. With this in mind we hit the road for a little rally further south on the trail of Australia's rarest raptor (picking up some overshooting Varied Lorikeets en-route). Despite being the rarest however, when this bird is nesting it can be surprisingly easy to find (sort of). And so it was we found ourselves watching the top of a chicks head huddled in the nest-not quite how things were planned. Thankfully after a little wait an agitated adult Red Goshawk sailed in and called repeatedly in the open, close by the nest. What with this awesome accipiter and the dreamy pitta we had bagged two of the territory's most desirable birds on the first day. Time now to relax? - Not a chance!

Australia's rarest raptor, Red Goshawk, (Mataranka); and Australia's largest raptor Wedge-tailed Eagle or 'wedgie' (Sam Woods/Iain Campbell)

10th October
The day was spent traveling to Victoria River, birding various places along the way. Bird of the day, and indeed possibly the trip was found very soon after arriving at Victoria River, where the delightful Lilac-crowned (Purple-crowned) Fairywren performed well. Our first Fairwren, a classic and exquisite Australo-Papuan family, and the rarest of the outback bunch. Other more familiar birds of the Top End were picked up on the way including White-bellied & Black-faced Cuckooshrikes, Black-faced Woodswallows, Pied Butcherbird and a representative of one of the most charismatic Aussie bird families in the form of several Great Bowerbirds. Other birds included Brown Quail and Spotted Nightjar was picked up in the car headlights as we cruised down the great southern highway at dawn. The other special bird of the day however was a rare and local pigeon, that resides in sun baked sandstone escarpments. The walk to get the bird was a killer as the heat of the day took a while to wane, and the trek up to the top of the escarpment was therefore hot, dry and a little demanding. Although the effort made the welcome sight of a nervy looking White-quilled Rock-pigeon (perched appropriately on top of a sandstone rock on the crown of the escarpment), all the more appreciated. Once we had got the bird after an initially fruitless search, they then mocked us on the way down as a further two put in an appearance with no effort being made.

Purple-crowned Fairywren and White-quilled Rock-Pigeon, Victoria River. Some of the most sought-after target birds in this area of the Top End. (Iain Campbell/Nick Athanas)

11th October
The morning was spent around Timber Creek searching for finches - in particular the rare and rapidly declining Gouldian Finch, and the similarly threatened Star Finch. Both rare, both strikingly beautiful. However, on this morning not both there! A small-town, rarely used airport was home to a number of wintering Oriental Plovers (sharing the runway with a number of Agile Wallabies), and a duo of Diamond Doves. While a flock of finches flushed up from the red dirt road pulled in Double-barred, Masked & Long-tailed Finches and a couple of cracking male Star Finches; and a nearby ball of sticks in a nearby paperbark tree proved to be nursery for a vocal party of Gray-crowned Babblers and Yellow-tinted Honeyeaters were found close by. While a slow drive along a dirt track produced the superb Spinifex Pigeon, appearing more like something out of a cartoon strip than a bird book, with its funnny crest and hurried, shuffling gait. Whilst outside our accommodations small groups of Little Corellas and gaudy Rainbow Lorikeets fought with Blue-faced Honeyeaters and Magpie-Larks over the vital water supply, coming from the trickle of water escaping from the sprinklers.

Hooded Parrot and Northern Rosella, Pine Creek and a chaotic flock of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos.
There are many brightly-colored, beautiful parrots in Oz, that has given rise to the nickname for Australia as the 'Land of the Parrots'
Photos by Iain Campbell/Sam Woods/Iain Campbell

13th October
This day was spent just inside Kakadu National Park, where we climbed up to a scenic sandstone escarpment surrounded by dramatic rock faces and an attractive waterfall. Once up above the main waterfall we had the place to ourselves, where we were able to look down on the treetops of the humid monsoon forest below. Visiting a number of sandstone outcrops in the area did not bring us the hoped-for White-throated Grasswren, although this bird seems to have dropped off the radar since recent burns in the area have cleared out a lot of the core habitat of this shy, endemic species. However we did pick up another localized Outback pigeon, with a number of views of Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon, when while walking the outcrops we disturbed a number of these unobtrusive birds. Inevitably a loud whir of wings followed by a flash of orange as the bird flew by close, had us homing in on them. Up above the waterfall a small party of Black-tailed Treecreepers came by to check out a dead snag close to us; while other birds included Pheasant Coucal, Varied Sitella (from the Sitella family that is the Australo-Papuan equivalent of the Nuthatch family from the Old World); the extremely localized White-lined Honeyeater; Gray Shrike-thrush, Helmeted Friarbird and some Northern Fantails on the edge of the rainforest, at the base of the cascades. Once again we came across large, noisy flocks of huge prehistoric-looking Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, that were a much appreciated daily feature on the tour. Marsupials came in the form of more Agile Wallabies and a stocky Euro around the escarpment.

14th October
This was one of the most relaxing days of the tour. The day began with a leisurely walk through the monsoon forests that border one of the biggest draws in Kakadu - the ancient Aboriginal art around Nourlangie Rock. Nourlangie Rock (or Burrunggui to use its traditional Aboriginal name), is at the southern tip of Mount Brockman, that is one of the huge rugged outliers of the spectacular sandstone Arnhem Land Plateau. But before we got stuck into the cave paintings - some of which date back 6000 years, we went for a stroll around the woodland at the base of the huge sandstone cliffs that form part of this mighty escarpment. This forest is home to a striking, localized and frankly difficult Fruit-dove - the beautiful Black-banded Fruit-dove. After drawing a blank around a site they had nested previously, we walked down into the woodland and found 2 or 3 of this strikingly two-toned fruit-dove. We then focused our attention on the huge rock itself, scanning the rich red-colored rocks for any passerines, where we soon found the endemic Sandstone Shrike-thrush singing from the top of a sandstone outcrop, flushed vivid orange in the strong morning sun. As the heat of the day intensified we retreated to the rock gallery and perused the fascinating aboriginal art that is a big draw for the many thousands of visitors to Kakadu each year. Other interesting sightings at Nourlangie included our first Spangled Drongos, and more Silver-crowned Friarbirds. On walking back to our vehicle we bumped into a Djukerre (the aboriginal word for female of this species) and joey Black Wallaroo, a normally nocturnal marsupial, just hanging out near the car park (well away from its normally less accessible hangouts, up in the high sandstone country of Arnhem Land).

The absorbing aboriginal art of Nourlangie Rock, Kakadu (Sam Woods)

Nourlangie Rock, Kakadu. The monsoon forest that borders this huge outcrop is home to Black-banded Fruit-doves,
while the rocks themselves provide important habitat for the endemic Sandstone Shrike-thrush. (Nick Athanas/Iain Campbell)

The afternoon was equally realxing with a peaceful boat cruise into the huge Yellow Water Billabong. This is a little dudey and seriously touristy, but frankly superb as it is one of the great wildlife spectacles of the Northern Territory. The cruise began with a gentle, slow cruise down Jim-Jim Creek, making our way along the South Alligator River before we finally emerged into the vast billabong itself, where thousands of waterbirds awaited our arrival. During our leisurely cruise we enjoyed watching regal Brolgas parading majestically around the swamp, Nankeen (Rufous) Night-herons, Pacific (White-necked) & Pied Herons; White-bellied Sea-eagles, Brahminy & Whistling Kites; Black-fronted Dotterels, Rufous-banded Honeyeaters, Broad-billed & Shining Flycatchers; and a bevy of Kingfishers with Blue-winged Kookaburras, Little, Azure, Forest & Sacred Kingfishers.

Forest Kingfisher and Partridge Pigeon, Kakadu (Sam Woods)

15th October
The morning was spent searching for the last few Kakadu birds we were after before we headed back north towards Darwin once more, that had been our starting point for this Top End section of the tour. The day was about cramming in multiple sites along the drive back to maximize the birds picked up in doing so. Around Kakadu we came across an obliging White-browed Crake, a Collared Kingfisher to add to the day before's bevy; Bar-breasted Honeyeaters; Lemon-bellied Flycatchers and best of all, a number of extremely approachable Partridge Pigeons in an area where we would have least expected them. The wetlands at Mamukala were loaded with waterbirds, among the thousands of Wandering Whistling-Ducks were some endemic Plumed Whistling-Ducks, in addition to Black-necked Storks and Australian Pelicans. En-route back to Darwin we stopped in an area of pits where the vital supply of water was attracting huge parties of mixed finch flocks, and we again enjoyed the bright, vibrant colors of several male Gouldian Finches once more (this time including a male of the striking, and much desired red-headed race). In amongst these was also a lone Chestnut-breasted Munia. We then went to a site near to our first port of call on the tour, Fogg Dam, where we found the extremely rare Yellow Chat that we had desperately hoped for, the same area holding a few Swamp Harriers and Zitting Cisticolas. We then headed back to Darwin, where roaming flocks of migrant Torresian Imperial Pigeons heralded our arrival back in a coastal area, (competing with Green Figbirds for title of most conspicuous bird in the Darwin area), and we also picked up our first Black Butcherbirds for the tour.

Blue-faced Honeyeater, Victoria River. The largest, most striking honeyeater - with over 70 species, Australia's most diverse bird family.
Yellow Chat, near Fogg Dam and Brolga, Yellow Waters an endemic crane to the Australasian region. (Sam Woods)

16th October
The next few days were spent birding the many Top End sites around the relaxed, cosmopolitan city of Darwin. We began with a trip to East Point where the hoped for Bush Stone-curlews were found slinking away from a low bush shortly after dawn, while a pretty pair of Rose-crowned Fruit-doves were found a short way from there. Other birds around East Point reserve included a couple of tricky, indistinctive Aussie warblers, Green-backed & Large-billed Gerygones. During a trip to an area of mangroves near Lee Point, patience was required for the star bird of the morning. Although, as the tides changed in our favor, a pair of chunky Chestnut Rails walked brazenly out onto the mud, where they were really easy to pick out, to say the least. In the mangroves themselves we found a number of the mangrove specialties like Mangrove Gerygone, Australian Yellow White-eye, a number of dapper male Red-headed Myzomelas and a Little Bronze-cuckoo. The sandy and muddy shorelines round Darwin held a number of shorebirds, including a duo of tattlers - Wandering & Gray-tailed Tattlers, Far Eastern Curlews, Terek Sandpipers, Greater Sandplovers, Mongolian Plovers, Great Knots and even a few Brown Booby hanging around close in shore. While a trip into the humid forest of Howard Springs pulled in (yet) another Rainbow Pitta (always a pleasure to see a great looking endemic pitta species though!), the recently split Arafura Fantail (split from Rufous Fantail), a fine male Cicadabird and a few Rufous (Little) Shrike-thrushes.

17th October
The day began in some mangroves on the edge of Darwin, searching for more of those specialties to this habitat. We found some of these including Mangrove Robin, Mangrove Golden Whistler and eventually we got flight views of a hulking Great-billed Heron as it cruised conspicuously across the river. Walking another area of mangroves paid off when the deafening alarm calls of a Beach Stone-Curlew soon had us within sight of the culprit. We then left the Top End behind and headed to Alice Springs in the Red Center of Australia. With only a little time left in the afternoon after arrival we tried to pack in as much as possible, with a visit to the local sewage works proving a real boon as it was simply loaded with birds: tens of elegant Red-necked Avocets were found feeding on one of the bird-packed lagoons there, alongside Black-tailed Native-hens, endemic Pink-eared Ducks, endemic Maned (Australian Wood) Ducks, Hardheads (White-eyed Duck), majestic Black Swans, and Hoary-headed Grebes, while Red-kneed Dotterels and Australian Pratincoles were found around the edges of this busy pool, a spanking male White-winged Fairywren put in an appearance in nearby dwarf scrub. A great kick start to our Red Center birding. We then used the little time left to check out Simpson's Gap, which although a little quieter than we'd hoped, still pulled in one of the trip highlights - a mesmerizing male Splendid Fairywren that due to its shockingly beautiful bright blue plumage usually provokes a little stronger description than merely splendid!

Bush Thick-Knee and Beach Thick-Knee, both seen in the Darwin area of the Top End. (Sam Woods)

18th October
This day was spent in the vicinity of scenically superb Ormiston Gorge and the Glen Helen area, in the heart of the West MacDonnell ranges. Once again superb vistas were the order of the day, and we spent the morning walking the area around this rugged gorge, walking through a deep chasm with towering brick-red sandstone cliffs on either side. Along with this breathtaking landscape we enjoyed a busy day for birds with many new species. Before we had even arrived at this awesome scenic gorge, we flushed up an Australian Owlet-nightjar from the roadside en-route. Once at the gorge, we searched the stands of spinifex grass and the sandstone outcrops for the many special birds found there. We took the track less traveled, meeting no-one on this picturesque walk until we were back at the visitor center. Searching clumps of sparsely distributed spinifex on the sandstone walls eventually paid off with good looks at a pair of Dusky Grasswrens, though occupying the same family as the fairywrens, the grasswrens have a justified reputation for being low down, devious and downright hard to see (unlike their more colorful, showy cousins). However, they are cryptically beautiful birds and always a big target for birders, so it was great to get one of the few species in range on this tour. The Variegated Fairywrens, though much more conspicuous and downright easy to see compared with the Grasswrens, were no less appreciated as frankly all Fairywrens are worth more than a passing glance. Also in the spinifex areas were several more superb Spinifex Pigeons, a strikingly attractive pigeon that was good to catch up with again. Other new birds for us in this gorgeous area of the MacDonnells were Port Lincoln Parrots, Tree Martins, a fine male Hooded Robin, more noisy groups of Gray-crowned Babblers, Little Woodswallows, Weebills, Chestnut-eared (Zebra) Finches and a few Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters. Perhaps the most stunningly beautiful bird of the morning however, was the party of Painted Firetails found taking advantage of one of the few wet watering holes left in the area. A strikingly patterned bird, just as wonderful in appearance as the name suggests. Our only sighting of Western Bowerbird was also much appreciated as we repeatedly watched this boldly-patterned bird flying to and from the area where its bower was located. A swampy area close by also produced a single Bailon's Crake, while the reedbeds there held a few noisy Australian Reed-Warblers.

Spinifex Pigeon, Gray-crowned Babbler, and the rare Black-footed Rock Wallaby, Ormiston Gorge (Iain Campbell/Iain Campbell/Sam Woods)

19th October
This day was spent slowly making our way south and west towards the geological phenomenon that is Uluru. It was not however all about heading straight for 'the big red rock', as there are some great birding possibilities on the way. As dawn broke we came across several huge Red Kangaroos bounding along by the road - a really impressive roo and, at upto 1.4m tall, the largest living marsupial. Close to the turning west towards Ayer's Rock we made a designated stop in what can only be described as a moonscape-like, barren and arid habitat. In appearance not much, with just a few trees clinging onto life in this harsh semi-desert environment, but look hard enough and there are some great birds to be had there in amongst the low scrub and dry rocky landscape. Our main target was an inconspicuous warbler, and after coming across a large flock of the much commoner Southern Whitefaces, we found a few Banded Whitefaces unobtrusively feeding on the parched red earth, in the same warbler flock . This kind of habitat can be good for small mixed parties of thornbills and we found some small groups of both Slaty-backed & Chestnut-rumped Thornbills. This area proved a boon for us, also holding a cracking male Crested Bellbird, that drew attention to itself with its strange cow bell-like calls, one of the most distinctive endemic vocalists of inland Australia, and a definite 'looker' also. Another distinctive call was heard in the same area, with a pair of singing Chiming Wedgebills, giving their instantly recognizable metallic, chiming song that can be hard to pinpoint due to its almost ventriloquial qualities. This is one of the close relatives of the Whipbirds, and another very different member of this interesting Australo-Papuan family was seen a few times briefly in the same area when a single Cinnamon Quail-thrush was glimpsed a couple of times, reinforcing their reputation as a notoriously shy and retiring species. Another seriously sexy bird seen in the same area included a close male Red-capped Robin that conveniently posed for photos. We ended the day around Mount Ebenezer in the heart of the Outback, with the drive there producing one of the toughest birds to find in the red center - a glimpsed view out of the corner of Iain's eye had us slamming the brakes on and leaving the vehicle rapidly in pursuit of this highly nomadic and difficult outback bird. Thankfully all of us got several looks at the small party of endemic Ground Cuckoo-shrikes as they moved from spot to spot feeding quietly on the ground between these points. Truly a tough bird to find as they cover vast distances, having enormous home ranges. Good stuff. Other birds seen en-route included one of the most attractive of the Aussie swallows with the striking endemic White-backed Swallow. Close to our hotel a blooming Eucalypt attracted not only the widespread Australasian Magpie, but the scarce nomadic Pied Honeyeater in attendance with some Singing Honeyeaters in the same garden.

Male Red-capped Robin, near Erldunda (Sam Woods)

20th October
The last morning of the tour was spent in some interesting mulga habitat en-route to Ayer's Rock. This dry, arid habitat is home to some special birds, not least a pair of confiding Mulga Parrots that perched nicely for us (a very sexy parrot, whose dowdy illustration in the field guides doesn't do them justice). The same area also held our first Western Gerygones and a Gray Butcherbird or two. The same area was home to several small, chattering groups of Thornbills, one of which contained the only pair of Inland Thornbills encountered on the tour. It was then all stations to the mighty Uluru, although the most dazzling bird of the day was found right there en-route to the rock. Out of the car window we caught a glimpse of a small flock of passerines actively feeding on the ground. A quick scan through them revealed that almost all of them (at least 40 birds) were stunning Crimson Chats, a hyper active, vivid red-and-white bird that is unquestionably the most beautiful of all the Australian Chats. In amongst the striking reds of this flock were some dowdy, much less conspicuous females alongside a lone male Orange Chat. Other birds seen during the day included a number of Australasian Pipits, Gray-headed Honeyeaters, the endemic Welcome Swallow, more Port Lincoln Parrots, further superb male White-winged Fairywrens, Galahs, White-winged Trillers, Rufous Whistlers and others. The tour officially ended with sunset looking out at Ayers Rock, or Uluru to give it its traditional Aboriginal name. A huge red monolith, that is at it's most visually impressive just before dusk, when the red rock simply appears to glow red under the waning sun. A really awesome sight and a fitting one to end the tour on, (while Crested Pigeons hurried around our feet). Although not quite the largest geological form of its kind, it is one of the most recognizable structures on the planet, standing over 300m above the surrounding flat sandy, plains and extending below the surface for at least a further few kilometers. The distinctive reddish/orange color is formed from weathering of the iron and feldspar minerals, and are best appreciated when they are at their most vivid, in the rising or setting sun...

Uluru (Ayer's Rock), looming 348m above the surrounding sandy plains and spreading out for 9.4km in circumference, is not quite the World's largest monolith
(that title goes to another in Western Australia), but it is certainly the most famous and most instantly recognizable (Sam Woods/Iain Campbell)

BIRD LIST

Taxonomy and nomenclature follow: Clements, James F. 2000. Birds of the World: A Checklist. Fifth Edition. Vista, CA: Ibis Publishing Co. Includes recent updates.

All the birds marked on the list were seen, except those marked with an 'H' which were only heard.

Birds in bold black are birds endemic to the Australian.

GREBES: Podicipedidae Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus PELICANS: Pelecanidae Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus GANNETS and BOOBIES: Sulidae Brown Booby Sula leucogaster CORMORANTS: Phalacrocoracidae Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos ANHINGAS: Anhingidae Darter Anhinga melanogaster HERONS, EGRETS and BITTERNS: Ardeidae Pacific (White-necked) Heron Ardea pacifica Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana Great Egret Ardea alba Pied Heron Egretta picata Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae Little Egret Egretta garzetta Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Striated Heron Butorides striata Rufous (Nankeen) Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus STORKS: Ciconiidae Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus IBISES and SPOONBILLS: Threskiornithidae Australian Ibis Threskiornis molucca Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia DUCKS, GEESE and SWANS: Anatidae Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata Black Swan Cygnus atratus Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus Maned (Australian Wood) Duck Chenonetta jubata Gray Teal Anas gracilis Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus White-eyed Duck (Hardhead) Aythya australis OSPREY: Pandionidae Osprey Pandion haliaetus HAWKS, EAGLES and KITES: Accipitridae Australian Kite Elanus axillaris Black Kite Milvus migrans Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster Swamp Harrier Circus approximans Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax Little Eagle Aquila morphnoides FALCONS: Falconidae Australian Kestrel Falco cenchroides Brown Falcon Falco berigora Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus MEGAPODES: Megapodiidae Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt PHEASANTS and PATRIDGES: Phasianidae Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora CRANES: Gruidae Brolga Grus rubicunda RAILS, GALLINULES and COOTS: Rallidae Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea Chestnut Rail Eulabeornis castaneoventris Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Black-tailed Native-hen Gallinula ventralis Eurasian Coot Fulica atra JACANAS: Jacanidae Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea AVOCETS and STILTS: Recurvirostridae White-headed Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae THICK-KNEES: Burhinidae Bush Thick-knee Burhinus grallarius Beach Thick-knee Burhinus magnirostris PRATINCOLES: Glareolidae Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella PLOVERS and LAPWINGS: Charadriidae Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva Black-bellied (Gray) Plover Pluvialis squatarola Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops SANDPIPERS and ALLIES: Scolopacidae Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Gray-tailed Tattler Heterosceles brevipes Wandering Tattler Heterosceles incanus Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Red Knot Calidris canutus Sanderling Calidris alba Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata GULLS: Laridae Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae TERNS: Sternidae Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus PIGEONS and DOVES: Columbidae Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera Crested Pigeon Geophaps lophotes Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps plumifera Partridge Pigeon Geophaps smithii Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon Petrophassa rufipennis White-quilled Rock-Pigeon Petrophassa albipennis Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis Black-banded Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus alligator Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus regina Torresian (Pied) Imperial-Pigeon Ducula bicolor COCKATOOS: Cacatuidae Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii Galah Eolophus roseicapillus Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus PARROTS: Psittacidae Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor Port Lincoln Parrot Barnardius zonarius Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus Hooded Parrot Psephotus dissimilis Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus CUCKOOS: Cuculidae Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus TYPICAL OWLS: Strigidae Barking Owl Ninox connivens OWLET-NIGHTJARS: Aegothelidae Australian Owlet-Nightjar Aegotheles cristatus NIGHTJARS: Caprimulgidae Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus H KINGFISHERS: Alcedinidae Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea Little Kingfisher Alcedo pusilla Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii Forest Kingfisher Todirhamphus macleayii Red-backed Kingfisher Todirhamphus pyrrhopygia Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris Sacred Kingfisher Todirhamphus sanctus BEE-EATERS: Meropidae Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus TYPICAL ROLLERS: Coraciidae Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis PITTAS: Pittidae Rainbow Pitta Pitta iris LARKS: Alaudidae Australasian Bushlark Mirafra javanica SWALLOWS: Hirundinidae White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosternus Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel Breeding endemic WAGTAILS and PIPITS: Motacillidae Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae CUCKOO-SHRIKES: Campephagidae Ground Cuckoo-shrike Coracina maxima Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris Varied Triller Lalage leucomela CISTICOLAS: Cisticolidae Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis OLD WORLD WARBLERS: Sylviidae Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis FANTAILS: Rhipiduridae Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris Willie-wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys Arafura Fantail Rhipidura dryas OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS: Muscicapidae Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula Broad-billed Flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto AUSTRALASIAN ROBINS: Petroicidae Jacky-winter Microeca fascinans Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata Mangrove Robin Eopsaltria pulverulenta WHISTLERS and ALLIES: Pachycephalidae Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis Gray Whistler Pachycephala simplex Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris Rufous (Little) Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha Sandstone Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla woodwardi Gray Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla harmonica PSEUDO-BABBLERS: Pomatostomidae Gray-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus WHIPBIRDS and QUAIL-THRUSHES: Cinclosomatidae Chiming Wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum FAIRYWRENS: Maluridae Red-backed Fairywren Malurus melanocephalus White-winged Fairywren Malurus leucopterus Splendid Fairywren Malurus splendens Variegated Fairywren Malurus lamberti Purple-crowned (Lilac-crowned) Fairywren Malurus coronatus Dusky Grasswren Amytornis purnelli THORNBILLS and ALLIES: Acanthizidae Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis Slaty-backed Thornbill Acanthiza robustirostris Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris Green-backed Gerygone Gerygone chloronotus Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone levigaster Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis Banded Whiteface Aphelocephala nigricincta AUSTRALIAN CHATS: Epthianuridae Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea SITELLAS: Neosittidae Varied Sittella Neositta chrysoptera AUSTRALASIAN TREECREEPERS: Climacteridae Black-tailed Treecreeper Climacteris melanura FLOWERPECKERS: Dicaeidae Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum PARDALOTES: Pardalotidae Red-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus H WHITE-EYES: Zosteropidae Australian Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus HONEYEATERS: Meliphagidae Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura Red-headed Myzomela Myzomela erythrocephala Banded Honeyeater Certhionyx pectoralis Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus White-lined Honeyeater Meliphaga albilineata Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens White-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus unicolor Gray-headed Honeyeater Lichenostomus keartlandi Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Lichenostomus flavescens Gray-fronted Honeyeater Lichenostomus plumulus White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis Helmeted Friarbird Philemon buceroides Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps Bar-breasted Honeyeater Ramsayornis fasciatus Rufous-banded Honeyeater Conopophila albogularis Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis OLD WORLD ORIOLES: Oriolidae Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus Green Oriole Oriolus flavocinctus Green Figbird Sphecotheres viridis DRONGOS: Dicruridae Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus MUDNEST BUILDERS: Grallinidae Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca WOODSWALLOWS: Artamidae White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus Little Woodswallow Artamus minor BELLMAGPIES and ALLIES: Cracticidae Gray Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis Black Butcherbird Cracticus quoyi Australasian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen BOWERBIRDS: Ptilonorhynchidae Western Bowerbird Chlamydera guttata Great Bowerbird Chlamydera nuchalis CROWS, JAYS and MAGPIES: Corvidae Torresian Crow Corvus orru Little Crow Corvus bennetti Australian Raven Corvus coronoides WAXBILLS and ALLIES: Estrildidae Painted Firetail Emblema pictum Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda Chestnut-eared (Zebra) Finch Taeniopygia castanotis Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii Masked Finch Poephila personata Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda Gouldian Finch Chloebia gouldiae Chestnut-breasted Munia Lonchura castaneothorax