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Gouldian Blue-Winged Kookaburra Spinifex Pigeon the This Northern Territory Bird Notes Book northern belongs to: territory Banded Fruit Dove Azure boasts almost half of all bird found in and is home to two distinct and contrasting regions, the and the Red Centre. This means that the range of species is impressively diverse.

Rainbow Tawny Frogmouth White-bellied Sea-Eagle This checklist, supplied by the President of Savannah Guides, details all species currently recorded in the NT.

3 Comb-crested Jacana Galahs Australasian northern tropics southern deserts The ‘Top End’ is home to vast , coastal floodplains, Better known as the ‘Red Centre’ or ‘Central Australia’, this monsoonal rainforest, savannah woodland, impressive part of the Northern Territory rarely sees rain and has a very waterfalls and soaring escarpments. , to even climate. The winter months see warm days and cool the east of Darwin, is Australia’s largest at around 20,000 sq km, nights, and summer brings higher temperatures. There is a and is home to more than 280 species. The wider Top End surprising amount of water to be found in this region, largely boasts almost 400 species in total, five of which are endemic. due to the worlds’ largest and deepest underground fresh There are many potential highlights for Finch, Red Goshawk, water aquifer, the Great Artesian Basin, being here. The species Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon, Banded Fruit-Dove, Hooded found in the Red Centre are very different from those in the Parrot, White-lined and White-throated . Top End and can sometimes be harder to locate. It is well The Top End has two seasons. The weather is drier and cooler worth the effort as some of Australia’s most exciting can between May and September, when massive congregations be found, including Orange Chat, , Spinifex of birds can be seen around receding water sources. The Pigeon, Bourke’s Parrot, Western Bowerbird and Painted Firetail. tropical summer months bring some amazing lightning shows and following the rains in December-February, the rivers, top birding spots floodplains and billabongs teem with life. • Palm Valley: this ancient botanical garden located in the Finke Gorge National Park is home to Rainbow -Eater and Port Lincoln Parrot, among top birding spots many other species. • Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve: an outstanding area of forest, • Whistle Duck Waterhole: part of a greater network of waterholes, Whistle and floodplain habitats just an hour from Darwin. Highlights include Rainbow Duck is a serene spot for birdwatching. Pitta, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove and large concentrations of waterbirds. • Kings Canyon: surrounded by the soaring red walls of the canyon, scan the • : cruise the river and search the banks for birds skies for Wedge-tailed Eagle. such as Azure Kingfisher and Australasian Darter. • Ilpapa Ponds: a great spot for local waterbirds. • Mamukala Wetlands: located in Kakadu National Park, Mamukala Wetlands • Boggy Hole: part of the oldest river in the world, Boggy Hole provides a and Bird Hide offers the spectacle of thousands of Magpie Geese and other permanent water source for bird life. Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Masked waterbirds congregating to feed. and can be found here. • Pine Creek: this small town on the junction of the Stuart and Kakadu • Newhaven Sanctuary: with 262,000 hectares of protected land in the Great Highways is a reliable place to find the beautiful and endemic Hooded Parrot. Sandy Desert, this site is home to more than 160 species of birds, including • (Katherine Gorge): visit Nitmiluk National Park or 10 threatened species. cruise the Katherine River. Chestnut-backed Buttonquail is a rare resident here. • Timber Creek: located between Katherine and the Kimberley, Timber Creek We hope this checklist will inspire you to visit Australia’s Northern affords rich grassy plains and escarpments ideal for searching for Grey fronted Honeyeater. Territory to see some of its amazing bird life for yourself. 4 5 emu to

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt Red Browed Finch Forest Kingfisher Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora King Quail Excalfactoria chinensis field checklist Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata You can use this field checklist to keep 10 different lists. Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata Enter the list name and date in the boxes below, and tick off Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa the species in the correspondingly numbered columns; add Black Swan Cygnus atratus additional species on page 21. Radjah Tadorna radjah Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides list no. trip locality date / Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 1 Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus 2 Garganey Anas querquedula Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis 3 Anas gracilis 4 Chestnut Teal Anas castanea Northern Pintail Anas acuta 5 Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 6 Hardhead Aythya australis Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis 7 Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda Australasian novaehollandiae 8 Tachybaptus ruficollis 9 Hoary-headed Grebe poliocephalus cristatus 10 totals

6 7 pigeons to frigatebirds to spoonbills

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Rock Dove Columba livia Christmas Island Fregata andrewsi Barbary Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea Red-footed Sula sula Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Sula leucogaster Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Australasian Darter novaehollandiae Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera Little Pied Microcarbo melanoleucos Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica Phalacrocorax carbo Ocyphaps lophotes Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Spinifex Pigeon plumifera Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius Geophaps smithii Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus White-quilled Rock-Pigeon Petrophassa albipennis Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon Petrophassa rufipennis Australian Little Bittern Ixobrychus dubius Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta Banded Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus cinctus Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus regina Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana Elegant Imperial-Pigeon Ducula concinna Cattle Egret Ardea ibis Pied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula bicolor Striated Heron Butorides striata Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides Javan Pond Heron Ardeola speciosa Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus Pied Heron Egretta picata Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus Little Egret Egretta garzetta White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus House Swift Apus affinis Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca Streaked Shearwater Calonectris leucomelas Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis Fregata ariel Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia Fregata minor Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes totals totals

8 9 osprey to rails rails to plovers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Eastern Osprey Pandion cristatus Lewin’s Rail Lewinia pectoralis Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis Letter-winged Kite Elanus scriptus Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura Australian Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorynchus White-browed Crake Amaurornis cinerea Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata Pale-vented Bush-hen Amaurornis moluccana White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster Black-tailed Native-hen Tribonyx ventralis Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Black Kite Milvus migrans Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis Accipiter fasciatus Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius Accipiter cirrocephalus Beach Stone-curlew Esacus magnirostris

Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus Swamp Harrier Circus approximans Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Brown Falcon Falco berigora Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Falco longipennis Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Falco subniger Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus Sarus Crane Grus antigone Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii Brolga Grus rubicunda Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus Chestnut Rail Eulabeornis castaneoventris Inland Dotterel Charadrius australis totals totals

10 11 plovers to sandpipers sandpipers to terns

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Australian Painted Snipe Rostratula australis Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus Latham’s Snipe Gallinago hardwickii Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura Ruff Philomachus pugnax Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Red-backed Button-quail Turnix maculosus Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Chestnut-backed Button-quail Turnix castanotus Little Curlew Numenius minutus Red-chested Button-quail Turnix pyrrhothorax Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Little Button-quail Turnix velox Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes Common Noddy Anous stolidus Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Black Noddy Anous minutus Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus Common Redshank Tringa totanus Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscata Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Little Tern Sternula albifrons Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Red Knot Calidris canutus White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Sanderling Calidris alba Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii Little Stint Calidris minuta Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis Common Tern Sterna totals totals

12 13 terns to cuckoos cuckoos to fairy-wrens

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites minutillus Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris Cacomantis pallidus Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae Cacomantis variolosus Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini Rufous Owl Ninox rufa Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii Barking Owl Ninox connivens Galah Eolophus roseicapillus Southern Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea Eastern Barn Owl Tyto javanica Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita Eastern Grass Owl Tyto longimembris Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus Little Kingfisher Ceyx pusilla Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii Princess Parrot Polytelis alexandrae Red-backed KingfisherTodiramphus pyrrhopygius Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus Hooded Parrot Psephotus dissimilis Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus Rainbow Pitta Pitta iris Bourke’s Parrot Neopsephotus bourkii White-browed Treecreeper Climacteris affinis Scarlet-chested Parrot Neophema splendida Black-tailed Treecreeper Climacteris melanura Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis Ptilonorhynchus maculatus Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus Western Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus guttatus Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis Great Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae Splendid Fairy-wren splendens Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis Purple-crowned Fairy-wren Malurus coronatus totals totals

14 15 fairy-wrens to honeyeaters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus White-lined Honeyeater Meliphaga albilineata White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus Lichenostomus virescens Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti White-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus unicolor Rufous-crowned Emu-wren Stipiturus ruficeps Grey-headed Honeyeater Lichenostomus keartlandi Amytornis barbatus Grey-fronted Honeyeater Lichenostomus plumulus Amytornis striatus Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Lichenostomus flavescens White-throated Grasswren Amytornis woodwardi White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus Amytornis dorotheae Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis textilis Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis Dusky Grasswren Amytornis purnelli Bar-breasted Honeyeater Ramsayornis fasciatus Amytornis goyderi Rufous- albogularis Rufous Fieldwren Calamanthus campestris Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis Pyrrholaemus brunneus Conopophila whitei Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris tricolor Gerygone Gerygone levigaster Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons Gerygone fusca Epthianura crocea Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris Gibberbird Ashbyia lovensis Green-backed Gerygone Gerygone chloronota Sugomel niger White-throated Gerygone Gerygone albogularis Dusky Honeyeater obscura Slaty-backed Thornbill robustirostris Red-headed Honeyeater Myzomela erythrocephala Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis Brown Honeyeater indistincta Slender-billed Thornbill Acanthiza iredalei Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis leucopsis Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis Aphelocephala nigricincta Helmeted Friarbird Philemon buceroides Red-browed Pardalotus rubricatus Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis Certhionyx variegatus Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta totals totals

16 17 babblers to woodswallows to robins

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus Little Woodswallow Artamus minor Chestnut-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus ruficeps Black quoyi Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum Cracticus torquatus Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castaneothorax Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis Chirruping Wedgebill Psophodes cristatus Cracticus tibicen Chiming Wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis Grey Strepera versicolor Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus Ground Cuckoo-shrike Coracina maxima Arafura Fantail Rhipidura dryas Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis Mangrove Grey Fantail Rhipidura phasiana Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris White-winged Triller Lalage sueurii Rhipidura leucophrys Varied Triller Lalage leucomela Australian Raven Corvus coronoides Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus Little Crow Corvus bennetti Mangrove Golden Whistler Pachycephala melanura Corvus orru Grey Whistler Pachycephala simplex Broad-billed Flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula White-breasted Whistler Pachycephala lanioides Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto Little Shrike-thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta Sandstone Shrike-thrush Colluricincla woodwardi Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans Yellow Oriole Oriolus flavocinctus Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata Artamus personatus Mangrove Robin Peneonanthe pulverulenta White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus Buff-sided Robin Poecilodryas cerviniventris totals totals

18 19 buslark to mannikins sparrows to goldfinch

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Horsfield’s Bushlark Mirafra javanica House Sparrow Passer domesticus Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidus EurasianTree Sparrow Passer montanus Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis Oriental Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis Green-headed Yellow Wagtail Motacilla taivana Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Megalurus gramineus White Wagtail Motacilla alba Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis Spinifexbird Eremiornis carteri Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus Barn Hirundo rustica Hirundo neoxena Fairy Martin ariel Petrochelidon nigricans Red-rumped Swallow daurica Sturnus vulgaris Dicaeum hirundinaceum Taeniopygia guttata Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda Masked Finch Poephila personata Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda Painted Finch Emblema pictum Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae Yellow-rumped Mannikin Lonchura flaviprymna Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Lonchura castaneothorax Pictorella Mannikin Heteromunia pectoralis totals totals

20 21 other information topography useful web addresses The diagram below indicates the main bird parts and www.australiasoutback.com/birdwatching feather tracts. Birds and birding information from Tourism NT, including birding locations, CROWN accommodation, events and a round-up of the best deals on birdwatching breaks. EYERING FOREHEAD www.environment.gov.au/parks/kakadu LORE This government site has information about Kakadu National Park and its NAPE/HINDNECK BILL birds – more than 280 species. EAR COVERTS www.ntbirds.net MANTLE Niven McCrie’s website Birds of the Northern Territory covers the Top End, CHIN including where to bird, useful books and checklists. SCAPULARS THROAT www.savannah-guides.com.au BREAST A network of professional tour guides with a collective in-depth knowledge of BACK the natural and cultural assets of the tropical savannahs of Northern Territory LESSER COVERTS and other regions. A very useful guide for anyone wanting to source their own TERTIALS guide in parts of the NT. MEDIAN COVERTS

www.territorydiscoveries.com/experiences/bird-watching ALULA Territory Discoveries offers accommodation and birding tours in the Top End SECONDARIES and central Northern Territory. PRIMARIES GREATER COVERTS books RUMP

Field Guide to the Birds of Australia by Ken Simpson and Nicolas Day UPPERTAIL- GREATER (seventh edition, Christopher Helm, 2004). Call 020 8881 0550 or visit COVERTS PRIMARY-COVERTS www.birdwatch.co.uk to . TAIL BELLY Finding Birds in Darwin, Kakadu and the Top End by Niven McCrie and FLANK James Watson (second edition, NT Birding, 2009; order at www.ntbirds.net). THIGH Systematics and of Australian Birds by Les Christidis and UNDERTAIL- VENT COVERTS Walter E Boles (second edition, CSIRO Publishing, 2008).

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