Central Australia BirdsIndex Central Australia — Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) Central Australia — Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) Central Australia — Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) Central Australia — Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) Central Australia — Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

Central Australia is a vast region and home to many bird species, including migratory birds that are passing through. Often attracted to water sources such as waterholes, gorges and even sewerage ponds, there are plenty of opportunities for the avid bird enthusiats to indulge their passion for bird watching.

As well as Bird watching in Alice Springs (check out our Alice Springs Bird Index), there are plenty of opportunities along both the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, Kunoth Bore and Santa Teresa Road (north and south of Alice Springs), just to name a few locations where bird watchers can enjoy their passion.

Following is our selection of bird species that have been sighted around various locations in Central Australia (we have also included birds sighted in Alice Springs). We like to thank the many contributors, who have shared their insights and photographs to the class Aves

Click on the thumbnail images to go to the page on each species of bird…

Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Ilparpa Claypans, Central Australia © Dorothy Latimer
Central Australia Birds
Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)
Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis
Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Owen Springs, NT
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Brown Goshawk, Redbank Waterhole © Dorothy Latimer
Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)
Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Owen Springs Reserve NT © Dorothy Latimer
Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Redbank Waterhole NT © Dorothy Latimer
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Redbank Waterhole NT © Dorothy Latimer
Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), Owen Springs Reserve NT © Dorothy Latimer
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii)
Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis) at sunrise, Kunoth Bore NT © Dorothy Latimer
Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)
Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)
Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

This section is a work in progress, check back as we add more birds…


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Aves

Central Australia BirdsCentral Australia Birds — Index Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

Central Australia FaunaCentral Australia Birds Central Australia Insects Central Australia Marsupials Central Australia Reptiles Central Australia Spiders

Central AustraliaCentral Australia Attractions Central Australia Fauna & Flora Water in Central Australia Weather in Central Australia

Northern TerritoryCentral Australia Aileron Alice Springs Binns Track Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve Ernest Giles Road Finke Gorge National Park Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve Hermannsburg Historic Precinct Ilparpa Claypans Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve MacDonnell Ranges Mount Connor Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary Owen Springs Reserve Red Centre Way Drive Standley Chasm Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Watarrka National Park & Kings Canyon Wurre / Rainbow Valley