Alice Springs / Central Australia ~ Snapshots from the Northern Territory
It is not hidden secret, but Central Australia offers the bird watcher a wonderful destination to see a huge number of bird species, from the local birds that are native to the area and the migratory birds that are passing through.
As well as the Red Centre Bird Festival in early September, visitors to the region have the opportunity to see our feathered creatures all year round.
Our selection of images in Snapshots: Birds of a Feather, are of birds that have been sighted in Alice Springs / Central Australia, including the month they were photographed. Many thanks to those who have contributed to this section and especially to our resident photographer Dorothy L.
You can view each species of bird full screen, just click on the photograph.
— sighted: Jan-Apr, still around in May
— sighted: Jan-Feb, Oct (nesting images)
— Jul to Nov
— sighted: May
— sighted: Jun, Jul
— sighted: June
— sighted: Jan, Mar Sept (seen most throughout the year)
— sighted: seen throughout the year
— sighted: May (often seen throughout the year)
— sighted: Jul
— sighted: Apr, Jun, Aug (often seen after significant rain)
— sighted: Jun to Jul (often seen all year round)
— sighted: May (seen all year round)
— sighted: Dec to Apr (often seen throughout the year)
— sighted: May, June (can sometimes be seen throughout the year in Central Australia)
— sighted: Feb to May (often seen in numbers after significant rain)
— sighted: May, Jun, Aug (can be seen year round, where water is available)
— sighted: seen throughout the year
— sighted: Jun, Nov
— sighted: Apr (often seen through the year, during times of plenty)
— sighted: Jul, Aug, Nov (can be seen throughout the year, especially near water)
— sighted: Jun
— sighted: Feb (often see throughout the year, especially near human habitation)
— sighted: Oct to Feb
— sighted: Jun
— sighted: Jun, Nov, Dec
— sighted: Jul (often seen throughout the year)
— sighted: Jul, Aug, Nov
— sighted: Dec (often seen throughout the year)
— sighted: Jun to Oct
— sighted: Aug
— sighted: Feb to Mar
— sighted: June
— sighted: Jul, Nov, Dec
— sighted: Oct, Dec (seen throughout the year)
— sighted: May (often seen after significant rain)
— sighted: June, Aug (seen throughout the year)
— sighted: Aug (after significant rain)
We hope you enjoy these birds and check back, as we add more images..
Following are links to more information on the individual birds pictured here.
- Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
- Black Falcon (Falco subniger)
- Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops)
- Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
- Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)
- Black Swans (Cygnus atratus)
- Bourke’s Parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii)
- Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)
- Brown Songlark (Cincloramphus cruralis)
- Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)
- Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)
- Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
- Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor)
- Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
- Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis)
- Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula)
- Grey-headed Honeyeater (Ptilotula keartlandi)
- Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons)
- Painted Finch (Emblema pictum)
- Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
- Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)
- Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius)
- Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii)
- Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
- Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera)
- Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)
- Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens)
- Torresian Crow (Corvus orru)
- Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)
- Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata)
- Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
- White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus)
- White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
- White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica)
- White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata)
- Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
- Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)
Following index of birds sighted at the Alice Springs Desert Park.
- Bourke’s Parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Barn Owl (Tyto alba), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Inland Dotterel (Peltohyas australis), Alice Springs Desert Park
- Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons), Alice Springs Desert Park
- Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
- Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis), Alice Springs Desert Park, NT
Footnote & References
- Tracks Birding & Photography Tours, Guide to finding Birds around Alice Springs, NT, http://www.tracksbirding.com.au/alicesprings/
- Bird watching around Alice Springs, Northern Territory Tourism NT | Northern Territory Government, https://northernterritory.com/alice-springs-and-surrounds/see-and-do/nature-and-wildlife/bird-watching
- Chris Watson, Blogs about birds birding birdwatching birders and wildlife in Australia and around the world, https://www.chriswatson.com.au/
- Santa Teresa Road, Alice Springs Field Naturalists Club, http://alicefieldnaturalists.org.au/Santa_Teresa_Road.html
- Birdata, collaboratively and scientifically collect data to gain insight and protect Australia’s birds. Download app to record your bird sightings on the go. Now operating under BirdLife Australia through the Birdata web portal. https://birdata.birdlife.org.au/
- Birds Australia Atlas 2 – Northern Territory, http://birds.rhyme.com.au/
- Guide to Finding Birds Around Alice Springs, Laurie Ross, http://laurieross.com.au/alicesprings/
- Alice Springs – After the Rains, 11 May 2016, Tim Dolby’s Birding Tours, https://timothydolby.com/2016/05/11/alice-springs-after-the-rains/
- Northern Territory – MacDonnell Ranges, Avibase – Bird Checklists of the World, https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=AUnoib47
- Bellbird Birding Tours, https://www.bellbirdtours.com/
- Ausemade, Bird Watching in Alice Springs and Central Australia
- Ausemade, Snapshot: Birds of a feather flock together
Snapshots from the Northern TerritorySnapshots: Alice Springs Beanie Festival Snapshots: Alice Springs Desert Park Snapshots: The Art of Alice Springs Snapshots: Art in the Botanic Garden Snapshots: Birds of a Feather Snapshots: Birds of a feather flock together Snapshots: Ilparpa Claypans Snapshots: Olive Pink Botanic Garden