Australia Ramsar wetland
Kakadu National Park
199 bird species recorded; the most in March, in June and from September to October.
Tdc · CC BY-SA 3.0
This month here
14 species in January.109 species in February.135 species in March.72 species in April.1 species in May.138 species in June.75 species in July.101 species in August.131 species in September.128 species in October.89 species in November.88 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
199 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 199Speciesrecorded more than once
- 67Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 1ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 2,482Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 20Raptors
- 4Owls
- 15Waders
- 5Gulls & seabirds
- 8Ducks & geese
- 24Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 71Songbirds
- 50Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 199 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- White-bellied Sea-EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
- Brown FalconFalco berigora
- Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audax
- Black-breasted buzzardHamirostra melanosternon
- Brown GoshawkAccipiter fasciatus
- Grey GoshawkAccipiter novaehollandiae
- Australian hobbyFalco longipennis
- Collared SparrowhawkAccipiter cirrocephalus
- Little EagleHieraaetus morphnoides
- Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides
- Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
- Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus
- Swamp HarrierCircus approximans
- Red GoshawkErythrotriorchis radiatus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Pacific BazaAviceda subcristata
- Spotted HarrierCircus assimilis
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Barking BoobookNinox connivens
- Rufous BoobookNinox rufa
- MopokeNinox novaeseelandiae
- Southern BoobookNinox boobook
Waders15 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Masked LapwingVanellus miles
- Comb-crested JacanaIrediparra gallinacea
- Bush Thick-kneeBurhinus grallarius
- Pied StiltHimantopus leucocephalus
- Black-fronted DotterelElseyornis melanops
- Australian PratincoleStiltia isabella
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Red-kneed DotterelErythrogonys cinctus
- Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarum
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataVU
- Little CurlewNumenius minutus
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Beach Stone-curlewEsacus magnirostrisNT
Gulls & seabirds5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
Ducks & geese8 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Magpie GooseAnseranas semipalmata
- Green Pygmy GooseNettapus pulchellus
- Raja ShelduckRadjah radjah
- Grass Whistling DuckDendrocygna eytoni
- Wandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuata
- Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosa
- Grey TealAnas gracilis
- HardheadAythya australis
Herons, ibises & grebes24 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Egretta intermediaEgretta intermedia
- Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis
- Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Australian White IbisThreskiornis molucca
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae
- Pied HeronEgretta picata
- White-necked HeronArdea pacifica
- Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
- Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
- Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus
- Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regia
- Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
- White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae
- Black BitternDupetor flavicollis
- Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipes
- Striated HeronButorides striata
- Great-billed HeronArdea sumatrana
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Hoary-headed GrebePoliocephalus poliocephalus
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black-necked StorkEphippiorhynchus asiaticus
- BrolgaGrus rubicunda
Songbirds71 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Torresian CrowCorvus orru
- Brown HoneyeaterLichmera indistincta
- White-throated HoneyeaterMelithreptus albogularis
- Magpie larkGrallina cyanoleuca
- Great BowerbirdChlamydera nuchalis
- Willie-wagtailRhipidura leucophrys
- White-bellied CuckooshrikeCoracina papuensis
- Black-tailed TreecreeperClimacteris melanurus
- White-gaped HoneyeaterStomiopera unicolor
- Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
- Silver-crowned FriarbirdPhilemon argenticeps
- Blue-faced HoneyeaterEntomyzon cyanotis
- Yellow OrioleOriolus flavocinctus
- Pied ButcherbirdCracticus nigrogularis
- Shining FlycatcherMyiagra alecto
- Double-barred FinchTaeniopygia bichenovii
- Spangled DrongoDicrurus bracteatus
- Paperbark FlycatcherMyiagra nana
- Varied TrillerLalage leucomela
- Myzomela obscuraMyzomela obscura
- Rufous-banded HoneyeaterConopophila albogularis
- Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventris
- Striated PardalotePardalotus striatus
- Lemon-bellied FlyrobinMicroeca flavigaster
- Crimson FinchNeochmia phaeton
- Northern FantailRhipidura rufiventris
- WeebillSmicrornis brevirostris
- Leaden FlycatcherMyiagra rubecula
- Little FriarbirdPhilemon citreogularis
- Grey-crowned BabblerPomatostomus temporalis
- Masked FinchPoephila personata
- Australian White-winged TrillerLalage tricolor
- MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceum
- Red-backed FairywrenMalurus melanocephalus
- Long-tailed FinchPoephila acuticauda
- Australasian FigbirdSphecotheres vieilloti
- Helmeted FriarbirdPhilemon buceroides
- Black-faced WoodswallowArtamus cinereus
- Sandstone Shrike-thrushColluricincla woodwardi
- Bar-breasted HoneyeaterRamsayornis fasciatus
- Banded HoneyeaterCissomela pectoralis
- Grey ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonica
- Olive-backed OrioleOriolus sagittatus
- Grey ButcherbirdCracticus torquatus
- Rainbow PittaPitta iris
- Golden-headed CisticolaCisticola exilis
- Rufous-throated HoneyeaterConopophila rufogularis
- Little WoodswallowArtamus minor
- Rhipidura dryasRhipidura dryas
- Territornis albilineataTerritornis albilineata
- Artamus leucorhynchosArtamus leucorhynchos
- Green-backed GerygoneGerygone chloronota
- Little Shrike-thrushColluricincla megarhyncha
- Broad-billed FlycatcherMyiagra ruficollis
- Yellow-throated MinerManorina flavigula
- Varied SittellaDaphoenositta chrysoptera
- Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricans
- White-throated GerygoneGerygone olivacea
- Gouldian finchErythrura gouldiae
- Common CicadabirdEdolisoma tenuirostre
- Rhipidura albiscapaRhipidura albiscapa
- Jacky-winterMicroeca fascinans
- Buff-sided RobinPoecilodryas cerviniventris
- White-winged TrillerLalage sueurii
- Rufous SonglarkMegalurus mathewsi
- Large-billed GerygoneGerygone magnirostris
- Variegated Fairy-wrenMalurus lamberti
- Hooded RobinMelanodryas cucullata
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- ApostlebirdStruthidea cinerea
- Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel
Other birds50 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Peaceful DoveGeopelia placida
- Red-tailed Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus banksii
- Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galerita
- Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatus
- Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachii
- Forest KingfisherTodiramphus macleayii
- Red-winged ParrotAprosmictus erythropterus
- Pheasant CoucalCentropus phasianinus
- Azure KingfisherCeyx azureus
- Bar-shouldered DoveGeopelia humeralis
- Varied LorikeetPsitteuteles versicolor
- Little CorellaCacatua sanguinea
- Coconut LorikeetTrichoglossus haematodus
- GalahEolophus roseicapilla
- Partridge pigeonGeophaps smithii
- Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
- Northern RosellaPlatycercus venustus
- Chestnut-quilled Rock-PigeonPetrophassa rufipennis
- Oriental DollarbirdEurystomus orientalis
- Torresian Imperial PigeonDucula spilorrhoa
- Brush CuckooCacomantis variolosus
- ScrubfowlMegapodius reinwardt
- Grey-rumped Fruit-dovePtilinopus alligator
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- Red-collared LorikeetTrichoglossus rubritorquis
- Channel-billed CuckooScythrops novaehollandiae
- Common KoelEudynamys scolopaceus
- Chestnut-backed Button-quailTurnix castanotus
- EmuDromaius novaehollandiae
- Tawny FrogmouthPodargus strigoides
- Oriental CuckooCuculus optatus
- Australian Owlet-NightjarAegotheles cristatus
- CockatielNymphicus hollandicus
- Rose-crowned Fruit DovePtilinopus regina
- Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes
- Common BronzewingPhaps chalcoptera
- Common Emerald DoveChalcophaps indica
- Horsfield's Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx basalis
- Little KingfisherCeyx pusillus
- Brown QuailSynoicus ypsilophorus
- Red-backed KingfisherTodiramphus pyrrhopygius
- Psephotus dissimilisPsephotus dissimilis
- Diamond DoveGeopelia cuneata
- Pacific SwiftApus pacificus
- Pacific Emerald DoveChalcophaps longirostris
- Buff-banded RailGallirallus philippensis
- Australian BustardArdeotis australis
- Spinifex PigeonGeophaps plumifera
- Little Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx minutillus
- Pallid cuckooCuculus pallidus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in March, in June and from September to October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan31°/24°306 mm
- Feb30°/24°306 mm
- Mar31°/24°242 mm
- Apr31°/22°80 mm
- May32°/20°17 mm
- Jun32°/18°2 mm
- Jul33°/17°1 mm
- Aug35°/18°2 mm
- Sep38°/22°9 mm
- Oct40°/25°39 mm
- Nov38°/26°116 mm
- Dec34°/25°248 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Kakadu National Park.
Protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia
Kakadu National Park is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Australia.
199 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 2,482 open records.
The most recorded are the Peaceful Dove, the Whistling Kite and the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.
37 species come for the summer, 26 for the winter and 4 only pass through.
1 are threatened worldwide, including Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
The most species are recorded in March, in June and from September to October.
Get there and watch
- Official informationAccess, hours and rules from those who manage the place.Official site↗
- Jim Jim Billabong Campgroundcampsite · 8.0 km · 4 within 10 km
- Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin (DRW)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 189 km in a straight lineCar hire at DRW airport (Darwin)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 4campsites within 10 kmJim Jim Billabong Campground, Mardugal Campground 1, Mardugal Campground 2 and 1 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- places to stay within 10 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Kakadu National Park.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas5 mountains within 25 kmSpring Peak · 8.0 kmMount Partridge · 9.5 kmGnarl-Ah-Rogie · 13 kmMount Basedow · 18 kmMundogie Hill · 23 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Kakadu National Park
Australia
- 61Birdyas Score
- 199Species
- 67Migrants
- 1Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q189657) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 2,482 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
Find your beach: sea temperature, sun and swimming month by month.Visit 
lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit