Australia Ramsar wetland
Thomson River
207 bird species recorded; the most from November to January.
Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 by EOX IT Services GmbH (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data), CC BY 4.0, with relief shading from Copernicus WorldDEM-30
This month here
174 species in January.160 species in February.152 species in March.152 species in April.137 species in May.129 species in June.137 species in July.134 species in August.154 species in September.153 species in October.161 species in November.163 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.
NT
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
207 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).
- 207Speciesrecorded more than once
- 72Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 6ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 58,394Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 12Raptors
- 2Owls
- 14Waders
- 6Gulls & seabirds
- 19Ducks & geese
- 24Herons, ibises & grebes
- 86Songbirds
- 44Other 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 207 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors12 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus
- Swamp HarrierCircus approximans
- White-bellied Sea-EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
- Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audax
- Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
- Brown FalconFalco berigora
- Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides
- Australian hobbyFalco longipennis
- Little EagleHieraaetus morphnoides
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Brown GoshawkAccipiter fasciatus
Owls2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Southern BoobookNinox boobook
- Eastern Barn OwlTyto javanica
Waders14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Masked LapwingVanellus miles
- Japanese SnipeGallinago hardwickiiNT
- Pied StiltHimantopus leucocephalus
- Red-kneed DotterelErythrogonys cinctus
- Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataVU
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Black-fronted DotterelElseyornis melanops
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollisNT
- Australian Red-necked AvocetRecurvirostra novaehollandiae
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Banded LapwingVanellus tricolor
- Red-capped PloverCharadrius ruficapillus
- Australian Painted-snipeRostratula australis
Gulls & seabirds6 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Great Crested-TernThalasseus bergii
- Little TernSternula albifrons
Ducks & geese19 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosa
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- Chestnut TealAnas castanea
- Grey TealAnas gracilis
- Maned DuckChenonetta jubata
- Freckled DuckStictonetta naevosa
- Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoides
- Musk DuckBiziura lobata
- HardheadAythya australis
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Australasian ShovelerSpatula rhynchotis
- Pink-eared DuckMalacorhynchus membranaceus
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- Blue-billed DuckOxyura australis
- Magpie GooseAnseranas semipalmata
- Wandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuata
- Cape Barren GooseCereopsis novaehollandiae
- Grass Whistling DuckDendrocygna eytoni
Herons, ibises & grebes24 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Australian White IbisThreskiornis molucca
- Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
- Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
- Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus
- Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regia
- White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae
- Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae
- Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipes
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
- Egretta intermediaEgretta intermedia
- Hoary-headed GrebePoliocephalus poliocephalus
- White-necked HeronArdea pacifica
- Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
- Ardea modestaArdea modesta
- Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicus
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Australasian BitternBotaurus poiciloptilusVU
- Eastern Cattle EgretBubulcus coromandus
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
Songbirds86 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Superb Fairy-wrenMalurus cyaneus
- Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicen
- Rhipidura albiscapaRhipidura albiscapa
- Magpie larkGrallina cyanoleuca
- Brown ThornbillAcanthiza pusilla
- Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena
- Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculata
- Grey ButcherbirdCracticus torquatus
- Grey ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonica
- Little RavenCorvus mellori
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Noisy MinerManorina melanocephala
- Yellow-faced HoneyeaterCaligavis chrysops
- White-browed ScrubwrenSericornis frontalis
- Red-browed FiretailNeochmia temporalis
- Australian RavenCorvus coronoides
- SilvereyeZosterops lateralis
- New Holland HoneyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiae
- Pied CurrawongStrepera graculina
- Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
- Striated PardalotePardalotus striatus
- Australian Reed-WarblerAcrocephalus australis
- Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australis
- Willie-wagtailRhipidura leucophrys
- Spotted PardalotePardalotus punctatus
- Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
- Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventris
- Little WattlebirdAnthochaera chrysoptera
- Little GrassbirdMegalurus gramineus
- Eastern SpinebillAcanthorhynchus tenuirostris
- Australian Golden WhistlerPachycephala pectoralis
- Yellow ThornbillAcanthiza nana
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- White-throated TreecreeperCormobates leucophaea
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceum
- Grey CurrawongStrepera versicolor
- Yellow-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza chrysorrhoa
- Striated ThornbillAcanthiza lineata
- Olive-backed OrioleOriolus sagittatus
- Golden-headed CisticolaCisticola exilis
- Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricans
- White-eared HoneyeaterNesoptilotis leucotis
- White-plumed HoneyeaterPtilotula penicillata
- White-fronted ChatEpthianura albifrons
- Eastern WhipbirdPsophodes olivaceus
- Satin BowerbirdPtilonorhynchus violaceus
- Scarlet MyzomelaMyzomela sanguinolenta
- Brown-headed HoneyeaterMelithreptus brevirostris
- Australian PipitAnthus australis
- Crescent HoneyeaterPhylidonyris pyrrhopterus
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Varied SittellaDaphoenositta chrysoptera
- Scarlet RobinPetroica boodang
- Dusky WoodswallowArtamus cyanopterus
- White-naped HoneyeaterMelithreptus lunatus
- Forest RavenCorvus tasmanicus
- WeebillSmicrornis brevirostris
- Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel
- Leaden FlycatcherMyiagra rubecula
- Brown GerygoneGerygone mouki
- Buff-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza reguloides
- Crested Shrike-titFalcunculus frontatus
- Lewin's HoneyeaterMeliphaga lewinii
- Flame RobinPetroica phoenicea
- Australasian PipitAnthus novaeseelandiae
- White-bellied CuckooshrikeCoracina papuensis
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Singing HoneyeaterGavicalis virescens
- Restless FlycatcherMyiagra inquieta
- Bell MinerManorina melanophrys
- Beautiful FiretailStagonopleura bella
- Rufous FantailRhipidura rufifrons
- Noisy FriarbirdPhilemon corniculatus
- Jacky-winterMicroeca fascinans
- Bassian ThrushZoothera lunulata
- Australian White-winged TrillerLalage tricolor
- Satin FlycatcherMyiagra cyanoleuca
- Hooded RobinMelanodryas cucullata
- Singing BushlarkMirafra javanica
- Diamond FiretailStagonopleura guttataVU
- White-browed WoodswallowArtamus superciliosus
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Large-billed ScrubwrenSericornis magnirostra
- Fuscous HoneyeaterPtilotula fusca
Other birds44 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotus
- CootFulica atra
- Dusky MoorhenGallinula tenebrosa
- Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galerita
- Coconut LorikeetTrichoglossus haematodus
- Crimson RosellaPlatycercus elegans
- KookaburraDacelo novaeguineae
- Little CorellaCacatua sanguinea
- GalahEolophus roseicapilla
- Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
- Eastern RosellaPlatycercus eximius
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes
- Eastern Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
- Azure KingfisherCeyx azureus
- Shining cuckooChrysococcyx lucidus
- Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformis
- Australian King ParrotAlisterus scapularis
- Horsfield's Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx basalis
- Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus
- Pacific KoelEudynamys orientalis
- Buff-banded RailGallirallus philippensis
- Yellow-tailed Black CockatooZanda funerea
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Common BronzewingPhaps chalcoptera
- Spotless CrakePorzana tabuensis
- Australian CrakePorzana fluminea
- Pallid cuckooCuculus pallidus
- Needle-tailed SwiftHirundapus caudacutus
- Baillon's CrakePorzana pusilla
- Tawny FrogmouthPodargus strigoides
- Stubble QuailCoturnix pectoralis
- Gang-gang CockatooCallocephalon fimbriatumVU
- Black-tailed NativehenGallinula ventralis
- Brown QuailSynoicus ypsilophorus
- EmuDromaius novaehollandiae
- Long-billed CorellaCacatua tenuirostris
- Musk LorikeetGlossopsitta concinna
- Australian Owlet-NightjarAegotheles cristatus
- Pacific SwiftApus pacificus
- Yellow-tailed Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus funereus
- Lewin's RailLewinia pectoralis
- Little LorikeetParvipsitta pusilla
- Blue-winged ParrotNeophema chrysostomaVU
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species from November to January.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan27°/14°53 mm
- Feb26°/13°60 mm
- Mar24°/12°54 mm
- Apr20°/10°67 mm
- May16°/7°55 mm
- Jun13°/6°79 mm
- Jul12°/5°68 mm
- Aug13°/5°73 mm
- Sep16°/6°63 mm
- Oct19°/8°69 mm
- Nov22°/10°81 mm
- Dec25°/12°68 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Thomson River.
River in Victoria, Australia
Thomson River is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Australia.
207 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 58,394 open records.
The most recorded are the Pacific Black Duck, the Superb Fairy-wren and the Australasian Swamphen.
50 species come for the summer, 21 for the winter and 1 only pass through.
6 are threatened worldwide, including Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Australasian Bittern and Gang-gang Cockatoo.
The most species are recorded from November to January.
Get there and watch
- Thomson River Caravan Park (Closed)campsite · 2.4 km · 3 within 10 km
- Frog Gully Cottagesplace to stay · 3.8 km · 20 within 10 km
- Longfordnearest town · 1.8 km in a straight line
- Mount Hotham Airport (MHU)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 124 km in a straight lineCar hire in PakenhamDiscover 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
- 1observation towers within 6 km
- 1visitor centres within 6 kmSale Visitor Centre
- 4viewpoints within 5 kmWetlands Lookout, Billabong Lookout, River Lookout and 1 more
- 1car parks within 3 km
- 3campsites within 10 kmThomson River Caravan Park (Closed), Sale Showground Caravan & Motorhome Park
- 20places to stay within 10 kmFrog Gully Cottages, m. hotel + apartments, The Matador Motel and 17 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 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 Thomson River.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas4 mountains within 25 kmDeadmans Hill · 9.6 kmHoley Hill · 16 kmHoneysuckle Hill · 19 kmColliers Hill · 20 km
Lakeyas1 lakes within 15 kmLake Kakydra0.3 km² · 13 km
Riveryasthe river nearbyLatrobe River271 km · 104 m³/sThomson River170 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Thomson River
Australia
- 72Birdyas Score
- 207Species
- 72Migrants
- 6Threatened
Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park
Australia · 31 km
- 66Birdyas Score
- 176Species
- 59Migrants
- 5Threatened
Churchill Island Marine National Park
Australia · 159 km
- 84Birdyas Score
- 267Species
- 88Migrants
- 9Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q2428732) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 58,394 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, Lakeyas, Riveryas |
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?
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