Outback Region

Birdwatching in Australian Outback

The Australian outback is one of the world’s most arid regions, yet holds a vast array of birds, especially after rains transform the landscape. This remote area consists of vast stony deserts, long sand dunes, prairie-like plains, mostly dry watercourses, interspersed with occasional rocky ranges. Spiky spinifex grass covers large areas; other parts are surprisingly vegetated with savannah-like grass- and woodlands. Traversing the southern outback are well-known birding routes, such as the Strzelecki Track and the Birdsville Track. Covering parts of South Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland, the cooler months of the year are the best times to visit: during summer, it’s unbearingly hot and occasional rainfall then makes access difficult. Outstanding birding locations in the region are Mt Lyndhurst, Mungerannie, Innamincka, Bowra Station and the Mount Isa area.

Birdlife in the Outback

Birding highlights for the southern half of this region include Flock Bronzewing, Eyrean, Thick-billed and Grey Grasswren, Gibberbird , Yellow Chat, Letter-winged Kite, Black-breasted Buzzard, Inland Dotterel, Chestnut-breasted and Banded Whiteface, Cinnamon Quail-thrush, Chirruping Wedgebill, Little Woodswallow, and the elusive Grey Falcon.

Further north, birding highlights include Carpentarian and Kalkadoon Grasswren, Bourke’s Parrot, Spinifex Pigeon, Hall’s Babbler, Spinifexbird, Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Painted and Plum-headed Finch, Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, Painted Honeyeater, Ground Cuckoo-shrike, Black and Pied Honeyeater.