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Featured Wildlife Journeys

  • Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

  • Australasian Gannet

  • Eastern Yellow Robin

  • Campbell Albatross

  • Wedge-tailed Eagle

  • Black-necked Stork (Jabiru)

Birds

Australia has the most endemic bird species of any country on earth.

Birdwatching Tours in Australia

Of all the world's birding tour destinations, Australia consistently ranks as one of the most exotic and fascinating. 

The geological evolution of the Australian continent has shaped the extraordinary variety of birds, estimated at 828 species (45% of which are endemic) at present. In fact, it has recently been determined that no other continent has contributed so greatly to the evolution of birds, with the majority of the world’s species having Australian ancestry. Birdwatchers across the world are continually captivated by the sights, stories and sounds of Australian species along with the opportunity to photograph them in their natural habitats. There is no doubt that Australia is one of the iconic destinations when it comes to bird watching experiences.

Australia is the birthplace of glorious songbirds and alluring parrots, with the evolutionary process contributing to the development of birds that are generally more intelligent, aggressive, loud, melodious and socially cooperative. It is also home to a range of bird families unique to the Australasian region including megapodes (mound builders), butcher birds, bowerbirds, lorikeets, lyrebirds, Australian creepers, wrens, honeyeaters and iconic cockatoos. Australia is also one of the best places to watch raptor birds as they hunt down prey and soar across breathtaking horizons.

With so many species spread across stunning and diverse habitats including tropical rainforests, coral reefs, coastal heaths, wetlands and swamps, grasslands, sandy and stony deserts and Eucalypt woodlands, it is little wonder why Australia is recognised across the globe as a birdwatchers paradise.

Wondering where the best places across Australia are to watch birds? Below you will see a list of bird watching tours in Australia listed by seasonthat are part of the Australian Wildlife Journeys group. Our range of experienced guides accommodate many of the most popular Australian birdwatching regions and wildlife sites throughout the country. 

We invite you to bring your camera and binoculars, so we can share our knowledge and passion with you on these birding tours of Australia, which also feature beautifully appointed accommodation options, outstanding culinary offerings and fabulous hospitality. 

Search for birding tours using the seasonal viewing opportunities calendar further down the page or by using the search toolbar directly below:

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Viewing opportunities that include birds

Months
  • Osprey

    September,October,November, Eyre Peninsula

    Eyre Peninsula - Spring Sightings by Bird Group

    Bushbirds

    Ratites: Emu | Kingfishers: Sacred Kingfisher | Pigeons & Doves: Rock Dove, Common Bronzewing, Brush Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon | Cuckoos & Coucals: Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Pallid Cuckoo

    Parrots

    Parrots & Cockatoos: Galah, Rock Parrot, Port Lincoln Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Mulga Parrot, Yellow-tailed Cockatoo  

    Raptors

    Hawks & Eagles: Osprey, Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Swamp Harrier | Falcons: Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon

    Seabirds

    Gannets & Boobies: Australasia Gannet | Gulls & Terns: Caspian Tern, Whiskered Tern, Great Crested Tern, Silver Gull, Pacific Gull | Cormorants: Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Black-faced Cormorant | Pelicans: Australian Pelican

    Songbirds

    Honeyeaters: Purple-gaped Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Singing Honeyeater, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Blue-headed Honeyeater | Wrens: Superb Fairy-wren, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Southern Emu-wren | Pardalotes, Scrubwrens & Thornbills: Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Inland Thornbill, Weebill | Robins: Southern Scrub-robin, Western Yellow Robin, Scarlet Robin | Whipbirds: Western Whipbird | Whistlers & Shrike-thrushs: Western Whistler, Grey Strikethrush | Monarchs & Flycatchers: Willie-wagtail, Grey Fantail | Cuckoo-shrikes: Black-faced Cuckooshrike | Woodswallows, Magpies & Butcherbirds: Grey Butcherbird, Grey Currawong, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Dusky Woodswallow | Ravens & Crows: Australian Raven, Little Raven | Pipits: Australian Pipit | Treecreepers:  Rufous Treecreeper | Babblers: White-browed Babbler | White-eyes: Silvereye | Swallows & Martins: Welcome Swallow

    Waterbirds & Waders

    Ducks, Geese & Swans: Cape Barren Goose, Black Swan, Australian Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Musk Duck | Snipes & Relatives: Common Greenshank, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Latham's Snipe | Oystercatchers: Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher | Plovers, Dotterels & Lapwings: Masked Lapwing, Red-capped Plover, Banded Plover, Grey Plover, Hooded Plover | Herons, Ibises & Storks: White-faced Heron,Eastern Reef Egret, Eastern Great Egret | Cranes & Relatives: Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Swamphen | Grebes: Australasian Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe

    How to find these species

    Guides - Fran Solly v2

    "White-bellied Sea Eagles and Osprey nest along our spectacular coastal cliff habitats and rocky offshore islands, with young typically fledging late in Spring.

    It's an amazing time to spot many of our bushbirds in the national parks, including Striated Pardalotes, Western Yellow Robins, Western Whistlers, White-Browed Babblers, Red Wattlebirds, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes, New Holland Honeyeaters, Brown-Headed Honey Eaters along with Port Lincoln and Rock Parrots. We also spend some time looking for some of the rarer species including Scarlet Robins, Diamond Firetails, Southern Emu-wrens and Western Whipbirds and the migratory Wood Sandpiper and Latham's Snipe."

    Fran Solly, Birding Specialist Guide

    Suggested Tour: Southern Eyre Peninsula Birdwatching

    Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights
    Type: Private, Shared Departures available seasonally

    Home to 270 species of birds and 1900 native plant species, this tour across the Southern Eyre Peninsula traverses coastal dune shrublands, mallee woodlands, sandflats, saltmarsh, subcoastal and clifftops.

    Full Itinerary

    Tours in Eyre Peninsula related to Birds

  • Musk Duck

    June,July,August, Eyre Peninsula

    Eyre Peninsula - Winter Sightings by Bird Group

    Bushbirds

    Ratites: Emu | Kingfishers: Sacred Kingfisher | Pigeons & Doves: Rock Dove, Common Bronzewing, Brush Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon

    Parrots Parrots & Cockatoos: Galah, Rock Parrot, Port Lincoln Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Mulga Parrot, Yellow-tailed Cockatoo
    Raptors Hawks & Eagles: Osprey, Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Swamp Harrier | Falcons: Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon
    Seabirds Gannets & Boobies: | Gulls & Terns: Caspian Tern, Great Crested Tern, Silver Gull, Pacific Gull | Cormorants: Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Black-faced Cormorant | Pelicans: Australian Pelican
    Songbirds

    Honeyeaters: Purple-gaped Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Singing Honeyeater, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater | Wrens: Superb Fairy-wren, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Southern Emu-wren | Pardalotes, Scrubwrens & Thornbills: Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Inland Thornbill | Robins: Southern Scrub-robin, Western Yellow Robin, Scarlet Robin | WhipbirdsWestern Whipbird | Whistlers & Shrike-thrushs: Western Whistler, Grey Strikethrush | Monarchs & Flycatchers: Willie-wagtail, Grey Fantail | Cuckoo-shrikes: Black-faced Cuckooshrike | Woodswallows, Magpies & Butcherbirds: Grey Butcherbird, Grey Currawong, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Dusky Woodswallow | Ravens & Crows: Australian Raven, Little Raven | Bowerbirds:  | Pipits: Australian Pipit | Starlings:  | Treecreepers:  | Friarbirds:  | Flowerpeckers: | Babblers: White-browed Babbler |  White-eyes: Silvereye | Swallows & Martins: Welcome Swallow

    Waterbirds & Waders

    Ducks, Geese & Swans: Cape Barren Goose, Black Swan, Australian Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Musk Duck | Snipes & Relatives: Common Greenshank, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper | Oystercatchers: Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher | Plovers, Dotterels & Lapwings: Masked Lapwing, Red-capped Plover, Banded Plover | Herons, Ibises & Storks: White-faced Heron, Eastern Reef Egret, Eastern Great Egret | Cranes & Relatives: Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Swamphen | Grebes: Australasian Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe

    How to find these species

    Guides - Fran Solly v2

    "We take guests out to Big Swamp over this season, to see a wide variety of waterbirds, with many commencing their nesting season. Black Swans, Grey Teal Ducks, Chestnut Teal Ducks, Pink Eared Ducks, Musk Ducks, Black Winged Stilts, Banded Plovers and Cape Barren Geese are all possible encounters.

    Across Coffin Bay National Park, there are active Osprey and White-bellied Sea Eagle nests, with pairs often seen fishing along the cliffs and sandy white beaches.  The area is also home to Caspian Terns, Hooded Plovers, Red Capped Plovers, Red Necked Stints, Golden Whistlers, Masked Lapwings, Emus and Wedge-tailed Eagles.  There is also a chance to see the elusive Southern Emu-Wren and a remnant flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos."

    Fran Solly, Birding Specialist Guide

    Suggested Tour: Southern Eyre Peninsula Birdwatching

    Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights
    Type: Private, Shared Departures available seasonally

    Home to 270 species of birds and 1900 native plant species, this tour across the Southern Eyre Peninsula traverses coastal dune shrublands, mallee woodlands, sandflats, saltmarsh, subcoastal and clifftops.

    Full Itinerary

     

    Tours in Eyre Peninsula related to Birds

  • Port Lincoln Parrot

    March,April,May, Eyre Peninsula

    Eyre Peninsula - Autumn Sightings by Bird Group

    Bushbirds

    Ratites: Emu | Kingfishers: Sacred Kingfisher | Pigeons & Doves: Rock Dove, Common Bronzewing, Brush Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon

    Parrots Parrots & Cockatoos: Galah, Rock Parrot, Port Lincoln Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Mulga Parrot, Yellow-tailed Cockatoo
    Raptors Hawks & Eagles: Osprey, Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Swamp Harrier | Falcons: Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon
    Seabirds Gannets & Boobies: | Gulls & Terns: Caspian Tern, Great Crested Tern, Silver Gull, Pacific Gull | Cormorants: Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Black-faced Cormorant | Pelicans: Australian Pelican
    Songbirds

    Honeyeaters: Purple-gaped Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Singing Honeyeater, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater | Wrens: Superb Fairy-wren, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren | Pardalotes, Scrubwrens & Thornbills: Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Inland Thornbill | Robins: Southern Scrub-robin, Western Yellow Robin, Scarlet Robin | WhipbirdsWestern Whipbird | Whistlers & Shrike-thrushs: Western Whistler, Grey Strikethrush | Monarchs & Flycatchers: Willie-wagtail, Grey Fantail | Cuckoo-shrikes: Black-faced Cuckooshrike | Woodswallows, Magpies & Butcherbirds: Grey Butcherbird, Grey Currawong, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Dusky Woodswallow | Ravens & Crows: Australian Raven, Little Raven | Bowerbirds:  | Pipits: Australian Pipit | Starlings:  | Treecreepers:  | Friarbirds:  | Flowerpeckers: | Babblers: White-browed Babbler |  White-eyes: Silvereye | Swallows & Martins: Welcome Swallow

    Waterbirds & Waders

    Ducks, Geese & Swans: Cape Barren Goose, Black Swan, Australian Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Musk Duck | Snipes & Relatives: Common Greenshank, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper| Stone Curlews:  | Oystercatchers: Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher | Plovers, Dotterels & Lapwings: Masked Lapwing, Red-capped Plover, Banded Plover | Herons, Ibises & Storks: White-faced Heron, Eastern Reef Egret, Eastern Great Egret | Cranes & Relatives: Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Swamphen | Grebes: Australasian Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe

    How to find these species

    Guides - Fran Solly v2

    “A small flock of remnant Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos aggregate post breeding during the Autumn and Port Lincoln (Australian Ringneck) Parrots, Australian Magpies, Galahs, Red Wattlebirds, Black-Faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Masked Lapwings, Western Whistlers and an occasional Scarlet Robin can be seen across Port Lincoln National Park and Mikkira.

    It's always a joy to showcase the rugged cliffs along the Great Australian Bight to view Osprey and White Bellied Sea-Eagles along with other raptors including kites and Swamp Harriers.  In beautiful Memory Cove, birds that may be encountered include Purple-Gaped Honeyeaters, Striated Pardalotes, Spiney-Cheeked Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows, Western Yellow Robins, Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens and White-Browed Scrubwrens.

    Fran Solly, Birding Specialist Guide

    Suggested Tour: Southern Eyre Peninsula Birdwatching

    Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights
    Type: Private, Shared Departures available seasonally

    Home to 270 species of birds and 1900 native plant species, this tour across the Southern Eyre Peninsula traverses coastal dune shrublands, mallee woodlands, sandflats, saltmarsh, subcoastal and clifftops.

    Full Itinerary

    Tours in Eyre Peninsula related to Birds

  • Black-shouldered Kite

    January,February,December, Eyre Peninsula

    Eyre Peninsula - Summer Sightings by Bird Group

    Bushbirds

    Ratites: Emu | Kingfishers: Sacred Kingfisher | Pigeons & Doves: Rock Dove, Common Bronzewing, Brush Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon | Cuckoos & Coucals: Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Pallid Cuckoo

    Parrots

    Parrots & Cockatoos: Galah, Rock Parrot, Port Lincoln Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Mulga Parrot, Yellow-tailed Cockatoo  

    Raptors

    Hawks & Eagles: Osprey, Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Swamp HarrierFalcons: Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon

    Seabirds

    Gannets & Boobies: Australasia Gannet | Gulls & Terns: Caspian Tern, Whiskered Tern, Great Crested Tern, Silver Gull, Pacific Gull | Cormorants: Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Black-faced Cormorant | Pelicans: Australian Pelican

    Songbirds

    Honeyeaters: Purple-gaped Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Singing Honeyeater, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Blue-headed Honeyeater | Wrens: Superb Fairy-wren, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren, Southern Emu-wren | Pardalotes, Scrubwrens & Thornbills: Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Inland Thornbill | Robins: Southern Scrub-robin, Western Yellow Robin, Scarlet Robin | Whipbirds: Western Whipbird | Whistlers & Shrike-thrushs: Western Whistler, Grey Strikethrush | Monarchs & Flycatchers: Willie-wagtail, Grey Fantail | Cuckoo-shrikes: Black-faced Cuckooshrike | Woodswallows, Magpies & Butcherbirds: Grey Butcherbird, Grey Currawong, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Dusky Woodswallow | Ravens & Crows: Australian Raven, Little Raven | Pipits: Australian Pipit | Treecreepers:  Rufous Treecreeper | Babblers: White-browed Babbler | White-eyes: Silvereye | Swallows & Martins: Welcome Swallow

    Waterbirds & Waders

    Ducks, Geese & Swans: Cape Barren Goose, Black Swan, Australian Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Musk Duck | Snipes & Relatives: Common Greenshank, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Latham's Snipe | Oystercatchers: Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher | Plovers, Dotterels & Lapwings: Masked Lapwing, Red-capped Plover, Banded Plover, Grey Plover, Hooded Plover | Herons, Ibises & Storks: White-faced Heron,Eastern Reef Egret, Eastern Great Egret | Cranes & Relatives: Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Swamphen | Grebes: Australasian Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe

    How to find these species

    Guides - Fran Solly v2

    “Summer is the nesting season for Pied Oystercatchers, Hooded Dotterels, Red-capped Plovers so we explore several local beaches on the peninsula at this time, whilst keeping a lookout for the migratory Common Greenshank after their enormous flights from the Northern Hemisphere.

    A visit to Big Swamp provides sanctuary for Black Swans, Grey Teal Ducks, Chestnut Teal Ducks, Pink Eared Ducks, Musk Ducks and Black Winged Stilts and at Mikkira and Lincoln National Park, Port Lincoln (Australian Ringneck) Parrots, Common Bronzewings, Striated Pardalotes, Spiney-Cheeked Honeyeaters and White-Browed Scrubwrens abundant. Pallid Cuckoos also migrate to the peninsula over the Summer."

    Fran Solly, Birding Specialist Guide

    Suggested Tour: Southern Eyre Peninsula Birdwatching

    Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights
    Type: Private, Shared Departures available seasonally

    Home to 270 species of birds and 1900 native plant species, this tour across the Southern Eyre Peninsula traverses coastal dune shrublands, mallee woodlands, sandflats, saltmarsh, subcoastal and clifftops.

    Full Itinerary

    Tours in Eyre Peninsula related to Birds