Northern Territory is a territory in Australia, with 448 species of bird recorded.
This list is based on the 1996 classification by Sibley and Monroe (though there has been a recent (2008) extensive revision of Australian birds by Christidis and BolesSystematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds), which has resulted in some lumping and splitting. Their system has been developed over nearly two decades and has strong local support, but deviates in important ways from more generally accepted schemes. Supplemental updates follow The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Northern Territory (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Northern Territory (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Northern Territory as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Cassowaries and emu Order: CasuariiformesFamily: Casuariidae
This family of flightless ratite birds is represented by two living species in Australia. Another two species are found in New Guinea. The extinct, geographically isolated King and Kangaroo Island emus were historically considered to be separate species to mainland emus. However, genetic evidence from 2011 suggests that all three are conspecific.
Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae
Magpie goose Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anseranatidae
The family contains a single species, the magpie goose. It was an early and distinctive offshoot of the anseriform family tree, diverging after the screamers and before all other ducks, geese and swans, sometime in the late Cretaceous. The single species is found across Australia.
Magpie goose, Anseranas semipalmata
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are adapted for an aquatic existence, with webbed feet, bills that are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Spotted whistling-duck, Dendrocygna guttata (A) Plumed whistling-duck, Dendrocygna eytoni Wandering whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arcuata (A) Cape Barren goose, Cereopsis novaehollandiae Freckled duck, Stictonetta naevosa Black swan, Cygnus atratus Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah Australian shelduck, Tadorna tadornoides Green pygmy-goose, Nettapus pulchellus Australian wood duck, Chenonetta jubata Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Australian shoveler, Spatula rhynchotis Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Gray teal, Anas gracilis Chestnut teal, Anas castanea Pink-eared duck, Malacorhynchus membranaceus Hardhead, Aythya australis Blue-billed duck, Oxyura australis
Megapodes Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
Megapodiidae are represented by various species in the Australasian region. They are commonly referred to as "mound-builders" due to their habit of constructing large mounds to incubate their eggs.
Malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata (extirpated) Orange-footed scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Brown quail, Synoicus ypsilophora Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis Stubble quail, Coturnix pectoralis
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis (A) Australasian grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Hoary-headed grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Spotted dove, Streptopelia chinensis (I) Pacific emerald dove, Chalcophaps longirostris Common bronzewing, Phaps chalcoptera Flock bronzewing, Phaps histrionica Crested pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes Spinifex pigeon, Geophaps plumifera Partridge pigeon, Geophaps smithii Chestnut-quilled rock-pigeon, Petrophassa rufipennis (E) White-quilled rock-pigeon, Petrophassa albipennis Diamond dove, Geopelia cuneata Peaceful dove, Geopelia placida Bar-shouldered dove, Geopelia humeralis Black-banded fruit-dove, Ptilinopus alligator (E) Rose-crowned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus regina Elegant imperial-pigeon, Ducula concinna (A) Torresian imperial-pigeon, Ducula spilorrhoa
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Australian bustard, Ardeotis australis
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Pheasant coucal, Centropus phasianinus Pacific koel, Eudynamys orientalis Channel-billed cuckoo, Scythrops novaehollandiae Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx basalis Black-eared cuckoo, Chrysococcyx osculans Little bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx minutillus Pallid cuckoo, Cuculus pallidus Brush cuckoo, Cacomantis variolosus Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus
Frogmouths Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from India across southern Asia to Australia.
Tawny frogmouth, Podargus strigoides
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Spotted nightjar, Eurostopodus argus Large-tailed nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus
Owlet-nightjars Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Aegothelidae
The owlet-nightjars are a distinctive group of small nocturnal birds related to swifts found from the Maluku Islands and New Guinea to Australia and New Caledonia.
Australian owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles cristatus
Swifts Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus White-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus (A) Pacific swift, Apus pacificus House swift, Apus nipalensis (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Lewin's rail, Lewinia pectoralis (A) Chestnut rail, Gallirallus castaneoventris Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis Black-tailed nativehen, Tribonyx ventralis Australian crake, Porzana fluminea Dusky moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus Pale-vented bush-hen, Amaurornis moluccana Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla Spotless crake, Zapornia tabuensis
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Sarus crane, Antigone antigone Brolga, Antigone rubicunda
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Bush thick-knee, Burhinus grallarius Beach thick-knee, Esacus magnirostris (A)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin straight bills.
Pied stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus Banded stilt, Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Red-necked avocet, Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Pied oystercatcher, Haematopus longirostris Sooty oystercatcher, Haematopus fuliginosus
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Banded lapwing, Vanellus tricolor Masked lapwing, Vanellus miles Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus (A) Double-banded plover, Charadrius bicinctus (A) Red-capped plover, Charadrius ruficapillus Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (A) Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A) Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (A) Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus Red-kneed dotterel, Erythrogonys cinctus Black-fronted dotterel, Elseyornis melanops Inland dotterel, Peltohyas australis
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
Australian painted-snipe, Rostratula australis
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a group of waders found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
Comb-crested jacana, Irediparra gallinacea
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A) Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis