Australia Important Bird Area
Coastal Wet Tropics Important Bird Area
216 bird species recorded; the most from August to September.
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
120 species in January.141 species in February.90 species in March.94 species in April.104 species in May.143 species in June.135 species in July.158 species in August.150 species in September.116 species in October.106 species in November.106 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
216 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).
- 216Speciesrecorded more than once
- 68Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 1ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 24,519Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 14Raptors
- 1Owls
- 13Waders
- 2Gulls & seabirds
- 14Ducks & geese
- 23Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 88Songbirds
- 59Other 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 216 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Pacific BazaAviceda subcristata
- White-bellied Sea-EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
- Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus
- Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides
- Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus
- Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
- Australian hobbyFalco longipennis
- Brown FalconFalco berigora
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Swamp HarrierCircus approximans
- Grey GoshawkAccipiter novaehollandiae
- Spotted HarrierCircus assimilis
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
Owls1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Southern BoobookNinox boobook
Waders13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Masked LapwingVanellus miles
- Comb-crested JacanaIrediparra gallinacea
- Bush Thick-kneeBurhinus grallarius
- Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
- Beach Stone-curlewEsacus magnirostrisNT
- Japanese SnipeGallinago hardwickiiNT
- Pied StiltHimantopus leucocephalus
- Australian PratincoleStiltia isabella
- Little CurlewNumenius minutus
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Black-fronted DotterelElseyornis melanops
- Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarum
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Gulls & seabirds2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Australian TernGelochelidon macrotarsa
- Great Crested-TernThalasseus bergii
Ducks & geese14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosa
- Wandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuata
- Grass Whistling DuckDendrocygna eytoni
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- HardheadAythya australis
- Raja ShelduckRadjah radjah
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Magpie GooseAnseranas semipalmata
- Green Pygmy GooseNettapus pulchellus
- Maned DuckChenonetta jubata
- Grey TealAnas gracilis
- Cotton Pygmy GooseNettapus coromandelianus
- Pink-eared DuckMalacorhynchus membranaceus
Herons, ibises & grebes23 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Australian White IbisThreskiornis molucca
- Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Egretta intermediaEgretta intermedia
- Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
- Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
- Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis
- Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae
- Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regia
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- White-necked HeronArdea pacifica
- Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicus
- White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae
- Striated HeronButorides striata
- Great-billed HeronArdea sumatrana
- Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
- Ardea modestaArdea modesta
- Black BitternDupetor flavicollis
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Pied HeronEgretta picata
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black-necked StorkEphippiorhynchus asiaticus
- Sarus CraneGrus antigoneVU
Songbirds88 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
- Magpie larkGrallina cyanoleuca
- Helmeted FriarbirdPhilemon buceroides
- Willie-wagtailRhipidura leucophrys
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Australasian FigbirdSphecotheres vieilloti
- Metallic StarlingAplonis metallica
- Yellow HoneyeaterStomiopera flava
- Spangled DrongoDicrurus bracteatus
- Yellow OrioleOriolus flavocinctus
- Artamus leucorhynchosArtamus leucorhynchos
- Brown HoneyeaterLichmera indistincta
- Myzomela obscuraMyzomela obscura
- MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceum
- Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena
- Black ButcherbirdMelloria quoyi
- White-bellied CuckooshrikeCoracina papuensis
- SilvereyeZosterops lateralis
- Varied TrillerLalage leucomela
- Brown-backed HoneyeaterRamsayornis modestus
- Leaden FlycatcherMyiagra rubecula
- Spice FinchLonchura punctulata
- Chestnut-breasted MannikinLonchura castaneothorax
- Large-billed GerygoneGerygone magnirostris
- Crimson FinchNeochmia phaeton
- Shining FlycatcherMyiagra alecto
- Yellow-spotted HoneyeaterMeliphaga notata
- Yellow-eyed CuckooshrikeCoracina lineata
- Spectacled MonarchSymposiachrus trivirgatus
- Golden-headed CisticolaCisticola exilis
- Rufous FantailRhipidura rufifrons
- Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel
- Fairy GerygoneGerygone palpebrosa
- Olive-backed SunbirdCinnyris jugularis
- Grey WhistlerPachycephala simplex
- Red-backed FairywrenMalurus melanocephalus
- Red-browed FiretailNeochmia temporalis
- Megalurus timoriensisMegalurus timoriensis
- Olive-backed OrioleOriolus sagittatus
- Pied CurrawongStrepera graculina
- Spotted CatbirdAiluroedus maculosus
- Large-billed ScrubwrenSericornis magnirostra
- Common CicadabirdEdolisoma tenuirostre
- Graceful HoneyeaterMicroptilotis gracilis
- Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
- Macleay HoneyeaterXanthotis macleayanus
- Artamus leucorynArtamus leucoryn
- Rhipidura albiscapaRhipidura albiscapa
- Lovely FairywrenMalurus amabilis
- White-eared MonarchCarterornis leucotis
- Australian PipitAnthus australis
- Little Shrike-thrushColluricincla megarhyncha
- Noisy PittaPitta versicolor
- Rufous ShrikethrushColluricincla rufogaster
- Blue-faced HoneyeaterEntomyzon cyanotis
- Pale-yellow RobinTregellasia capito
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Eastern WhipbirdPsophodes olivaceus
- Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricans
- Pied MonarchArses kaupi
- Noisy FriarbirdPhilemon corniculatus
- Brown GerygoneGerygone mouki
- Australian Golden WhistlerPachycephala pectoralis
- Little FriarbirdPhilemon citreogularis
- Australasian PipitAnthus novaeseelandiae
- Cryptic HoneyeaterMicroptilotis imitatrix
- Torresian CrowCorvus orru
- Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicen
- Australian Reed-WarblerAcrocephalus australis
- Lewin's HoneyeaterMeliphaga lewinii
- Black ButcherbirdCracticus quoyi
- Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensis
- Singing BushlarkMirafra javanica
- Mangrove GerygoneGerygone levigaster
- Scarlet MyzomelaMyzomela sanguinolenta
- ChowchillaOrthonyx spaldingii
- Black-faced MonarchMonarcha melanopsis
- Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventris
- Restless FlycatcherMyiagra inquieta
- Noisy MinerManorina melanocephala
- Lemon-bellied FlyrobinMicroeca flavigaster
- Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australis
- Pied ButcherbirdCracticus nigrogularis
- Double-barred FinchTaeniopygia bichenovii
- Satin BowerbirdPtilonorhynchus violaceus
- Northern FantailRhipidura rufiventris
- Brown SonglarkMegalurus cruralis
- Varied HoneyeaterGavicalis versicolor
Other birds59 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eastern Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
- Coconut LorikeetTrichoglossus haematodus
- Peaceful DoveGeopelia placida
- Torresian Imperial PigeonDucula spilorrhoa
- Forest KingfisherTodiramphus macleayii
- KookaburraDacelo novaeguineae
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Bar-shouldered DoveGeopelia humeralis
- Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galerita
- ScrubfowlMegapodius reinwardt
- Double-eyed Fig-parrotCyclopsitta diophthalma
- Australian SwiftletAerodramus terraereginae
- Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatus
- Little Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx minutillus
- Pheasant CoucalCentropus phasianinus
- Red-tailed Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus banksii
- Brush CuckooCacomantis variolosus
- Pacific KoelEudynamys orientalis
- Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
- Southern CassowaryCasuarius casuarius
- Channel-billed CuckooScythrops novaehollandiae
- White-browed CrakePorzana cinerea
- Pacific Emerald DoveChalcophaps longirostris
- Azure KingfisherCeyx azureus
- Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagris
- Little KingfisherCeyx pusillus
- Plain Bush-henAmaurornis olivacea
- Buff-banded RailGallirallus philippensis
- Superb Fruit DovePtilinopus superbus
- Brown Cuckoo-doveMacropygia phasianella
- Scaly-breasted LorikeetTrichoglossus chlorolepidotus
- Rose-crowned Fruit DovePtilinopus regina
- Wompoo Fruit DovePtilinopus magnificus
- Oriental DollarbirdEurystomus orientalis
- Topknot PigeonLopholaimus antarcticus
- Shining cuckooChrysococcyx lucidus
- Red-necked CrakeRallina tricolor
- Little CorellaCacatua sanguinea
- Common KoelEudynamys scolopaceus
- Needle-tailed SwiftHirundapus caudacutus
- Pacific SwiftApus pacificus
- Australian BrushturkeyAlectura lathami
- Brown QuailSynoicus ypsilophorus
- Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformis
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- Red-backed ButtonquailTurnix maculosus
- Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotus
- Buff-breasted Paradise-KingfisherTanysiptera sylvia
- Red-winged ParrotAprosmictus erythropterus
- Australian King ParrotAlisterus scapularis
- Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes
- Horsfield's Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx basalis
- Large-tailed NightjarCaprimulgus macrurus
- Torresian KingfisherTodiramphus sordidus
- Indian PeafowlPavo cristatus
- Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachii
- Common Emerald DoveChalcophaps indica
- Pied Imperial-PigeonDucula bicolor
- Dusky MoorhenGallinula tenebrosa
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 August to September.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan29°/26°314 mm
- Feb29°/26°365 mm
- Mar28°/26°371 mm
- Apr27°/24°190 mm
- May25°/23°105 mm
- Jun24°/21°67 mm
- Jul23°/20°58 mm
- Aug24°/20°32 mm
- Sep25°/22°32 mm
- Oct26°/23°57 mm
- Nov28°/24°80 mm
- Dec29°/26°151 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Coastal Wet Tropics Important Bird Area.
Important Bird Area in Queensland, Australia
Coastal Wet Tropics Important Bird Area is an Important Bird Area (BirdLife) in Australia.
216 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 24,519 open records.
The most recorded are the Eastern Spotted Dove, the Common Myna and the Magpie lark.
25 species come for the summer, 43 for the winter and 0 only pass through.
1 are threatened worldwide, including Sarus Crane.
The most species are recorded from August to September.
Get there and watch
- Fred Drew Rest Areacampsite · 0.7 km · 7 within 10 km
- Moondarra Motelplace to stay · 3.3 km · 3 within 10 km
- Innisfailnearest town · 3.4 km in a straight line
- Cairns International Airport (CNS)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 76 km in a straight lineCar hire at CNS airport (Cairns)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
- 1visitor centres within 6 km
- 2viewpoints within 5 km
- 8car parks within 3 km
- 1restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 7campsites within 10 kmFred Drew Rest Area, River Drive Caravan Park, BIG4 Innisfail and 4 more
- 3places to stay within 10 kmMoondarra Motel, Barrier Reef Motel, Hillside House
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 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 Coastal Wet Tropics Important Bird Area.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas35 mountains within 25 kmMount Mirinjo · 14 kmMount Graham · 16 kmSugarloaf Mountain · 18 kmMount Warrubullen · 21 kmTwin Pinnacles · 22 kmMount Poorka · 23 kmBartle Frere South Peak · 23 kmMount Bartle Frere1,611 m · 25 km
Riveryasthe river nearbyJohnstone River
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Coastal Wet Tropics Important Bird Area
Australia
- 62Birdyas Score
- 216Species
- 68Migrants
- 1Threatened
Bowling Green Bay National Park
Australia · 218 km
- 48Birdyas Score
- 132Species
- 31Migrants
- 0Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q1104415) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 24,519 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, 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?
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