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Australia Australia Ramsar wetland

Lake Argyle

185 bird species recorded; the most from July to October.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec153at the peak
Species recorded in each month · tap a month

W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0

This month here

5 species in January.

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.

Yellow Chat
Yellow ChatEpthianura croceaSummer visitorRon Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
White-quilled Rock-Pigeon
White-quilled Rock-PigeonPetrophassa albipennisSummer visitorJosh Anderson · Public domain
Azure Kingfisher
Azure KingfisherCeyx azureusSummer visitorJJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ) · CC BY 3.0
Northern Fantail
Northern FantailRhipidura rufiventrisSummer visitorAviceda · CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Resident all year
  • Summer visitor comes to breed
  • Winter visitor comes for the winter
  • Passage migrant in spring and autumn

In numbers

185 species, counted.

69out of 100

Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).

  • 185Speciesrecorded more than once
  • 110Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
  • 2ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
  • 9,920Recordsopen records within 6 km
  • 91 mAltitudeabove the sea
  • 15Raptors
  • 25Waders
  • 6Gulls & seabirds
  • 11Ducks & geese
  • 21Herons, ibises & grebes
  • 2Storks & cranes
  • 65Songbirds
  • 40Other 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 185 species.

By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.

Raptors15 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus
  • White-bellied Sea-EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
  • Black KiteMilvus migrans
  • OspreyPandion haliaetus
  • Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides
  • Brown FalconFalco berigora
  • Swamp HarrierCircus approximans
  • Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audax
  • Black FalconFalco subniger
  • Little EagleHieraaetus morphnoides
  • Australian hobbyFalco longipennis
  • Spotted HarrierCircus assimilis
  • Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus
  • Black-breasted buzzardHamirostra melanosternon
  • Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
Waders25 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Masked LapwingVanellus miles
  • Australian PratincoleStiltia isabella
  • Comb-crested JacanaIrediparra gallinacea
  • Pied StiltHimantopus leucocephalus
  • Red-kneed DotterelErythrogonys cinctus
  • Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
  • Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataVU
  • Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
  • Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollisNT
  • Oriental DotterelCharadrius veredus
  • Long-toed StintCalidris subminuta
  • Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
  • Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
  • Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
  • Australian Painted-snipeRostratula australis
  • Little CurlewNumenius minutus
  • Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
  • Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
  • Red-capped PloverCharadrius ruficapillus
  • Black-fronted DotterelElseyornis melanops
  • Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarum
  • Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
  • Bush Thick-kneeBurhinus grallarius
  • Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
  • Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
Gulls & seabirds6 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
  • Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
  • Australian TernGelochelidon macrotarsa
  • Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiae
  • White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
  • Great Crested-TernThalasseus bergii
Ducks & geese11 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Raja ShelduckRadjah radjah
  • Wandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuata
  • Magpie GooseAnseranas semipalmata
  • Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosa
  • Green Pygmy GooseNettapus pulchellus
  • Grass Whistling DuckDendrocygna eytoni
  • Grey TealAnas gracilis
  • HardheadAythya australis
  • Pink-eared DuckMalacorhynchus membranaceus
  • Maned DuckChenonetta jubata
  • Freckled DuckStictonetta naevosa
Herons, ibises & grebes21 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
  • Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae
  • Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus
  • Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
  • Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
  • Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
  • Pied HeronEgretta picata
  • Great White EgretArdea alba
  • Egretta intermediaEgretta intermedia
  • Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicus
  • Little EgretEgretta garzetta
  • Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis
  • Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
  • Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
  • Australian White IbisThreskiornis molucca
  • White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae
  • Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regia
  • White-necked HeronArdea pacifica
  • Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
  • Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipes
  • Oriental DarterAnhinga melanogaster
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Black-necked StorkEphippiorhynchus asiaticus
  • BrolgaGrus rubicunda
Songbirds65 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Yellow ChatEpthianura crocea
  • Magpie larkGrallina cyanoleuca
  • Sandstone Shrike-thrushColluricincla woodwardi
  • Artamus leucorhynchosArtamus leucorhynchos
  • Willie-wagtailRhipidura leucophrys
  • Torresian CrowCorvus orru
  • Great BowerbirdChlamydera nuchalis
  • Paperbark FlycatcherMyiagra nana
  • Long-tailed FinchPoephila acuticauda
  • Brown HoneyeaterLichmera indistincta
  • Black-faced WoodswallowArtamus cinereus
  • Australian PipitAnthus australis
  • Yellow-throated MinerManorina flavigula
  • Singing BushlarkMirafra javanica
  • Golden-headed CisticolaCisticola exilis
  • Australian Reed-WarblerAcrocephalus australis
  • Pied ButcherbirdCracticus nigrogularis
  • Brown SonglarkMegalurus cruralis
  • Australian White-winged TrillerLalage tricolor
  • Double-barred FinchTaeniopygia bichenovii
  • Crimson FinchNeochmia phaeton
  • MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceum
  • Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricans
  • Rufous-throated HoneyeaterConopophila rufogularis
  • Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
  • Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel
  • Silver-crowned FriarbirdPhilemon argenticeps
  • Little FriarbirdPhilemon citreogularis
  • Olive-backed OrioleOriolus sagittatus
  • White-gaped HoneyeaterStomiopera unicolor
  • White-bellied CuckooshrikeCoracina papuensis
  • Gouldian finchErythrura gouldiae
  • Grey-crowned BabblerPomatostomus temporalis
  • Red-backed FairywrenMalurus melanocephalus
  • Pictorella MannikinHeteromunia pectoralis
  • Little WoodswallowArtamus minor
  • Striated PardalotePardalotus striatus
  • Megalurus timoriensisMegalurus timoriensis
  • Sunda Zebra FinchTaeniopygia guttata
  • Northern FantailRhipidura rufiventris
  • Masked FinchPoephila personata
  • Yellow-rumped MuniaLonchura flaviprymna
  • Grey ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonica
  • White-throated HoneyeaterMelithreptus albogularis
  • Blue-faced HoneyeaterEntomyzon cyanotis
  • Chestnut-breasted MannikinLonchura castaneothorax
  • Masked WoodswallowArtamus personatus
  • Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena
  • Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventris
  • Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicen
  • Yellow-tinted HoneyeaterPtilotula flavescens
  • Purple-crowned FairywrenMalurus coronatus
  • White-browed WoodswallowArtamus superciliosus
  • Painted FinchEmblema pictum
  • WeebillSmicrornis brevirostris
  • Yellow OrioleOriolus flavocinctus
  • Grey ButcherbirdCracticus torquatus
  • Rhipidura albiscapaRhipidura albiscapa
  • Leaden FlycatcherMyiagra rubecula
  • Purple-backed FairywrenMalurus assimilis
  • Shining FlycatcherMyiagra alecto
  • Varied SittellaDaphoenositta chrysoptera
  • Black-tailed TreecreeperClimacteris melanurus
  • Black-chinned HoneyeaterMelithreptus gularis
  • Banded HoneyeaterCissomela pectoralis
Other birds40 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • White-quilled Rock-PigeonPetrophassa albipennis
  • Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatus
  • Peaceful DoveGeopelia placida
  • Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
  • White-browed CrakePorzana cinerea
  • Australian BustardArdeotis australis
  • Diamond DoveGeopelia cuneata
  • Little CorellaCacatua sanguinea
  • Red-winged ParrotAprosmictus erythropterus
  • Red-tailed Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus banksii
  • Bar-shouldered DoveGeopelia humeralis
  • Azure KingfisherCeyx azureus
  • Baillon's CrakePorzana pusilla
  • Buff-banded RailGallirallus philippensis
  • Horsfield's Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx basalis
  • Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotus
  • Brown QuailSynoicus ypsilophorus
  • Spinifex PigeonGeophaps plumifera
  • CootFulica atra
  • Pheasant CoucalCentropus phasianinus
  • CockatielNymphicus hollandicus
  • Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachii
  • Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galerita
  • Red-collared LorikeetTrichoglossus rubritorquis
  • Australian CrakePorzana fluminea
  • Red-backed KingfisherTodiramphus pyrrhopygius
  • GalahEolophus roseicapilla
  • BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus
  • Black-tailed NativehenGallinula ventralis
  • Red-backed ButtonquailTurnix maculosus
  • Northern RosellaPlatycercus venustus
  • Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes
  • Flock BronzewingPhaps histrionica
  • Brush CuckooCacomantis variolosus
  • Pallid cuckooCuculus pallidus
  • Tawny FrogmouthPodargus strigoides
  • Common BronzewingPhaps chalcoptera
  • Little Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx minutillus
  • Australian Owlet-NightjarAegotheles cristatus
  • Pacific SwiftApus pacificus

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 July to October.

Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.

  1. Jan533°/26°218 mm
  2. Feb132°/25°223 mm
  3. Mar032°/24°156 mm
  4. Apr2032°/22°24 mm
  5. May7830°/18°10 mm
  6. Jun11828°/15°5 mm
  7. Jul14729°/15°1 mm
  8. Aug14731°/17°1 mm
  9. Sep15335°/22°7 mm
  10. Oct14438°/26°32 mm
  11. Nov5938°/27°76 mm
  12. Dec3636°/27°171 mm
  • Bar: species recorded that month.
  • Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
  • Rain: monthly total.

The place

Lake Argyle.

Lake in Western Australia

Lake Argyle is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Australia.

185 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 9,920 open records.

The most recorded are the Whistling Kite, the Little Pied Cormorant and the Australasian Darter.

18 species come for the summer, 84 for the winter and 8 only pass through.

2 are threatened worldwide, including Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Curlew Sandpiper.

The most species are recorded from July to October.

00 2098 Western Australia - Lake Argyle
W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0

Get there and watch

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.

Lake Argyle seen from above (Sentinel-2)
Seen from above: Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 (EOX, CC BY 4.0), 6 × 6 km, north up. Points © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Around, in OpenStreetMap

    • bird hides within 6 km
    • observation towers within 6 km
    • marked trails within 4 km
    • visitor centres within 6 km
    • viewpoints within 5 km
    • car parks within 3 km
    • restaurants and cafés within 3 km
    • campsites within 10 km
    • places to stay within 10 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 Lake Argyle.

    The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.

    Peakyas3 mountains within 25 km
    Mount Misery · 12 kmFlying Fox Knoll · 22 kmDjugurinyan Hill · 23 km
    Darkskyas1 dark-sky places within 30 km
    Lake ArgyleBortle 1 · this place

    Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.

    Photographs

    The place, as people saw it.

    Endless Stations 57 - Ord River
    Ben Cordia · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Short-eared rock-wallaby 1
    Jon Connel · CC BY 2.0
    00 2100 Western Australia - Lake Argyle
    W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Other places nearby.

    Lake Argyle

    Australia

    • 69Birdyas Score
    • 185Species
    • 110Migrants
    • 2Threatened

    Lake Kununurra

    Australia · 60 km

    • 65Birdyas Score
    • 241Species
    • 71Migrants
    • 2Threatened

    See the guide

    Prince Regent and Mitchell River Important Bird Area

    Australia · 370 km

    • 34Birdyas Score
    • 49Species
    • 0Migrants
    • 0Threatened

    See the guide

    Where these figures come from

    Name and typeWikidata (Q1757739) · CC0
    Birds9,920 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
    See these recordsgbif.org
    SpeciesGBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons
    AltitudeCopernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA
    Temperature and rainNASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2)
    What is around© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL
    ImagesEOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons
    Sister atlasesPeakyas, Lakeyas, Darkskyas

    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.