Birdwatching

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa is a bird-lover’s paradise. We’ve recorded 178 species of bird in the park, including several rare ones.

Our birds fill the arid landscape with songs and colours throughout the day. But the best time to see birds in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa is early in the morning. Being quiet, patient and alert is the key to success.

Aṉangu name birds based on the sound of their calls. You are likely to hear a bird before you see it, so this system is extremely practical for identifying which birds are nearby.

Puḻi (rocky area) birds

Aṉangu call the rocks, gorges and rocky slopes of the park ‘puḻi’.

Many birds come to drink and shelter in these areas before returning to other places to graze and breed.

Some species to look out for are the brown falcon, peregrine falcon, Australian kestrel, grey-headed honeyeater, pied butcherbird, fairy martin and blackfaced woodswallow.

Tjanpi (spinifex) birds

Spinifex grass is by far the most common plant in the park. Small birds love it and can often be seen darting in and out of the grass.

Keep an eye out for zebra finches and budgerigars as well as the rare dusky grasswren and painted firetail finch.

Puṯi (open woodland) birds

The puṯi habitat consists of grevilleas, hakeas and desert oaks. It is common along most major roads in the park.

This habitat provides food and shelter for little woodswallows, willie wagtails, pied butcherbirds, Australian ringneck parrots, brown goshawks, emus and more.

Puṯi wanari (mulga woodland) birds

Puṯi wanari is Flat Country with mulga trees. Mulga is common in the park, with many trees growing around Uluṟu and next to the road to Kata Tjuṯa.

This habitat is home to dazzling birds such as the splendid fairy-wren, red-capped robin, white-browed babbler, grey-headed honeyeater and dusky grasswren.

Tali and pila (sand dunes and plains) birds

Tali and pila are the sandhills, dunes, plains and grasslands that cover most of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

This is where you can see some of our most distinctive birds, including the crimson chat, Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, pied butcherbird and budgerigar.

Karu (creekline) birds

You’ll find karu habitat (creekbeds and gullies) at Kata Tjuṯa, including the Valley of the Winds and Waḻpa Gorge walks.

This is the environment to find beautiful birds like the red-backed kingfisher and rainbow bee-eater.

Want to know more?

Visit the individual bird pages below or download our fact sheet. You can also pick up the fact sheet and a checklist of birds from the Cultural Centre.