Wildlife Directory

Like you and I, every wild creature has a story relating to their behavior and place in the eco-system. Here is an ever growing list of Top End species, mainly birds, with notes on their distribution, behavior and tips on where to see them.

Emu
Dromaius novahollandiae

(dro-MEH-us: ‘racer’ from Gk dromaios; no-veh-hol-LAN-di-eh: from New Holland, old name for Australia; Emu thought to have originated from Arabic for crane)

Northern subspecies - woodwardi

Where to see? No reliable locations to see in the coastal Top End.

Order:
Struthioniformes

Family:
Struthionidae

Genus:
Dromaius

Species:
novahollandiae

Orange-footed Scrubfowl
Megapodius reinwardt

(meg-ga-POH-dee-us: ‘big foot’ from Gk megas, large and podos, foot; REHN-vaht: for Caspar Reinwardt, Dutch ornithologist)

Kimberly and Top End subspecies - tumulus; FNQ subspecies - yorki

Where to see? Common in monsoon forest habitat and nearby gardens. Easily seen in Darwin’s Botanical Gardens.

Order:
Craciformes

Family:
Megapodiidae

Genus:
Megapodius

Species:
reinwardt

Brown Quail
Coturnix ypsilophora

Order:
Galliformes

Family:
Phasianidae

Genus:
Coturnix

Species:
ypsilophora

Magpie Goose
Anseranus semipalmata

Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata (an-ser-AN-as: ‘goose-duck’ from Latin anser goose and anas duck; se-mi-pal-MAH-tuh: Latin semi half and palmatus webbed)
no subspecies, size 75-90cm, wingspan 1.2-1.8m, male is larger, black and white, orange legs, reddish facial skin, knobbed head larger on male, feet partially webbed, juveniles are greyish and have no knob on their head.

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anseranatidae

Genus:
Anseranus

Species:
semipalmata

Plumed Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna eytoni

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anatidae

Genus:
Dendrocygna

Species:
eytoni

Wandering Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna arcuata

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anatidae

Genus:
Dendrocygna

Species:
arcuata

Spotted Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna guttata

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anatidae

Genus:
Dendrocygna

Species:
guttata

Radjah Shelduck
Tadorna radjah

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anatidae

Genus:
Tadorna

Species:
radjah

Pink-eared Duck
Malachorhynchus membranaceus

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anatidae

Genus:
Malachorhynchus

Species:
membranaceus

Green Pygmy-goose
Nettapus pulchellus

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anatidae

Genus:
Nettapus

Species:
pulchellus

Pacific Black Duck
Anas superciliosa

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anatidae

Genus:
Anas

Species:
superciliosa

Brolga
Grus rubicunda

Order:
Gruiformes

Family:
Gruidae

Genus:
Grus

Species:
rubicunda

Sarus Crane
Grus antigone

Order:
Gruiformes

Family:
Gruidae

Genus:
Grus

Species:
antigone

Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphryio

Order:
Gruiformes

Family:
Rallidae

Genus:
Porphyrio

Species:
porphryio

White-browed Crake
Porzana tabuensis

Order:
Gruiformes

Family:
Rallidae

Genus:
Porzana

Species:
tabuensis

Pied Heron
Ardea picata

The Pied Heron is a small dark blue-grey and white bird with a crest plumes. The crest plumes, back plumes and neck plumes are all longer during breeding. Juveniles lack the dark cap and can be mistaken for White-necked Heron (though a much larger bird) if not familiar with both species.

Order:
Pelecaniformes

Family:
Ardeidae

Genus:
Ardea

Species:
picata

Black Kite
Milvus migrans