Four bird species are found nowhere else in the world. These are exciting targets for the well-travelled birdwatcher who want to see as many species as possible across Australia and the world. The tours are designed to ensure that birdwatchers see as many birds as possible. Some tours are designed to search for our rare and endemic bird species, however, seeing these takes effort, skill and luck.

Three birds are endemic to the Arnhemland plateau, a sandstone massif which extends to Kakadu National Park -- Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon, White-throated Grasswren and White-lined Honeyeater.

The White-lined Honeyeater is the easiest to see, or at least hear, as its loud song echoes around the rock art trails at Nourlangie (Anbangbang) Rock.

The Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon can be seen with luck around the Bardedjilidji walk or at Koolpin Gorge. If you're prepared to walk through the amazing gorge system, it is usually only seen by climbing up the escarpment at Gunlom.

The White-throated Grasswren is rarely seen away from the Gunlom escarpment. The Gunlom walk offers magnificent scenery and birding, including the Banded Fruit-Dove and Sandstone Shrike-thrush. A guide is recommended as there are no clear paths above the waterfall, lots of unstable rocks and steep climbs, and the birds are not easy to see!  This walk should not be attempted without a good level of fitness.

The fourth endemic species is the Hooded Parrot which only occurs in the southern Top End, including southern Kakadu and the Pine Creek area. They are most often seen feeding in recently-burned areas or drinking at dawn. Water tanks and reservoirs around Pine Creek and Copperfield Dam are favoured drinking locations.

Other bird species endemic to the Top End and the Kimberley, such as the Chestnut Rail, Chestnut-backed Buttonquail, Partridge Pigeon and Rainbow Pitta, are most easily seen in the Northern Territory. The Chestnut Rail can be seen around Darwin at dawn on a low tide and the Rainbow Pitta is fairly common and confiding at a number of monsoon forest locations from Darwin to Kakadu. The White-quilled Rock-Pigeon, Purple-crowned Fairy-wren and Yellow-rumped Mannikin can be found in the far west of the Northern Territory, whereas the Black Grasswren and Kimberley Honeyeater are restricted to the far north-west of Western Australia.

Endemic to the Australian savannas, birds such as the Masked and Long-tailed Finches, are wonderfully common in the Top End, but others such as Buff-sided Robin are uncommon and best seen at specific sites.

We can offer advice on places to see these species, guides who know the places, or tours looking specifically for these birds.