Birdwatching
BirdwatchingFrom wedge-tailed eagles riding the thermals over Cape Range to migratory shorebirds probing the Gulf mudflats, this coast packs in 180+ bird species.
The Ningaloo region is home to more than 180 bird species — from raptors patrolling the ranges and coast (ospreys, sea-eagles, wedge-tailed eagles) to the seabirds, terns, herons and honeyeaters of the reef, dunes and scrub. Birds are about year-round, with coastal scrub, salt flats and mangrove fringes productive in every season.
The standout is Exmouth Gulf. Its sheltered tidal flats and mangroves are internationally significant for migratory shorebirds — including the critically endangered Eastern Curlew, bar-tailed godwit and curlew sandpiper — which breed in the northern hemisphere and travel the East Asian–Australasian Flyway to feed here over summer.
Expect a strong tidal influence: the best shorebird watching is on a rising tide that pushes feeding flocks closer to shore. The Mangrove Bay bird hide is purpose-built for watching them come in.
When to go
Migratory shorebirds ~September–April (peak over summer); resident birds and raptors year-round (cooler April–October most comfortable for land birding).
See the full when-to-visit calendar →Where
How it works
- Largely self-drive and walk — the Mangrove Bay hide is a short boardwalk; Gulf-side spots are roadside-accessible.
- Guided birding tours run morning safaris across scrub, salt flats and mangroves.
- Best early morning and around a rising tide for shorebirds.
More info
More things to do
Spotted something wrong, or something missing? Suggest an edit