Extract from ABC News
There are about 200 species of bush birds, and another 50 to 100 waterfowl, seabirds and shorebirds living in the Northern Territory's Top End.
How stunning is this rainbow bee-eater? It was pictured in full flight on the outskirts of Darwin earlier this month. (Supplied: Matt Campbell)
These crimson finches were spotted at Fogg Dam, with their bright feathers attracting attention. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
While magpies aren't common north of Katherine, magpie geese can be found in and around the greater Darwin region. (Supplied: Matt Campbell)
Charles Darwin University ornithology researcher, John Woinarski, says the seasonal climate and sparse local population help make it a safe haven for many species that have been wiped out elsewhere.
"We share this environment with a whole range of birds that are distinctive, amusing, quirky, interesting, and sort of feel as if they themselves own the place," Professor Woinarski says.
"Compared to most other cities in Australia, they're all native birds — there's not the high densities of birds from Europe that characterise much of the rest of Australia."
Photographed at Victoria River, this purple-crowned fairy-wren is an endangered species. (Supplied: Jo Wu)
Professor Woinarski believes the "in your face" nature of certain colourful and noisy species has also contributed to Darwin's reputation as the "city of birds".
"I think there's global recognition that this is a really interesting part of the world for birdwatchers, or for people interested in environment generally," he says.
"We've got the fortune that so many of these bird species and important sites for them fall on Indigenous lands, and ranger groups are really important for managing those lands."
From the dry red-dirt outback, to tropical wetlands and stone country in the World Heritage-protected Kakadu National Park, Professor Woinarski describes the Top End as a "fascinating patchwork of different sorts of habitats".
"If you were simply to listen to the bird soundscape of Darwin, you could tell what time of year [and season] it was," he says.
John Woinarski describes the bush stone-curlew call as "uncanny" and "sort of eerie", with some Territorians likening it to a baby's cry. (Supplied: Georgina Barbour)
This chestnut-breasted mannikin was spotted at Adelaide River earlier this year, mid-snack. (Supplied: Georgina Barbour)
This unique blue-winged kookaburra has a genetic mutation that makes it more rare than an albino kookaburra. (Supplied: Paul Thomsen)
In one very lucky rural Darwin backyard, an all-black blue-winged kookaburra — more rare than an albino kookaburra — has become a regular visitor.
Professor Woinarski says it's "quite an interesting find" that likely resulted from a mutation in the bird's melanin levels. He describes the genetic anomaly as a total "fluke".
As citizen science project The Aussie Bird Count kicks off this month, we're taking a look at some of the whimsical species recently photographed across the Top End's unique landscape.
"It's an ever-enticing game to try to continue to hone your bird identification skills … every bird that you come to understand gives a different perspective of the world," Professor Woinarski says.
"It's a never-ending quest to try to understand nature and how wonderful it is."
Photographed at Tumbling Waters, near Berry Springs, in September, this rose-crowned fruit dove shows off the stunning colours it is known for. (Supplied: Georgina Barbour)
This northern shriketit was spied near Katherine. (Supplied: Jo Wu)
You can understand how the yellow chat got its name, based on those bright feathers! (Supplied: Jo Wu)
Many of the bird species living in the Top End are recognisable for their brightly coloured feathers, like this little kingfisher. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
The red-backed fairy-wren can be found in grasslands, swamps and areas with long grass. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
This varied lorikeet was spotted at Lee Point in September. (Supplied: Jo Wu)
A black-necked stork, also known as a jabiru, captured on camera while feeding in Top End wetlands. (Supplied: Matt Campbell)
A forest kingfisher, snapped in March while resting on a tree branch at Casuarina. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
This mangrove robin was spotted at Leanyer Swamp, in Darwin's north. (Supplied: Georgina Barbour)
A black kite cooling off in the water at Katherine Low Level Nature Reserve. (Supplied: Jo Wu)
Adelaide River, south of Darwin, is home to plenty of unique birds including this golden-headed cisticola. (Supplied: Georgina Barbour)
A whiskered tern, pictured in August this year as it shakes off water mid-flight at Knuckey Lagoon. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
John Woinarski says Darwinites have shown "extraordinary empathy" for the Gouldian finch, an endangered species that lives locally. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
This little bronze-cuckoo was photographed at Charles Darwin National Park in July. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
A masked finch resting in Pine Creek, south of Darwin. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
How cute is this rufous whistler? (Supplied: Georgina Barbour)
A white-bellied sea eagle, pictured earlier this month at Buffalo Creek. (Supplied: Matt Campbell)
These azure kingfisher photos were captured at Casuarina, in Darwin's northern suburbs. (Supplied: Prashan Basnet)
This beach stone-curlew was spotted at Buffalo Creek earlier this year. (Supplied: Jo Wu)
Kakadu is home to a variety of unique bird species, including this nankeen night heron. (Supplied: Jo Wu)
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