Papuan Pitta Birding Tours Birdwatching Australia

Cape York Birding Tour

Join us for one of our Cape York Fly In/Fly Out tours! During the “Wet Season” when there is a chance that the main roads up the Cape will be closed it is the best way to visit Iron Range for the migratory New Guinea birding specials such as Papuan (formerly Red-bellied) Pitta, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and Black-winged Monarch which migrate south at this time of year and then return north when the rains stop. While the Kingfisher heads down as far as Cairns and the Cassowary Coast, the pitta and the monarch tend to stay in the Iron Range area.

Tropical Queensland Birdwatching Tour

Of course, the other New Guinea specials which mostly cannot be seen anywhere else in Australia such as Eclectus Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Black-eared Catbird, Magnificent Riflebird, Trumpet Manucode, Tropical Scrubwren, Green-backed Honeyeater and Tawny-breasted Honeyeater are there all year round.

Some Cape York endemics also occur, with Northern ScrubRobin, Frill-necked Monarch and White-streaked Honeyeater all to be expected. The Iron Range area has a good variety of habitats including mangroves, heathland, vine forest and the coast so there is lots on offer to look at. It has the largest area of lowland rainforest in Australia. Read on below for the full itinerary and checklist!

Featured birds

  • Papuan Pitta, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and Black-winged Monarch
  • Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Black-eared Catbird
  • Magnificent Riflebird, Trumpet Manucode
  • Tropical Scrubwren, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater
  • Eclectus Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Northern Scrubrobin
  • Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Green-backed Honeyeater
  • & many more!
Papuan Pitta Birding Tours Birdwatching Australia
Papuan Pitta Birding Tours Birdwatching Australia
Papuan Pitta Birding Tours Birdwatching Australia
Papuan Pitta Birding Tours Birdwatching Australia