By Amanda Vallance
Each year, Australia becomes a seasonal home to millions of migratory birds. Some travel from the frozen tundras of Siberia and Alaska. Others journey shorter distances within Australia itself, following the pulse of rain, insects, and flowering seasons. Whether crossing oceans or deserts, these birds navigate through instinct, the stars, magnetic fields, and even their sense of smell.
Their journeys are remarkable feats of endurance and precision. They are completed without maps, without technology, and often against extreme odds.
Here are some of the incredible travellers that grace our skies and shores.
Ruddy Turnstone – The Rock Flipper with a Passport
The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a lively shorebird easily recognised by its patterned plumage and stocky build. As its name suggests, it uses its bill to flip over stones and debris to find insects and small crustaceans. Ruddy Turnstones breed in the Arctic and migrate to Australia for the southern summer, making stops along coastal mudflats and reefs from Queensland to Tasmania.
Despite their sturdy look, Ruddy Turnstones are powerful fliers. Some individuals travel over 27,000 kilometres each year, crossing continents and oceans with pinpoint accuracy.
Bar-tailed Godwit – The Endurance Champion
The Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) holds the world record for the longest known non-stop flight of any bird. Tagged individuals have flown from Alaska to Australia, a distance of over 11,000 kilometres, without resting.
Godwits use a combination of celestial navigation, magnetic field detection, and even olfactory cues to complete their journey. In Australia, they arrive along northern and eastern coastlines, often in large flocks. Their slender, slightly upturned bills are perfect for probing deep into the sand in search of worms and molluscs.
Watching a Bar-tailed Godwit resting on a mudflat, it is hard not to be amazed at the invisible map it carries within its mind.
Curlew Sandpiper – The Elegant Explorer in Trouble
The Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) breeds in the high Arctic tundra and migrates to estuarine wetlands across Australia. They are slender shorebirds with slightly curved bills and soft grey to brick-red plumage depending on the season.
Sadly, Curlew Sandpipers have declined sharply due to the loss of critical wetlands in Asia. They are now listed as Critically Endangered in Australia. Their story is a reminder of how vulnerable migratory species are to habitat loss at any point along their flyway.
Each spring, Curlew Sandpipers travel more than 10,000 kilometres to reach Australian shores, joining flocks of other waders in places like Moreton Bay and Roebuck Bay.
Welcome Swallow – Our Familiar Seasonal Traveller
The Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) is a common sight across much of Australia, easily identified by its forked tail and rapid, graceful flight. While some populations remain year-round, others, particularly in southern Australia and Tasmania, are partial migrants.
In colder months, Welcome Swallows often move north to warmer regions where insects remain abundant. Their short seasonal migrations within Australia reflect the adaptability and resilience that have allowed them to flourish across diverse environments.
Whether nesting in sheds, under bridges, or in coastal cliffs, Welcome Swallows are a joyful symbol of spring’s arrival for many Australians.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail – The Accidental Tourist
Every now and then, a bird ends up somewhere it was never meant to be. The Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis) usually migrates from the Russian Far East and Alaska to Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
However, occasional individuals find themselves far south of their typical range. A recent sighting in Adelaide excited local birders, as these vagrants are rarely recorded so far from their usual destinations.
Vagrancy can be caused by strong winds, storms, disorientation, or errors by inexperienced young birds. Each accidental arrival tells a fascinating story of the unpredictable nature of migration.
Rainbow Bee-eater – Australia’s Home-Grown Migrant
Not all bird migration involves crossing oceans. The dazzling Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) is a migratory bird that travels within Australia and sometimes into Papua New Guinea.
These stunning birds breed across southern and inland Australia during spring and summer. As the weather cools, they move north to warmer areas where flying insects remain plentiful. Their aerial acrobatics and brilliant green, blue, and gold feathers make them a favourite among birdwatchers.
Rainbow Bee-eaters remind us that migration is not just an international affair. It also happens on a grand scale within our own country.
Observing Migration Respectfully
Migratory birds often arrive exhausted and in urgent need of food and rest. Disturbing them can have serious consequences, especially for species already under stress.
Using a spotting scope allows birders to enjoy incredible views without approaching too closely. Similarly, a telephoto lens of 300mm or more enables photographers to capture beautiful images from a respectful distance.
By keeping our distance and observing quietly, we help ensure these remarkable travellers can recover and complete their journeys safely.
Why Migration Matters
Australia sits within the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, one of the world's most important bird migration routes. Over 50 million birds use this corridor each year, connecting Australia with breeding grounds across Russia, China, and Alaska.
The pressures faced by migratory birds are increasing. Wetland destruction, climate change, and habitat fragmentation threaten their survival. Even birds that migrate within Australia, like the Rainbow Bee-eater and Welcome Swallow, rely on healthy, connected landscapes.
Every time we see a Ruddy Turnstone flipping seaweed, a Bar-tailed Godwit probing the shore, or a Curlew Sandpiper darting across the mudflats, we witness a living story that stretches across the globe.
Their journeys remind us that nature does not recognise borders. Migration is a story of endurance, instinct, and wonder, played out every year above our heads and along our shores.
Australia has many globally significant sites for viewing migratory birds, particularly those travelling along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. These locations are rich in biodiversity and are often RAMSAR-listed wetlands, meaning they are internationally recognised for their importance to migratory waterbirds.
Here are some of the best places in Australia to see migratory birds, especially shorebirds and seabirds:
1. Roebuck Bay, Western Australia (near Broome)
2. Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
3. Hunter Estuary, New South Wales
4. Western Port Bay, Victoria
5. Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary, South Australia
6. Corner Inlet, Victoria (near Wilsons Promontory)
7. Moreton Bay, Queensland
8. Lake Wollumboola, New South Wales
