Birdwatching in Toodyay
Toodyay sits in the Avon Valley, where river pools, wandoo woodland and wheatbelt farmland meet.
That mix of habitats makes it one of the best day trips from Perth for birders. Whether you’re chasing your first Carnaby’s Cockatoo or just enjoying a morning with binoculars by the river, there’s plenty to see.
Where to Find Birds
Birding in Toodyay comes down to three kinds of places. The river pools are best for waterbirds and early-morning walks, the bush reserves for honeyeaters, robins and treecreepers, and the open sky above the valley for cockatoos and eagles.
Start at the John Masters Bird Hide, follow the Bilya Walk Track along the Avon, then head up to the reserves in spring. Most of these spots are close together, so you can see a lot in a single morning.
Start at the John Masters Bird Hide, follow the Bilya Walk Track along the Avon, then head up to the reserves in spring. Most of these spots are close together, so you can see a lot in a single morning.
John Masters Bird Hide
The hide looks over Red Banks Pool on the Avon River and is the only bird hide on the river. It opened in 2013 and is named after respected local ornithologist John Masters. Look for swans, white-necked herons, yellow-billed spoonbills and shelducks on the water, and keep an eye on the sky for wedge-tailed eagles.
Inside, there’s Noongar artwork explaining how Red Banks Pool was used long before European settlement. The entry is off Toodyay Road, opposite Racecourse Road, and you can also reach it on foot along the Bilya Walk Track.
Bilya Walk Track
This 6.5 km track follows the Avon River from the Toodyay Caravan Park to Nardie Cemetery, with several access points if you want a shorter walk.
It passes the bird hide and Lloyd Reserve. Go early in the morning, when the river birds are most active.
It passes the bird hide and Lloyd Reserve. Go early in the morning, when the river birds are most active.
Dawn Atwell Reserve
This reserve is known for its wildflowers and has at least 33 recorded bird species. Walk the perimeter trail and listen for honeyeaters in the flowering shrubs.
Other places to look
Pelham Reserve, above the town, has a short walk through the Drummond Memorial Garden and a spring display of pink everlastings. Lloyd Reserve is a 16-hectare strip along the Bilya Walk Track between the town and Red Banks Pool. Both are worth a stop on a birding day.
Birds to Look For
Toodyay’s mix of river, woodland and farmland means birds are rarely far away. Here are the groups you’re most likely to meet, with a few tips for telling them apart.
Black cockatoos
Two black cockatoos are logged around Toodyay. Carnaby’s (endangered) has white cheek patches and white tail panels, with a long, wailing call. The Red-tailed is usually found in the jarrah and marri forest, and males have bright scarlet tail panels.
Carnaby’s often travel in flocks, and one morning in 2024 up to 100 were seen crossing the district high school grounds. Nest boxes have been installed around Toodyay to help them breed, so look up as you walk.
Carnaby’s often travel in flocks, and one morning in 2024 up to 100 were seen crossing the district high school grounds. Nest boxes have been installed around Toodyay to help them breed, so look up as you walk.
Parrots and pigeons
Red-capped Parrots and Common Bronzewings are often easiest to spot on the ground or at a birdbath.
The bronzewing’s shimmering wing patches show up well in good light, and Western Corellas usually appear in noisy flocks.
The bronzewing’s shimmering wing patches show up well in good light, and Western Corellas usually appear in noisy flocks.
Honeyeaters
Gilbert’s and White-cheeked Honeyeaters are quick and busy, so look for them in flowering shrubs and listen first.
Spring wildflowers bring them into the open, which makes the reserves a good place to watch.
Spring wildflowers bring them into the open, which makes the reserves a good place to watch.
Bush birds
These are the small ones that reward patience. Scarlet Robins perch low and still, Rufous Treecreepers spiral up trunks, and Western Gerygones and Inland Thornbills flit through the foliage.
Stand quietly for a few minutes in the woodland and let them come to you.
Stand quietly for a few minutes in the woodland and let them come to you.
Waterbirds and raptors
Red Banks Pool is the best spot for swans, white-necked herons, yellow-billed spoonbills and shelducks.
Scan the sky above the river for wedge-tailed eagles. Go early, when the water is calm.
Scan the sky above the river for wedge-tailed eagles. Go early, when the water is calm.
General Information
When to go
Spring (August to October) is the best all-round time, because wildflowers and birdlife peak together. Winter mornings can be good at the river. Carnaby’s Cockatoos are usually in the Wheatbelt from June to March for breeding.
Log Your Sightings
The John Masters Bird Hide is an eBird hotspot, so your checklists help build the local record. The Toodyay Naturalists’ Club also accepts sightings from non-members on its website, and its book A Guide to Exploring Toodyay… Naturally is worth picking up.
For regional events, BirdLife Western Australia has a Wheatbelt Avon branch.
Birding Tips
Stay on the tracks, keep dogs out of the reserves, don’t disturb nesting birds, and watch for snakes in warmer months.
Go early, when the birds are most active. Bring binoculars, wear muted colours, and move slowly. Record what you see in eBird or Merlin as you go, and note the time and habitat. A few quiet minutes in one spot often beats a long walk.
Go early, when the birds are most active. Bring binoculars, wear muted colours, and move slowly. Record what you see in eBird or Merlin as you go, and note the time and habitat. A few quiet minutes in one spot often beats a long walk.
Toodyay Bird Checklist
Around 120 species have been recorded in Toodyay and along the Avon River nearby. Birds marked with an asterisk (*) have been confirmed in Toodyay itself. The rest are recorded along the river between Beverley and Toodyay, so keep an eye out for them.
Ducks, swans, grebes and other waterbirds
Black Swan*, Australian Shelduck*, Pacific Black Duck*, Australian Wood Duck*, Grey Teal*, Chestnut Teal, Hardhead, Australasian Shoveler, Pink-eared Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, Freckled Duck, Wandering Whistling-Duck, Australasian Grebe*, Hoary-headed Grebe, Little Pied Cormorant*, Little Black Cormorant*, Pied Cormorant, Australasian Darter, Australian Pelican, Eurasian Coot*, Dusky Moorhen*, Purple Swamphen, Black-tailed Nativehen, Whiskered Tern, Silver Gull
Black Swan*, Australian Shelduck*, Pacific Black Duck*, Australian Wood Duck*, Grey Teal*, Chestnut Teal, Hardhead, Australasian Shoveler, Pink-eared Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, Freckled Duck, Wandering Whistling-Duck, Australasian Grebe*, Hoary-headed Grebe, Little Pied Cormorant*, Little Black Cormorant*, Pied Cormorant, Australasian Darter, Australian Pelican, Eurasian Coot*, Dusky Moorhen*, Purple Swamphen, Black-tailed Nativehen, Whiskered Tern, Silver Gull
Herons, egrets, ibis and spoonbills
White-faced Heron*, White-necked Heron, Great Egret*, Little Egret, Nankeen Night Heron*, Australian White Ibis*, Straw-necked Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Yellow-billed Spoonbill*, Royal Spoonbill
White-faced Heron*, White-necked Heron, Great Egret*, Little Egret, Nankeen Night Heron*, Australian White Ibis*, Straw-necked Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Yellow-billed Spoonbill*, Royal Spoonbill
Waders and crakes
Black-winged Stilt*, Banded Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Black-fronted Dotterel*, Red-kneed Dotterel, Red-capped Plover, Common Sandpiper*, Red-necked Stint, Australian Crake*, Baillon’s Crake, Spotless Crake
Black-winged Stilt*, Banded Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Black-fronted Dotterel*, Red-kneed Dotterel, Red-capped Plover, Common Sandpiper*, Red-necked Stint, Australian Crake*, Baillon’s Crake, Spotless Crake
Raptors and owls
Wedge-tailed Eagle, Little Eagle, Whistling Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Brown Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Hobby, Southern Boobook, Barn Owl
Wedge-tailed Eagle, Little Eagle, Whistling Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Brown Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Hobby, Southern Boobook, Barn Owl
Pigeons, cockatoos and parrots
Common Bronzewing*, Crested Pigeon*, Galah*, Little Corella, Western Corella*, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo*, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo*, Australian Ringneck*, Red-capped Parrot*
Common Bronzewing*, Crested Pigeon*, Galah*, Little Corella, Western Corella*, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo*, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo*, Australian Ringneck*, Red-capped Parrot*
Kingfishers, kookaburras, bee-eaters and cuckoos
Laughing Kookaburra*, Sacred Kingfisher*, Rainbow Bee-eater*, Pallid Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo
Laughing Kookaburra*, Sacred Kingfisher*, Rainbow Bee-eater*, Pallid Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo
Honeyeaters
Singing Honeyeater*, Brown Honeyeater*, Gilbert’s Honeyeater*, White-cheeked Honeyeater*, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-fronted Honeyeater, Yellow-throated Miner
Singing Honeyeater*, Brown Honeyeater*, Gilbert’s Honeyeater*, White-cheeked Honeyeater*, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-fronted Honeyeater, Yellow-throated Miner
Small bush birds
Splendid Fairy-wren, Weebill*, Western Gerygone*, Inland Thornbill, Western Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill*, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill*, Striated Pardalote*, White-browed Babbler, Rufous Treecreeper*, Mistletoebird*, Silvereye*, Zebra Finch
Splendid Fairy-wren, Weebill*, Western Gerygone*, Inland Thornbill, Western Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill*, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill*, Striated Pardalote*, White-browed Babbler, Rufous Treecreeper*, Mistletoebird*, Silvereye*, Zebra Finch
Robins, whistlers and flycatchers
Scarlet Robin*, Red-capped Robin*, Rufous Whistler*, Grey Shrikethrush*, Grey Fantail*, Willie Wagtail*, Magpie-lark*, Black-faced Cuckooshrike*, White-winged Triller
Scarlet Robin*, Red-capped Robin*, Rufous Whistler*, Grey Shrikethrush*, Grey Fantail*, Willie Wagtail*, Magpie-lark*, Black-faced Cuckooshrike*, White-winged Triller
Woodswallows, butcherbirds, magpies and ravens
Dusky Woodswallow*, Black-faced Woodswallow, Australian Magpie*, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Raven*
Dusky Woodswallow*, Black-faced Woodswallow, Australian Magpie*, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Raven*
Swallows, martins and reed birds
Welcome Swallow*, Tree Martin*, Fairy Martin, Australian Reed Warbler, Little Grassbird
Welcome Swallow*, Tree Martin*, Fairy Martin, Australian Reed Warbler, Little Grassbird
Introduced species
Rock Dove, Laughing Dove, Spotted Dove, Mute Swan
Rock Dove, Laughing Dove, Spotted Dove, Mute Swan
Spotted something that’s not on the list? Report it to the Toodyay Naturalists’ Club or add it to eBird.
Toodyay is easy to build a birding weekend around: early mornings at the river, the bush reserves by day, and a good meal afterwards.
Driving from Perth? See our Driving to Toodyay guide.
Driving from Perth? See our Driving to Toodyay guide.