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The site was identified as important in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata	LC	resident	1981-1994	1,600,000 individuals	A4i
Plumed Whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni	LC	resident	1981-1994	50,000 individuals	A4i
Wandering Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata	LC	resident	1981-1994	400,000 individuals	A4i
Radjah Shelduck Radjah radjah	LC	resident	1981-1994	20,000 individuals	A4i
Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus	LC	resident	1981-1994	50,000 individuals	A4i
Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa	LC	resident	1981-1994	60,000 individuals	A4i
Grey Teal Anas gracilis	LC	resident	1981-1994	50,000 individuals	A4i
Brolga Grus rubicunda	LC	resident	1981-1994	24,000 individuals	A4i
Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis	LC	resident	1998-2008	212 individuals	A1
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus	NT	resident	1981-1984	1,800 individuals	A1, A4i
Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia	LC	resident	1981-1994	35,000 individuals	A4i
Australian Ibis Threskiornis moluccus	LC	non-breeding	1981-1994	15,000 individuals	A4i
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis	LC	resident	1981-1994	80,000 individuals	A4i
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	LC	resident	1981-1994	60,000 individuals	A4i
Plumed Egret Ardea plumifera	LC	resident	1981-1994	200,000 individuals	A4i
Pied Heron Egretta picata	LC	breeding	1981-1994	50,000 individuals	A4i
Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus	LC	resident	1981-1994	50,000 individuals	A4i
Bush Thick-knee Burhinus grallarius	LC	resident	1998-2008	frequent	A1
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	LC	resident	1981-1994	100,000 individuals	A4i
Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles	LC	resident	1981-1994	80,000 individuals	A4i
Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea	LC	resident	1981-1994	25,000 individuals	A4i
Little Curlew Numenius minutus	LC	non-breeding	1981-1994	300,000 individuals	A4i
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata	VU	non-breeding	1990-2002	4,900 individuals	A4i
Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella	LC	non-breeding	1981-1994	30,000 individuals	A4i
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	LC	non-breeding	1981-1994	45,000 individuals	A4i
Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Rainbow Pitta Pitta iris	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A2, A3
Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Bar-breasted Honeyeater Ramsayornis fasciatus	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
White-gaped Honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor	LC	resident	1998-2008	abundant	A3
Buff-sided Robin Poecilodryas cerviniventris	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Australian Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Masked Finch Poephila personata	LC	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A3
Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda	LC	resident	1998-2008	frequent	A3

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2009).

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Climate change and severe weather	storms and floods	likely in long term (beyond 4 years)	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Energy production and mining	mining and quarrying	happening now	small area/few individuals (<10%)	slow but significant deterioration	low
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - named species	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Mary River	National Park	121,525	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Kakadu National Park	World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)	1,980,994	protected area overlaps with site	240,333
Kakadu National Park	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	1,902,510	protected area overlaps with site	0
Kakadu	National Park (Commonwealth)	1,911,167	protected area overlaps with site	0
Kakadu	National Park	1,980,400	protected area overlaps with site	248,294

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Forest	Melaleuca forests & woodlands, Mangroves	-
Shrubland	Chenopod shrubs, samphire shrubs and forblands	-
Wetlands (inland)	Riverine floodplains	-
Marine Intertidal		-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
other	-
nature conservation and research	-

Kakadu NP owned by Traditional Owners and managed in partnership with National Parks; wetlands to east owned by Arnhemland ALT.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Alligator Rivers Floodplains. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/alligator-rivers-floodplains-iba-australia on 28/11/2023.