Illustrated Life List

This page documents the bird species I have observed, photographed, or audio recorded across Australia and overseas. Species are organised taxonomically following the eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World v2024. Each entry includes the date and location of my first observation, alongside indicators for whether I have photographed and/or audio recorded the species, and the countries in which I have encountered it.

The list can be filtered by taxonomic family, by country, the year I first saw each species, whether or not I have photographed it and/or the quality of that photograph. Individual species can also be searched for.

The photos aren't all good! There are plenty of species that I've seen only once or only fleetingly, or have simply never had a good opportunity to shoot. Part of the fun of this for me is identifying where I can improve on my best shot for a species. There's a quality indicator against each photo.

My proper life list can be seen here.

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Species details

Observation details

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Location abbreviations
BG
Botanic Garden
BR
Bushland Reserve
CP
Conservation Park
CR
Conservation Reserve
NCA
Nature Conservation Area
NCR
Nature Conservation Reserve
NNR
National Nature Reserve
NP
National Park
RP
Regional Park
RSPBR
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Reserve
SF
State Forest
SP
State Park
SSSI
Site of Special Scientific Interest
WR
Wildlife Reserve
374 374 0 0 Elegant Parrot, 23 March 2026
Ostriches 1 species
Cassowaries and Emu 1 species
Screamers 1 species

Horned Screamer

Anhima cornuta

First seen Cocha Machuhuasi 12 December 2010
Photo: Cocha Machuhuasi, 12 December 2010
No trip reports
🇵🇪
Waterfowl 31 species

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

First seen London 1 February 2025
Photo: Volkspark Mariendorf, 15 February 2025
3 trip reports
🇧🇦 🇩🇪 🇲🇰 🇬🇧
Megapodes 3 species

Malleefowl

Leipoa ocellata

First seen Patchewollock CR 4 November 2023
Photo: Patchewollock CR, 4 November 2023
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Grouse, Quail, and Allies 1 species
Pigeons and Doves 15 species

Wonga Pigeon

Leucosarcia melanoleuca

First seen Mitchell Park 15 November 2024
Photo: Yarra Streamside Reserve, 2 February 2026
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Bustards 1 species
Cuckoos 6 species

Smooth-billed Ani

Crotophaga ani

First seen Cocha Machuhuasi 12 December 2010
Photo: Cocha Machuhuasi, 12 December 2010
No trip reports
🇵🇪
Frogmouths 1 species
Owlet-nightjars 1 species
Swifts 2 species
Rails, Gallinules, and Allies 6 species
Cranes 1 species
Shorebirds 26 species

Grey-tailed Tattler

Tringa brevipes

First seen Cape Conran 22 December 2024
Photo: Sailors Grave, Cape Conran, 22 December 2024
No trip reports
🇦🇺

Common Redshank

Tringa totanus

First seen Queenborough Shore 6 February 2025
Photo: Holkham NNR, 10 February 2025
No trip reports
🇬🇧

Great Knot

Calidris tenuirostris

First seen Lake Tyers 25 December 2024
Photo: Lake Tyers, 25 December 2024
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers 10 species

Common Gull

Larus canus

First seen Jubilee Gardens 1 February 2025
Photo: Sheringham, 9 February 2025
2 trip reports
🇩🇪 🇬🇧

Little Tern

Sternula albifrons

First seen Bullock Island 23 December 2024
Photo: Lake Tyers, 24 December 2024
1 trip report
🇦🇺
Grebes 4 species
Hoatzin 1 species

Hoatzin

Opisthocomus hoazin

First seen Cocha Machuhuasi 12 December 2010
Photo: Cocha Machuhuasi, 12 December 2010
No trip reports
🇵🇪
Albatrosses 1 species
Storm-petrels 1 species

White-faced Storm-petrel

Pelagodroma marina

First seen Altona Beach 24 February 2024
Photo: Altona Beach, 24 February 2024
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Storks 1 species
Frigatebirds, Boobies, and Gannets 1 species
Cormorants and Anhingas 6 species
Herons, Ibis, and Allies 17 species
Pelicans 1 species
Vultures, Hawks, and Allies 14 species

Square-tailed Kite

Lophoictinia isura

First seen Cabbage Tree Creek 22 December 2024
Photo: Wedderburn, 31 December 2025
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Owls 7 species

Powerful Owl

Ninox strenua

First seen Carlton Gardens 16 August 2024
Photo: Fitzroy North, 6 April 2025
No trip reports
🇦🇺

Barking Owl

Ninox connivens

First seen Darwin 24 August 2025
Photo: Darwin, 24 August 2025
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Bee-eaters 1 species
Kingfishers 8 species
Rollers and Allies 1 species
Woodpeckers 2 species
Falcons and Caracaras 4 species
Cockatoos 9 species

Galah

Eolophus roseicapilla

First seen Brisbane Ranges 1 July 2023
Photo: Bendigo BG, 10 April 2026
29 trip reports
🇦🇺
Parrots, Parakeets, and Allies 24 species

Swift Parrot

Lathamus discolor

First seen Withheld*  
Photo: Withheld*
No trip reports
🇦🇺

Northern Rosella

Platycercus venustus

First seen Darwin River 25 August 2025
Photo: Darwin River, 25 August 2025
No trip reports
🇦🇺

Mulga Parrot

Psephotellus varius

First seen Patchewollock CR 4 November 2023
Photo: Patchewollock CR, 8 November 2024
No trip reports
🇦🇺

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus

First seen Cascade Gardens 25 June 2024
Photo: Cascade Park, 30 April 2025
No trip reports
🇦🇺

Blue-and-yellow Macaw

Ara ararauna

First seen Mirador Atalaya 12 December 2010
Photo: Mirador Atalaya, 12 December 2010
No trip reports
🇵🇪

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

First seen Mirador Atalaya 12 December 2010
Photo: Mirador Atalaya, 12 December 2010
No trip reports
🇵🇪
Old World Pittas 1 species
Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies 1 species

Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

First seen Cocha Machuhuasi 12 December 2010
Photo: Cocha Machuhuasi, 12 December 2010
No trip reports
🇵🇪
Scrub-birds and Bowerbirds 2 species
Australian Treecreepers 2 species
Fairywrens 9 species

Mallee Emuwren

Stipiturus mallee

First seen Withheld*  
Photo: Withheld*
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Honeyeaters 34 species

White-fronted Honeyeater

Purnella albifrons

First seen Dimboola 3 November 2023
Photo: Mount Monster CP, 28 March 2026
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Pardalotes 2 species
Thornbills and Allies 15 species

Rockwarbler

Origma solitaria

First seen Leets Vale 15 November 2024
Photo: Leets Vale, 15 November 2024
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Pseudo-babblers 3 species
Cuckooshrikes 3 species
Sittellas 1 species
Australo-Papuan Bellbirds 1 species
Shrike-tits 1 species
Whistlers and Allies 5 species
Old World Orioles 3 species
Woodswallows 2 species
Bellmagpies and Allies 5 species
Fantails 5 species
Drongos 1 species
Monarch Flycatchers 5 species
White-winged Chough and Apostlebird 2 species
Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens 6 species
Australasian Robins 9 species
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice 4 species

Marsh Tit

Poecile palustris

First seen Godmersham 6 February 2025
Photo: Godmersham, 6 February 2025
1 trip report
🇬🇧

Eurasian Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

First seen Russell Square 1 February 2025
Photo: Godmersham, 6 February 2025
3 trip reports
🇧🇦 🇩🇪 🇬🇧
Larks 1 species
Cisticolas and Allies 1 species
Reed Warblers and Allies 1 species
Grassbirds and Allies 3 species
Martins and Swallows 3 species
Bulbuls 1 species
Bush Warblers and Allies 1 species
Long-tailed Tits and Bushtit 1 species
White-eyes, Yuhinas and Allies 2 species
Kinglets 1 species
Nuthatches 1 species
Treecreepers 2 species
Wrens 1 species
Starlings and Mynas 2 species

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

First seen* Highbury Fields 1 February 2025
Photo: Collingwood Children's Farm, 30 July 2025
23 trip reports
🇦🇺 🇧🇦 🇲🇰 🇬🇧
Thrushes 2 species

Common Blackbird

Turdus merula

First seen* Tavistock Place 1 February 2025
Photo: Emerald Lake, 20 November 2024
25 trip reports
🇦🇺 🇧🇦 🇩🇪 🇲🇰 🇬🇧
Old World Flycatchers 2 species
Flowerpeckers 1 species
Estrildids 9 species

Masked Finch

Poephila personata

First seen Darwin River 25 August 2025
Photo: Darwin River, 25 August 2025
No trip reports
🇦🇺

Gouldian Finch

Chloebia gouldiae

First seen Darwin River 25 August 2025
Photo: Darwin River, 25 August 2025
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Accentors 1 species
Old World Sparrows 1 species
Wagtails and Pipits 1 species
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies 3 species

Redpoll

Acanthis flammea

First seen Godmersham 6 February 2025
Photo: Godmersham, 6 February 2025
No trip reports
🇬🇧
Old World Buntings 1 species