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
225 198 27 0 Elegant Parrot, 23 March 2026
Cassowaries and Emu 1 species
Waterfowl 13 species
Pigeons and Doves 7 species

Wonga Pigeon

Leucosarcia melanoleuca

First seen Mitchell Park 15 November 2024
Photo: Yarra Streamside Reserve, 2 February 2026
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Cuckoos 1 species
Frogmouths 1 species
Swifts 2 species
Rails, Gallinules, and Allies 6 species
Shorebirds 16 species
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers 5 species
Grebes 3 species
Albatrosses 1 species
Frigatebirds, Boobies, and Gannets 1 species
Cormorants and Anhingas 6 species
Herons, Ibis, and Allies 11 species
Pelicans 1 species
Vultures, Hawks, and Allies 9 species
Owls 1 species
Bee-eaters 1 species
Kingfishers 3 species
Falcons and Caracaras 4 species
Cockatoos 7 species

Galah

Eolophus roseicapilla

First seen Brisbane Ranges 1 July 2023
Photo: Bendigo BG, 10 April 2026
29 trip reports
🇦🇺
Parrots, Parakeets, and Allies 13 species

Swift Parrot

Lathamus discolor

First seen Withheld*  
Photo: Withheld*
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Lyrebirds 1 species
Scrub-birds and Bowerbirds 1 species
Australian Treecreepers 2 species
Fairywrens 3 species
Honeyeaters 28 species

White-fronted Honeyeater

Purnella albifrons

First seen Dimboola 3 November 2023
Photo: Mount Monster CP, 28 March 2026
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Bristlebirds 1 species
Pardalotes 2 species
Thornbills and Allies 14 species
No species photograph available

Inland Thornbill

Acanthiza apicalis

First seen Patchewollock CR 4 November 2023
Photo: Not yet.
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Pseudo-babblers 2 species
Cuckooshrikes 2 species
Sittellas 1 species
Whipbirds and Wedgebills 1 species
Australo-Papuan Bellbirds 1 species
Shrike-tits 1 species
Whistlers and Allies 5 species
No species photograph available

Olive Whistler

Pachycephala olivacea

First seen Cabbage Tree Creek 22 December 2024
Photo: Not yet.
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Old World Orioles 1 species
Woodswallows 3 species
Bellmagpies and Allies 5 species
Fantails 3 species
Monarch Flycatchers 3 species
White-winged Chough and Apostlebird 2 species
Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens 3 species
Australasian Robins 7 species
No species photograph available

Southern Scrub-robin

Drymodes brunneopygia

First seen Patchewollock CR 4 November 2023
Photo: Not yet.
No trip reports
🇦🇺
Cisticolas and Allies 1 species
Reed Warblers and Allies 1 species
Grassbirds and Allies 2 species
Martins and Swallows 3 species
White-eyes, Yuhinas and Allies 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 1 species

Common Blackbird

Turdus merula

First seen* Tavistock Place 1 February 2025
Photo: Emerald Lake, 20 November 2024
25 trip reports
🇦🇺 🇧🇦 🇩🇪 🇲🇰 🇬🇧
Flowerpeckers 1 species
Estrildids 5 species
Old World Sparrows 1 species
Wagtails and Pipits 1 species
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies 1 species