‘Unusual’ Birds in the ACT – May 2013 List
If you see one of the ‘unusual’ birds listed below, please report it on an ‘Unusual’ bird form.
The following is the Rarities Panel’s May 2013 list of ‘unusual’ birds in the ACT.
NOTE: Singing Honeyeater were reported in the ACT at the end of 2013, and the latter should now be considered an ‘unusual’ bird.
There are many additional species which could be considered ‘rare’. Those which are particularly easy to identify, such as Regent Honeyeater, Caspian Tern and Red-necked Avocet, or for which there are more than 10 probably independent occurrences in the previous 10 years are not included in the list.
Please report observations of these on the ‘COG Observation Record’, or an ‘Unusual Bird’ form and/or contact rarities@canberrabirds.org.au for clarification.
List of Unusual Birds (May 2013)
| While the following list is restricted to birds observed in the ACT, it is a guide to the Canberra region. Records of any of the species listed or of any species new to the COG area of interests (COGAOI) will not be published as an official COG record unless endorsed by the Rarities Panel. ‘Unusual’ bird report forms are available at COG’s monthly meetings or may be downloaded. They should be returned either to the “red box” at meetings, to the rarities email address above, or mailed to Rarities Panel, COG PO Box 301 Civic Square ACT 2608. |
| Species | Latest endorsed report | Comments |
| White-throated Nightjar Eurostopodus mystacalis | 2010 | |
| Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus | 2011 | |
| Eastern Osprey Pandion haliaetus | 2012 | AoI 2013 |
| Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor | 2009 | |
| Australian Painted Snipe Rostratula australis | 2013 | |
| Little Button-quail Turnix velox | 2009 | 2012 report not presented for appraisal |
| Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella | 2008 | |
| Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans | 2009 | |
| Barking Owl Ninox connivens | 2011 | |
| Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus | 2013 | |
| White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons | 2007 | |
| Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis | 2013 | |
| Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor | 2003 | |
| Black Honeyeater Sugomel niger | 2006 | 2012 outside ACT but in COGAOI |
| Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis | 2007 | |
| Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis | 2007 | ACT only |
| Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis | 2005 | 2012 outside ACT but in COGAOI |
| White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus | 2006 | |
| Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti | 2009 |
PLEASE NOTE: Any bird that is not named in the most recent edition of Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the Australian Capital Territory is also defined as an unusual bird. If you see one, please complete COG’s ‘Unusual’ bird report form and email it to rarities@canberrabirds.org.au or send it to
The Records Officer, COG
PO Box 301
CIVIC SQUARE 2608or hand it in at COG’s monthly meetings.
COG Rarities Panel, February 2014