Unusual Birds 2013

‘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 Records of any of the species listed or of any species new to the COG area of interests (COGAOI) will not be published as an official COG record unless endorsed by the Rarities Panel.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.
SpeciesLatest endorsed reportComments
White-throated Nightjar  Eurostopodus mystacalis2010 
Spotted Nightjar  Eurostopodus argus2011 
Eastern Osprey Pandion haliaetus2012AoI 2013
Banded Lapwing  Vanellus tricolor2009 
Australian Painted Snipe  Rostratula australis2013 
Little Button-quail  Turnix velox20092012 report not presented for appraisal
Turquoise Parrot  Neophema pulchella2008 
Black-eared Cuckoo  Chalcites osculans2009 
Barking Owl  Ninox connivens2011 
Azure Kingfisher  Ceyx azureus2013 
White-fronted Honeyeater  Purnella  albifrons2007 
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis2013 
Crimson Chat  Epthianura tricolor2003 
Black Honeyeater  Sugomel  niger20062012 outside ACT but in COGAOI
Black-chinned Honeyeater  Melithreptus gularis2007 
Blue-faced Honeyeater  Entomyzon cyanotis2007ACT only
Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis 20052012 outside ACT but in COGAOI
White-browed Babbler  Pomatostomus superciliosus2006 
Australasian Figbird  Sphecotheres vieilloti2009 

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 2608

or hand it in at COG’s monthly meetings.

COG Rarities Panel, February 2014