NSW ORAC maintains a Review List of species for which submissions are required. The threshold for inclusion on the Review List is any species which has been observed less than 1.5 times per year over seven years of the previous decade. The committee will review sightings in NSW, seabirds observed within the 200NM fishing zone, beachcast specimens, road kill specimens, collected specimens and birds of Lord Howe Island and that part of the ACT at Jervis Bay. The current edition of the NSW ORAC Review List is also included here as a downloadable PDF document.

REVIEW LIST

(Revised May 16, 2025)

The following list comprises birds that are considered rare in NSW based on reported observations over a preceding ten year period to a maximum average of 1.5 records per year. NSW ORAC encourages anyone sighting these species to take comprehensive notes, photographs where possible and to supply substantiation by other observers where appropriate. Details of the sighting should be forwarded to the Secretary of NSW ORAC at roglou@bigpond.net.au by way of an Unusual Record Report (URR) Form which can be downloaded from the NSWORAC website at www.nsworac.org .

This list does not include any of those species on the Birdlife Australia Rarities Committee (BARC) Review List and the NSW ORAC Review List taxonomy is based on the IOC Checklist v14.1

Common Ostrich        Struthio camelus (1)

Cape Barren Goose        Cereopsis novaehollandiae

Cotton Pygmy Goose        Nettapus coromandelianus (8)

Green Pygmy Goose        Nettapus pulchellus

Fiordland Penguin        Eudyptes pachyrhynchus

Southern Royal Albatross        Diomedea epomophora

Northern Royal Albatross        Diomedea sanfordi

Sooty Albatross        Phoebetria fusca

Light-mantled Albatross        Phoebetria palpebrata  

Salvin’s Albatross        Thalassarche salvini

Grey-headed Albatross        Thalassarche chrysostoma

Southern Fulmar        Fulmarus glacialoides

Blue Petrel        Halobaena caerulea

Salvin’s Prion        Pachyptila salvini

Kerguelen Petrel        Aphrodroma brevirostris

Great-winged Petrel        Pterodroma macroptera

Soft-plumaged Petrel        Pterodroma mollis

Mottled Petrel        Pterodroma inexpectata

Grey Petrel        Procellaria cinerea

Westland Petrel        Procellaria westlandica

Bulwer’s Petrel        Bulweria bulwerii

Grey-backed Storm Petrel        Garrodia nereis (9)

White-bellied Storm Petrel        Fregetta grallaria (14)

New Caledonian Storm Petrel        Fregetta lineate (15)

Pied Heron        Egretta picata

Great Frigatebird        Fregata minor

Black-faced Cormorant        Phalacrocorax fuscescens (2)

Red Goshawk        Erythrotriorchis radiatus

Black-breasted Buttonquail        Turnix melanogaster

Asian Dowitcher        Limnodromus semipalmatus

Common Redshank        Tringa tetanus

Little Stint        Calidris minuta

Long-toed Stint        Calidris subminuta

Red-necked Phalarope        Phalaropus lobatus

Oriental Pratincole        Glareola maldivarum

Little Ringed Plover        Charadrius dubius

Fairy Tern        Sternula nereis (3)

Bridled Tern        Onychoprion anaethetus

Roseate Tern        Sterna dougalli

Black-naped Tern        Sterna sumatrana

South Polar Skua         Stercorarius maccormicki (10)

Flock Bronzewing        Phaps histrionica (4)

Squatter Pigeon        Geophaps scripta

Torresian Imperial Pigeon        Ducula spilorrhoa

Purple-crowned Lorikeet        Glossopsitta porphyrocephala (18)

Elegant Parrot        Neophema elegans

Orange-bellied Parrot        Neophema chrysogaster

Scarlet-chested Parrot        Neophema splendida

Double-eyed Fig Parrot        Cyclopsitta diophthalma

Australian Swiftlet        Aerodramus terraereginae

Eyrean Grasswren        Amytornis goyderi (16)

Thick-billed Grasswren        Amytornis modetus (5)

Purple-gaped Honeyeater        Lichenostomus cratitius

Black-eared Miner        Manorina melanotis

Slaty-backed Thornbill        Acanthiza robustirostris (17)

Banded Honeyeater        Cissomela pectoralis

Dusky Myzomela         Myzomela obscura (13)

Banded Whiteface        Aphelocephala nigricincta (11)

Red-lored Whistler        Pachycephala rufogularis (6)

Shining Flycatcher        Myiagra alecto (12)

Pink Robin        Petroica rodinogaster (7)

Barn Swallow        Hirundo rustica

Canary White-eye        Zosterops luteus

Metallic Starling        Aplonis metallica

Song Thrush        Turdus philomelos (14)

Sahul Sunbird        Cinnyris jugularis

Painted Finch        Emblema pictum

Black-throated Finch        Poephila cincta

Grey Wagtail        Motacilla cinerea

White Wagtail        Motacilla alba

NOTES:

1) except for the known population in the Barham region

2) except for the far South Coast

3) except south of Sydney Harbour

4) except for the Upper and Lower far western region of NSW

5) except for the known population near Packsaddle

6) except for Yathong, Nombinnie and Round Hill

7) except for the far South Coast and the Southern Highlands

8) except within 100km from the Queensland border

9) except for sightings south of Ulladulla

10) pale and intermediate morphs only – dark morph subject to review by BARC

11) except for the area adjacent to the South Australian border in the Upper far west region of NSW

12) except in the Cobaki Broadwater

13) except in the area around Tomewin and Dungay

14) except for Lord Howe Island

15) except for sightings north of Evans Head

16) except for the known population in the Wild Deserts project site, Sturt NP

17) except for the known population in Gundabooka NP

18) except for sightings within 30 km of the Victorian border

COMMENTS ON THIS REVISION:

- Garganey, Macaroni Penguin and House Crow have been removed from the NSW ORAC Review List as they are all included on the BARC Review List.

- Olive-backed Sunbird has been renamed Sahul Sunbird.