I’ve been waiting to share this for a long time—and it’s finally here. AviList, the first truly unified global checklist of all bird species, has just been released. It’s a huge milestone for anyone who loves birds, works in conservation, or simply wants a clear, accurate picture of what’s flying around our planet.
This new list recognizes 11,131 bird species, organized into 252 families. But more than the numbers, it brings something we’ve needed for years: a single global standard. No more bouncing between Clements, BirdLife, IOC, and regional lists that all disagree. With AviList, the birding world finally has one language, one system, one reliable reference.
What Is AviList?
AviList is a comprehensive, consensus-based checklist of the world’s birds. It’s the result of four years of collaboration between some of the world’s leading experts in ornithology, taxonomy, and bioinformatics. The team includes researchers from institutions like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, BirdLife International, the American Ornithological Society, the International Ornithologists’ Union, and Avibase.
The list doesn’t just compile names—it harmonizes them. Until now, birders and scientists often faced a tangle of inconsistencies across checklists. What one source called a species, another called a subspecies. One split would be accepted here, ignored there. That kind of disconnection makes birding harder and conservation even harder.
AviList solves that problem.
It’s a single, integrated system that brings clarity to a world of confusion.
Why It Matters (and Why I’m Excited)
Let me put this in perspective. If you’ve ever tried entering sightings in eBird, only to notice the name you know isn’t recognized, or if you’ve followed taxonomic debates about recent splits in warblers, hummingbirds, or wheatears—you know the struggle. As a birder, especially one who tracks lifers and regional lists, I’ve had my fair share of frustration navigating different taxonomies.
Now imagine that same confusion at the conservation level. When governments, researchers, and NGOs all use different names and categories, things can go seriously wrong. Resources might be misdirected. Species could fall through the cracks. Protections might not apply—because people aren’t even talking about the same bird.
Marshall Iliff, a key AviList contributor and project leader at eBird, summed it up perfectly:
“In trying to protect birds at a global scale, it is important to ensure that everyone is talking the same language and the data match.”
That shared language is what AviList delivers.
A Deep Dive into How AviList Works
The team behind AviList didn’t just sit around a table and draw names from a hat. They brought a rigorous, scientific method to this task—one based on what’s called the integrative species concept.
What does that mean? It means decisions about species status weren’t based on just one trait or type of evidence. Instead, they looked at everything:
- Morphology – What does the bird look like?
- Behavior – How does it act?
- Ecology – Where and how does it live?
- Genetics – What does DNA say?
- Phylogeny – How is it related to other birds?
- Geography – Where does it live, and what barriers separate it?
- Reproductive isolation – Can it breed with others, or not?
Some of these debates involved studying museum specimens, listening to sound recordings of courtship songs, or diving deep into the latest genome sequencing studies. In the end, final decisions were made by vote among a core group of eight taxonomists.
Pam Rasmussen, one of the Cornell Lab scientists who helped build the list, said it best:
“It’s work, but it’s fun.”
And for those of us who are fascinated by the details of bird evolution and classification, it really is.
From Lists to Action: What This Means for Conservation
For birders, AviList brings clarity. For conservationists, it brings something even more powerful: alignment.
As John Mittermeier, director of the Search for Lost Birds Project at American Bird Conservancy (and not even directly involved in the AviList project) said:
“Species lists are the fundamental units that guide and inform many aspects of our work.”
Think about that. Every endangered species list, international treaty, or habitat protection law. All of these hinge on what counts as a species. When names differ across regions or agencies, mistakes happen. Birds that need help might not get it. Or worse, help might go to the wrong place.
AviList gives the conservation world a stable, common platform to build from.
Available Now — and Free
One of the best parts of AviList? It’s open access. Anyone can download it, explore it, use it, and reference it.
That includes birders like you and me, researchers, field biologists, NGOs, teachers, land managers, environmental lawyers—anyone involved with birds.
You can find the current version here:
👉 AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025
It’s downloadable in spreadsheet format, so you can search, filter, and compare however you like. Whether you’re checking for species changes in your region, compiling a life list, or preparing data for research or fieldwork, it’s all there.
The Work Isn’t Over
Even with this huge achievement, the AviList team is just getting started. Birds are evolving. Science is advancing. And our understanding of both will keep changing.
That’s why AviList will be updated annually, with new data and discoveries incorporated each year. You can expect future versions to reflect the latest findings in genetics, behavior, distribution, and taxonomy.
As Pam Rasmussen wisely said:
“Evolution is a work in progress.”
That’s true of birds—and of the list that tracks them.
What It Means for Gotobirding.com
Here at gotobirding.com, I’ve always tried to highlight useful tools and exciting updates for birders, both beginner and expert. Whether it’s new gear, migration guides, or taxonomy changes, this site is built to help people connect more deeply with birds and nature.
That’s why the release of AviList is more than just news—it’s a moment worth celebrating. I’ve been following the slow, steady push for checklist unification for years. To see it finally come together—thanks to true global cooperation—is deeply rewarding.
Now, when I talk about species in my writing, my checklists, or my trip reports, I know I’m standing on solid ground. And so can you.
Closing Thoughts
AviList is more than a database. It’s a foundation. A way to unify bird science, birdwatching, and bird conservation across countries, continents, and cultures. It simplifies our checklists. It sharpens our science. And it strengthens our global effort to protect the birds we love.
So yes, this is a win—for scientists, for birders, for conservationists. But most of all, it’s a win for the birds themselves.
If you haven’t yet, I strongly recommend you explore the list for yourself:
👉 Download AviList v2025 now
And stay tuned on gotobirding.com—I’ll continue to share updates, reviews, and tips for making the most of tools like AviList in your birding life.
Until then, happy birding—and welcome to the new, unified world of birds.