AviList
★ AviList is a unified global checklist of the species of bird found on planet Earth.
★ It was officially launched on June 12, 2025 after four years of work by the Working Group on Avian Checklists, containing representatives from folllowing organisations
- BirdLife International
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Ornithological Society
- International Ornithologists’ Union (IOU)
- Avibase
★ This marks the first-ever creation of a unified, globally accepted checklist of bird species.
★ The first version of AviList was published on June 12, 2025 and future revisions are planned to be released once a year thereafter.
★ This new checklist brings together global thinking on what constitutes a species and shakes up our understanding of the avian world.
★ The new checklist will replace the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) and Clements lists.
★ It contains 11,131 species, 19,879 subspecies, 2,376 genera, 252 families and 46 orders.
| Species | 11,131 |
| Subspecies | 19,879 |
| Orders | 46 |
| Families | 252 |
| Genera | 2,376 |
Objectives of AviList
★ Aims to establish a single, universally accepted, and scientifically rigorous classification of all bird species worldwide.
★ Offer a reliable baseline for tracking species populations, threats, and conservation statuses (e.g., IUCN Red List).
★ Aid in policy-making by providing clear definitions for protected species.
★ Make the checklist freely available to researchers, educators, and the public.
★ Prevent inconsistencies in how different agencies, treaties, and legal frameworks define and protect species.
Source: www.birdlife.org; www.avilist.org
