Here's a quick rundown of what AviList is, why we've made the switch, and what it means for your sightings.
What is AviList?
AviList is a unified global bird checklist launched in 2025. Ornithologists from around the world came together to create a single, agreed-upon list of every bird species, resolving hundreds of disagreements between the previous major checklists.
Before AviList, the bird world had three widely used global lists: IOC, Clements (used by eBird), and BirdLife. These lists didn't always agree on species names, species counts, or how birds were grouped into families. Different platforms used different lists, which meant the same bird could have different names or even a different species status depending on where you looked.
AviList replaces all of that with one consistent standard.
Why has Birda switched to AviList?
Previously, Birda supported three taxonomies (IOC, Clements, and BirdLife) with complex mapping between them. This was difficult to maintain and could cause inconsistencies.
With AviList being adopted globally across birding platforms and conservation organisations, we're confident this is the right move for our community. It means simpler, more consistent data for everyone.
What does this mean for my sightings?
Your sightings are completely safe. Nothing has been deleted and your birding history isn't going anywhere. Everything has been mapped across to the new taxonomy automatically.
That said, you may notice a few small changes:
Your life list total may have changed slightly. Because AviList has resolved disagreements between the old checklists, some species have been split and others have been lumped:
Splits: A bird that was previously one species may now be recognised as two or more separate species. If you've seen that bird, your life list total could go up
Lumps: Two birds that were previously separate species may now be considered the same species. If you had both on your list, your total could dip slightly
Some bird names may look different. Both common names and scientific names may have changed for certain species to reflect the AviList consensus.
The taxonomy selector has been removed. Since everyone is now on the same list, there's no longer a need to choose between IOC, Clements, or BirdLife.
Do I need to do anything?
No. Everything has been updated automatically. Your sightings, lists, and birding history are all intact.
What happened to IOC, Clements, and BirdLife?
These checklists still exist independently, but AviList has been created as the unified global standard that brings them together. Most major birding platforms and conservation bodies are adopting AviList, and Birda is moving with them.
I've noticed a species is missing or something looks wrong
If anything about your sightings or lists doesn't look right after the switch, please get in touch with us through the app or email us at support@birda.org. We're happy to help sort it out.