Red colour:  The species has to be reported to the Hungarian Rarities Committee. Please write a report and try to take a photo of the bird. The observed bird indicated with red colour has not been reported yet. After HRC's annual report the unreported data are deleted from birding.hu.

Orange colour: HRC has got a report about the observation, but not accepted yet.

Green colour:  HRC has accepted the report.

There are Rarities Committees in most European countries. In Hungary it is MME Hungarian Rarities Committee (HRC). HRC has a list of the most rare bird species that requires report when observed.

Report required for species, that has fewer than 40 valid records in last 10 years.

The report is necessary, so HRC can decide that observation is correct beyond doubt so it can be validated.

Of course validation is easier if there are photos, videos or sound records or multiple observers.

The report has to be as detailed as possible, there is a downloadable form that helps report writing.

You can find further information in "Hungarian Rarities Committee" menu.

Bird species living in wild in Hungary are categorized to the following categories:

Category A: species which has been recorded in apparently wild state at least once since January 1, 1950. (Most species in Hungarian avifauna belong to this category.)

Category B: species which has been recorded in apparently wild state inside the current borders of Hungary only between 1800 and 1949.

Category C: species recorded in Hungary originating from a population that has established a self-supporting breeding population from released or escaped birds.

Category Da: species which has been recorded at least once since January 1, 1950, but originating from introduced population can not be excluded.

Category De: species which has been recorded at least once since January 1, 1950, but  originating from non-introduced wild state is not likely.

Category E: species recorded in Hungary, but originating from captivity beyond reasonable doubt.

Abbreviation for Western Palearctic biogeographic region (ecozone). The region includes Europe, North-Africa, and the most of the Middle-East:

(map borrowed from Netfugl.dk)

Birding.hu offers a place for keeping records of your personal lists.

Lists have certain regulations. The most important rule is, there is a geographical range for each list, birds observed in the range can be counted on the list.

There are lists (eg. garden list) where only the total number of observed species  can be given.

There are lists with more srtict regulations (eg. Hungary life list), where you have to tick the species in a checklist. Rarities should be commented (place and date of sighting).

Listing is a good game, but remember, a ranks do not always correlate with skills.