Phil Gregory’s fascination with birds began at age 11, around the time steam trains disappeared from the English countryside. Born in Southampton, England, his early passion for birding eventually took him far from home. Although he first visited Australia in 1977, he soon became immersed in international fieldwork, spending the next two decades birding across Nigeria, Zambia, the Falkland Islands, and Papua New Guinea.

Today, Phil is recognised as one of Australia’s foremost birders and a leading expert on the birds of New Guinea. A highly respected tour leader, he guides with both Field Guides Inc. and Sicklebill Safaris, and has led countless birding expeditions since becoming a full-time guide in 1998.

Phil is also an accomplished author and ornithologist. His published works include:

• Birds of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville (2017, Lynx Edicions)

• A Field Guide to the Birds of Far North Queensland (2019, New Holland) — co-authored with Jun Matsui

• Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds (2020, Helm)

Both the New Guinea and Birds of Paradise titles were honoured with Whitley Awards. In addition, Phil has contributed species and family accounts to three volumes of the Handbook of the Birds of the World and works as an advisor to the International Ornithological Congress (IOC), contributing to the World Bird Checklist and Recommended English Names of Birds.

His special interests include field identification, bird vocalisations, taxonomy, and avian distribution. Originally balancing a career as an international school principal, Phil eventually transitioned fully into guiding — freeing up time for what truly matters: birds.

He now leads multiple tours annually across Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific, Asia, and Africa, sharing his expertise with birders from around the world.