List of birds of Niue

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This is a list of the bird species recorded in Niue. The avifauna of Niue includes a total of 29 species, of which 1 has been introduced by humans, and 9 are rare or accidental.^[1] 2 species are globally threatened.^[2] There are no endemic species surviving today but there are endemic subspecies of the Polynesian Triller and Polynesian Starling.^[3] There are 15 breeding species of which 11 are landbirds and 4 are seabirds. Studies of fossil birds suggest that Niue's avifauna was formerly more diverse.^[3]

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of Clements's 5th edition.^[4] The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Niue. There are unconfirmed reports of Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) but these are not included in the list.^[1]

The following tags have been used to highlight certain relevant categories. It must be noted that not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring, native species.

• (A) Accidental A species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Niue.
• (I) Introduced A species introduced to Niue as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.

Table of contents
Shearwaters and petrels . Tropicbirds . Frigatebirds . Herons and egrets . Pheasants and partridges . Rails . Plovers . Sandpipers and allies . Gulls . Terns . Pigeons and doves . Parrots . Cuckoos . Barn owls . Swifts . Cuckoo-shrikes . Starlings
See also       References

[edit] Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with a medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Niue.

• Antarctic Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus (A)
• Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus

[edit] Tropicbirds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings. There are 3 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus

[edit] Frigatebirds

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large sea-birds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply-forked tails. The males have inflatable coloured throat pouches. They do not swim or walk, and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week. There are 5 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Great Frigatebird Fregata minor (A)

[edit] Herons and egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Niue.

• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae (A)
• Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra (A)

[edit] Pheasants and partridges

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they may vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus (I)

[edit] Rails

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Niue.

• Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
• Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio

[edit] Plovers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water, although there are some exceptions. There are 66 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva

[edit] Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

The Scolopacidae are a large diverse family of small to medium sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 89 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Niue.

• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica (A)
• Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis (A)
• Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata (A)
• Wandering Tattler Heterosceles incanus
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
• Sanderling Calidris alba
• Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos (A)

[edit] Gulls

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus (A)

[edit] Terns

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae

Terns are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Niue.

• Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
• White Tern Gygis alba

[edit] Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 308 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Niue.

• Crimson-crowned Fruit-dove Ptilinopus porphyraceus
• Pacific Imperial-pigeon Ducula pacifica

[edit] Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak shape. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and the have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. There are 335 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Blue-crowned Lorikeet Vini australis

[edit] Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. Unlike the cuckoo species of the Old World, North American cuckoos are not brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Long-tailed Koel Eudynamys taitensis

[edit] Barn owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Barn Owl Tyto alba

[edit] Swifts

Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small aerial birds, spending the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• White-rumped Swiftlet Aerodramus spodiopygius

[edit] Cuckoo-shrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Campephagidae

The cuckoo-shrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured. There are 82 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Polynesian Triller Lalage maculosa

[edit] Starlings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct, and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. There are 125 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Niue.

• Polynesian Starling Aplonis tabuensis

[edit] See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region

[edit] References