List of birds of Tuvalu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Tuvalu. The avifauna of Tuvalu includes a total of 34 species, of which 1 has been introduced by humans, and 12 are rare or accidental. 2 species are globally threatened.
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. 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 Tuvalu.
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 Tuvalu.
- (I) Introduced A species introduced to Tuvalu as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions.
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Non-passerines: Shearwaters and Petrels . Tropicbirds . Boobies and Gannets . Frigatebirds . Bitterns, Herons and Egrets . Ducks, Geese and Swans . Pheasants and Partridges . Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots . Plovers and Lapwings . Sandpipers and allies . Terns . Pigeons and Doves . Cuckoos and Anis . |
[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 4 species which occur in Tuvalu.
- Phoenix Petrel Pterodroma alba (A)
- Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus (A)
- Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis (A)
- Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri (A)
[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 2 species which occur in Tuvalu.
- Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda (A)
- White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
[edit] Boobies and Gannets
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups comprise medium-to-large coastal sea-birds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 9 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Tuvalu.
- Masked Booby Sula dactylatra (A)
- Red-footed Booby Sula sula
- Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
[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 2 species which occur in Tuvalu.
- Great Frigatebird Fregata minor
- Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
[edit] Bitterns, 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 1 species which occurs in Tuvalu.
- Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra
[edit] Ducks, Geese and Swans
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Tuvalu.
- Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (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 Tuvalu.
- Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus (I)
[edit] Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots
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 1 species which occurs in Tuvalu.
- Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
[edit] Plovers and Lapwings
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 Tuvalu.
- 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 Tuvalu.
- Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
- Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus (A)
- Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis
- Gray-tailed Tattler Heterosceles brevipes (A)
- Wandering Tattler Heterosceles incanus
- Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
- Sanderling Calidris alba (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 9 species which occur in Tuvalu.
- Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii
- Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
- Gray-backed Tern Sterna lunata (A)
- Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus
- Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata
- Black Noddy Anous minutus
- Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
- Blue Noddy Procelsterna cerulea (A)
- 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 1 species which occurs in Tuvalu.
- Pacific Imperial-pigeon Ducula pacifica
[edit] Cuckoos and Anis
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 Tuvalu.
- Long-tailed Koel Eudynamys taitensis
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Lepage, Denis. Checklist of birds of Tuvalu. Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved on 30 April 2007.
- Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: a Checklist. Cornell University Press, 880. ISBN 0934797161.