Pigeon with orange belly, white face, and green wings sitting on branch
A Micronesian imperial-pigeon, one of just two land birds breeding on Nauru

There are 34 species of birds that have been recorded living in the wild in Nauru, one of which is endemic to the island and two of which have been introduced by humans. One species, the zebra finch, is now locally extinct on Nauru. Out of the 25 species of birds that have been confirmed to occur natively on Nauru, 18 are non-breeding visitors. Only two land birds, the Micronesian imperial-pigeon and the endemic Nauru reed warbler, breed on Nauru.[1] Three species occurring on Nauru are listed as being near-threatened on the IUCN Red List and two are listed as being vulnerable.[2][3][4][5][6]

Nauru is a small atoll in the Pacific Ocean with an equatorial climate. The island's environment has been described as one of the world's most modified due to surface mining for phosphate, bombing during World War II, and rapid urbanisation.[7] It was covered with tropical rainforest before the 19th century,[8] but its current vegetation consists of strand, shrubland, scattered coconut trees, and various ornamental and fruit trees. Habitat destruction has most likely caused a decline in the numbers of some species, such as the Micronesian imperial-pigeon and the black noddy.[7]

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of the 2022 edition of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account.

The following codes have been used to denote categories. Species without these tags are commonly occurring native species.


Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds comprising the quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls, grouse, ptarmigan, and junglefowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.[9]

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.[10]

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. They are brood parasites.[11]

Plovers and lapwings

black and white plover with gold mottling
Pacific golden-plover

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.[12]

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

brownish wader with long curved bill
Whimbrel

Scolopacidae is a large, diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds that includes the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.[13]

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

black seabird with white forehead
Black noddy

Laridae is a family of seabirds consisting of gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. Terns are generally smaller than gulls with more pointed wings and bills, many also having forked tails which help with aerial manoeuvrability. Both species can be found inland near lakes and rivers, however gulls have adapted well to human presence and can often be found in urban centers.[14] Black noddies are extensively hunted as food in Nauru.[15]

Tropicbirds

white seabird with orange beak and long red tail
Red-tailed tropicbird

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.[16]

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariiforms are a group of medium-sized petrels, characterised by united nostrils with a medium nasal septum and a long outer functional primary flight feather.[17]

Frigatebirds

black frigatebird puffing up throat sac
Male great frigatebird

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black and white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable 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.[18]

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.[19]

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.[20]

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

blackish heron with yellow feet on rock
A dark morph of the Pacific reef-heron

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.[21]

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.[22]

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The family Acrocephalidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. Most have a generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass.[23]

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns.[24]

See also

References

Specific

  1. ^ Buden, Donald (2008). "The Birds of Nauru" (PDF). Notornis. 55 (1): 8.
  2. ^ BirdLife International (2020). "Numenius tahitiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22693182A181357867. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22693182A181357867.en.
  3. ^ BirdLife International (2017) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Limosa lapponica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22693158A111221714. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22693158A111221714.en.
  4. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Tringa brevipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22693289A93394897. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693289A93394897.en.
  5. ^ BirdLife International (2021) [errata version of 2020 assessment]. "Ducula oceanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22691663A193129192. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22691663A193129192.en.
  6. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Acrocephalus rehsei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22714791A94427198. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22714791A94427198.en.
  7. ^ a b Buden, Donald (2008). "The Birds of Nauru" (PDF). Notornis. 55 (1): 9.
  8. ^ Feary, Sascha (2008). "Nauru-Opportunity in Loss". Pacific Conservation Biology. 14 (4): 238–239. doi:10.1071/PC080238.
  9. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (Phasianidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.phasia1.01. S2CID 216315583. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  10. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.columb2.01. S2CID 216304444. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  11. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Cuckoos (Cuculidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.cuculi1.01. S2CID 241787139. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  12. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.charad1.01. S2CID 216164780. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  13. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.scolop2.01. S2CID 216445504. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  14. ^ Elphick, Jonathan (2019). The Handbook of Bird Families. Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books. pp. 127–129. ISBN 0-2281-0119-0.
  15. ^ Buden, Donald (2008). "The Birds of Nauru" (PDF). Notornis. 55 (1): 13.
  16. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Tropicbirds (Phaethontidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.phaeth1.01. S2CID 243054855. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  17. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Shearwaters and Petrels (Procellariidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.procel3.01. S2CID 216494761. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  18. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Frigatebirds (Fregatidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.fregat1.01. S2CID 242682341. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  19. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Boobies and Gannets (Sulidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.sulida1.01. S2CID 216477098. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  20. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Pelicans (Pelecanidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.peleca1.01. S2CID 241914362. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  21. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Ardeidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.ardeid1.01. S2CID 216231772. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  22. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.alcedi1.01. S2CID 242229243. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  23. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Reed Warblers and Allies (Acrocephalidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.acroce2.01. S2CID 216364520. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  24. ^ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (4 March 2020). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Waxbills and Allies (Estrildidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.estril1.01. S2CID 216266025. Retrieved 29 November 2021.

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