Class AVES—birds
Page
Order Procellariiformes—albatrosses, petrels, and allies
Family Diomedeidae—albatrosses
Diomedia nigripes Audubon* Black-footed Albatross[63]
Family Procellariidae—petrels and shearwaters
Puffinus pacificus chlororhynchus Lesson Wedge-tailed Shearwater[64]
Puffinus pacificus cuneatus Salvin Wedge-tailed Shearwater[65]
Puffinus tenuirostris (Temminck)* Short tailed Shearwater[66]
Puffinus nativitatus Streets Christmas Shearwater[66]
Puffinus lherminieri dichrous Finsch and Hartlaub Dusky Shearwater[66]
Pterodroma rostrata rostrata (Peale)* Tahiti Petrel[69]
Pterodroma hypoleuca hypoleuca Salvin Stout-billed Gadfly Petrel[70]
Order Pelecaniformes—tropic birds, boobies, cormorants, frigate birds and allies
Family Phaëthontidae—tropic birds
Phaëthon aethereus mesonauta Peters* Red-billed Tropic Bird[70]
Phaëthon rubricauda rothschildi (Mathews) Red-tailed Tropic Bird[71]
Phaëthon lepturus dorotheae Mathews White-tailed Tropic Bird[72]
Family Sulidae—boobies and gannets
Sula dactylatra personata Gould Masked Booby[75]
Sula sula rubripes Gould Red-footed Booby[75]
Sula leucogaster plotus (Forster) Brown Booby[76]
Family Phalacrocoracidae—cormorants
Phalacrocorax melanoleucus melanoleucus (Vieillot) Little Pied Cormorant[78]
Family Fregatidae—frigate birds or man-o'-war birds
Fregata minor minor (Gmelin)* Pacific Man-o'-War[79]
Fregata ariel ariel (Gray) Least Man-o'-War[80]
Order Ciconiiformes—herons, storks, and allies
Family Ardeidae—herons and bitterns
Butorides striatus amurensis Schrenck* Amur Green Heron[81]
Bubulcus ibis coromandus (Boddaert)* Cattle Egret[82]
Egretta intermedia intermedia (Wagler)* Plumed Egret[82]
Demigretta sacra sacra (Gmelin) Reef Heron[84]
Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus)* Black-crowned Night Heron[87]
Nycticorax caledonicus pelewensis Mathew Rufous Night Heron[87]
Gorsachius goisagi (Temminck)* Japanese Bittern[89]
Gorsachius melanolophus melanolophus (Raffles)* Malay Bittern[90]
Ixobrychus sinensis (Gmelin) Chinese Least Bittern[93]
Ixobrychus eurhythmus (Swinhoe)* Shrenck's Least Bittern[93]
Dupetor flavicollis flavicollis (Latham)* Black Bittern[94]
Order Anseriformes—ducks, geese, swans, and allies
Family Anatidae—ducks, geese, and swans
Anas oustaleti Salvadori Marianas Mallard[94]
Anas poecilorhyncha pelewensis Hartlaub and Finsch Australian Gray Duck[98]
Anas querquedula Linnaeus* Garganey Teal[100]
Anas crecca crecca Linnaeus* European Teal[100]
Anas crecca carolinensis Gmelin* Green-winged Teal[100]
Anas acuta acuta Linnaeus* Pintail[101]
Anas acuta tzitzihoa Vieillot* Pintail[101]
Anas penelope Linnaeus* Widgeon[102]
Anas clypeata Linnaeus* Shoveller[102]
Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus)* Tufted Duck[103]
Aythya valisineria (Wilson)* Canvas-back[103]
Order Falconiformes—vultures, hawks, falcons
Family Accipitridae—hawks, harriers, and allies
Accipiter soloënsis (Horsfield)* Chinese Goshawk[104]
Accipiter virgatus gularis (Temminck and Schlegel)* Asiatic Sparrow Hawk[104]
Pandion haliaetus melvillensis Mathews Osprey[105]
Family Falconidae—falcons and caracaras
Falco peregrinus japonensis Gmelin* Peregrine Falcon[105]
Order Galliformes—megapodes, pheasants, and allies
Family Megapodidae—megapodes
Megapodius lapérouse senex Hartlaub Micronesian Megapode[106]
Megapodius lapérouse lapérouse Gaimard Micronesian Megapode[109]
Family Phasianidae—quails, pheasants, and allies
Coturnix chinensis lineata (Scopoli)[+] Painted Quail[113]
Gallus gallus (Linnaeus)[+] Red Jungle Fowl[114]
Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus[+] Ring-necked Pheasant[115]
Order Gruiformes—cranes, rails, and allies
Family Rallidae—rails, gallinules, and coots
Rallus philippensis pelewensis (Mayr) Banded Rail[116]
Rallus owstoni (Rothschild) Guam Rail[118]
Rallina fasciata (Raffles)* Malay Banded Crake[120]
Rallina eurizonoïdes eurizonoïdes (Lafresnaye)* Philippine Banded Crake[121]
Aphanolimnas monasa (Kittlitz) Kusaie Black Rail[121]
Poliolimnas cinereus micronesiae Hachisuka White-browed Rail[123]
Gallinula chloropus subsp. near orientalis Horsfield Gallinule[126]
Gallinula chloropus guami Hartert Gallinule[127]
Porphyrio porphyrio pelewensis Hartlaub and Finsch Purple Swamphen[129]
Fulica atra atra Linnaeus* Common Coot[131]
Order Charadriiformes—shorebirds, gulls, and auks
Family Charadriidae—plovers, turnstones, and allies
Squatarola squatarola (Linnaeus)* Black-bellied Plover[131]
Pluvialis dominica fulva (Gmelin)* Pacific Golden Plover[132]
Charadrius hiaticula semipalmatus Bonaparte* Semipalmated Plover[134]
Charadrius dubius curonicus Gmelin* Ring-necked Plover[135]
Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis Deignan* Kentish Plover[135]
Charadrius mongolus stegmanni Stresemann* Mongolian Dotteral[135]
Charadrius leschenaultii Lesson* Large Sand Dotteral[137]
Family Scolopacidae—snipe, sandpipers, and allies
Numenius phaeopus variegatus (Scopoli)* Whimbrel[137]
Numenius tahitiensis (Gmelin)* Bristle-thighed Curlew[139]
Numenius madagascariensis (Linnaeus)* Long-billed Curlew[140]
Limosa lapponica baueri Naumann* Pacific Godwit[140]
Tringa nebularia (Gunnerus)* Greenshawk[141]
Tringa melanoleuca (Gmelin)* Greater Yellow-legs[142]
Tringa glareola Linnaeus* Wood Sandpiper[142]
Actitus hypoleucos Linnaeus* Common Sandpiper[143]
Heteroscelus brevipes (Vieillot)* Gray-tailed Tattler[144]
Heteroscelus incanus (Gmelin)* Amer. Wandering Tattler[145]
Arenaria interpres interpres (Linnaeus)* Turnstone[147]
Gallinago megala Swinhoe* Marsh Snipe[149]
Gallinago gallinago gallinago (Linnaeus)* Common Snipe[150]
Crocethia alba (Pallas)* Sanderling[150]
Calidris tenuirostris (Horsfield)* Asiatic Knot[151]
Erolia minuta ruficollis (Pallas)* Little Stint[151]
Erolia subminuta (Middendorff)* Least Sandpiper[152]
Erolia melanotos (Vieillot)* Pectoral Sandpiper[152]
Erolia acuminata (Horsfield)* Sharp-tailed Sandpiper[152]
Erolia ferruginea (Pontoppidan)* Curlew Sandpiper[153]
Limicola falcinellus sibirica Dresser* Broad-billed Sandpiper[154]
Family Phalaropidae—phalaropes
Phalaropus lobatus (Linnaeus)* Northern Phalarope[154]
Family Laridae—gulls and terns
Larus argentatus vegae Palmén* Herring Gull[154]
Chlidonias leucopterus (Temminck)* White-winged Black Tern[155]
Sterna hirundo longipennis Nordmann* Black-billed Com. Tern[155]
Sterna sumatrana sumatrana Raffles Black-naped Tern[156]
Sterna lunata Peale Spectacled Tern[160]
Sterna anaetheta anaetheta Scopoli Bridled Tern[160]
Sterna fuscata oahuensis Bloxham Sooty Tern[161]
Sterna albifrons sinensis Gmelin* Least Tern[161]
Thalasseus bergii pelecanoides (King) Crested Tern[162]
Procelsterna cerulea saxatilis W. E. Fisher* Blue-gray Tern[164]
Anoüs stolidus pileatus (Scopoli) Common Noddy[165]
Anoüs tenuirostris marcusi (Bryan) White-capped Noddy[170]
Gygis alba candida (Gmelin) White Tern[174]
Gygis alba pacifica (Lesson) White Tern[180]
Order Columbiformes—pigeons, doves, and allies
Family Columbidae—pigeons and doves
Columba livia Gmelin[+] Blue Rock Pigeon[182]
Ptilinopus porphyraceus ponapensis (Finsch) Crimson-crw'd Fruit Dove[182]
Ptilinopus porphyraceus hernsheimi (Finsch) Crimson-crw'd Fruit Dove[184]
Ptilinopus porphyraceus pelewensis Hartlaub and Finsch Crimson-crw'd Fruit Dove[185]
Ptilinopus roseicapillus (Lesson) Marianas Fruit Dove[186]
Ducula oceanica monacha (Momiyama) Micronesian Pigeon[190]
Ducula oceanica teraokai (Momiyama) Micronesian Pigeon[193]
Ducula oceanica townsendi (Wetmore) Micronesian Pigeon[194]
Ducula oceanica oceanica (Lesson and Garnot) Micronesian Pigeon[195]
Ducula oceanica ratakensis (Takatsukasa and Yamashina) Micronesian Pigeon[197]
Streptopelia bitorquata dusumieri (Temminck)[+] Philippine Turtle Dove[198]
Gallicolumba canifrons (Hartlaub and Finsch) Palau Ground Dove[201]
Gallicolumba xanthonura xanthonura (Temminck) White-thrt'd Ground Dove[203]
Gallicolumba xanthonura kubaryi (Finsch) White-thrt'd Ground Dove[207]
Caloenas nicobarica pelewensis Finsch Nicobar Pigeon[209]
Order Psittaciformes—lories and parrots
Family Psittacidae—lories, parrots, and allies
Trichoglossus rubiginosus (Bonaparte) Ponapé Lory[211]
Order Cuculiformes—cuckoos, plantain-eaters
Family Cuculidae—cuckoos, anis, and allies
Cuculus canorus telephonus Heine* Common Cuckoo[213]
Cuculus saturatus horsfieldi Moore* Oriental Cuckoo[214]
Eudynamis taitensis (Sparrman)* Long-tailed New Zealand Cuckoo[214]
Order Strigiformes—owls
Family Strigidae—owls
Otus podarginus (Hartlaub and Finsch) Palau Scops Owl[215]
Asio flammeus flammeus (Pontoppidan)* Short-eared Owl[217]
Asio flammeus ponapensis Mayr Short-eared Owl[218]
Order Caprimulgiformes—goatsuckers and allies
Family Caprimulgidae—goatsuckers
Caprimulgus indicus jotaka Temminck and Schlegel* Jungle Nightjar[219]
Caprimulgus indicus phalaena Hartlaub and Finsch Jungle Nightjar[219]
Order Apodiformes—swifts and hummingbirds
Family Apodidae—swifts
Collocalia inexpectata pelewensis Mayr Edible Nest Swiftlet[221]
Collocalia inexpectata bartschi Mearns Edible Nest Swiftlet[222]
Collocalia inquieta inquieta (Kittlitz) Carolines Swiftlet[224]
Collocalia inquieta rukensis Kuroda Carolines Swiftlet[225]
Collocalia inquieta ponapensis Mayr Carolines Swiftlet[226]
Order Coraciiformes—kingfishers, rollers, and allies
Family Alcedinidae—kingfishers
Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina Swainson Micronesian Kingfisher[227]
Halcyon cinnamomina pelewensis Wiglesworth Micronesian Kingfisher[229]
Halcyon cinnamomina reichenbachii (Hartlaub) Micronesian Kingfisher[230]
Halcyon chloris teraokai Kuroda White-collared Kingfisher[233]
Halcyon chloris orii Takatsukasa and Yamashina White-collared Kingfisher[235]
Halcyon chloris albicilla (Dumont) White-collared Kingfisher[235]
Halcyon chloris owstoni Rothschild White-collared Kingfisher[237]
Family Coraciidae—rollers
Eurystomus orientalis connectens Stresemann* Dollar Bird[238]
Order Passeriformes—perching birds
Family Hirundinidae—swallows
Hirundo rustica gutteralis Scopoli* Eastern Barn Swallow[239]
Family Campephagidae—cuckoo-shrikes
Edolisoma tenuirostre monachum (Hartlaub and Finsch) Cicada Bird[239]
Edolisoma tenuirostre nesiotis (Hartlaub and Finsch) Cicada Bird[241]
Edolisoma tenuirostre insperatum (Finch) Cicada Bird[242]
Family Dicruridae—drongos
Dicrurus macrocercus harterti S. Baker[+] Black Drongo[244]
Family Corvidae—crows, magpies, and jays
Corvus kubaryi Reichenow Marianas Crow[244]
Family Turdidae—thrushes
Luscinia calliope calliope (Pallas)* Siberian Rubythroat[248]
Monticola solitaria philippensis (Müller)* Chinese Blue Rock Thrush[248]
Turdus obscurus obscurus Gmelin* Dusky Thrush[248]
Family Sylviidae—Old World warblers
Psamathia annae Hartlaub and Finsch Palau Bush-warbler[249]
Acrocephalus luscinia luscinia (Quoy and Gaimard) Nightingale Reed-warbler[251]
Acrocephalus luscinia syrinx (Kittlitz) Nightingale Reed-warbler[254]
Acrocephalus luscinia yamashinae (Takatsukasa) Nightingale Reed-warbler[256]
Acrocephalus luscinia nijoi (Yamashina) Nightingale Reed-warbler[257]
Family Muscicapidae—Old World flycatchers
Rhipidura rufifrons uraniae Oustalet Rufous-fronted Fantail[261]
Rhipidura rufifrons saipanensis Hartert Rufous-fronted Fantail[262]
Rhipidura rufifrons mariae R. H. Baker Rufous-fronted Fantail[263]
Rhipidura rufifrons versicolor Hartlaub and Finsch Rufous-fronted Fantail[264]
Rhipidura rufifrons kubaryi Finsch Rufous-fronted Fantail[265]
Rhipidura lepida Hartlaub and Finsch Palau Fantail[266]
Metabolus rugensis (Hombron and Jacquinot) Truk Monarch[269]
Monarcha godeffroyi Hartlaub Yap Monarch[272]
Monarcha takatsukasae (Yamashina) Tinian Monarch[274]
Myiagra oceanica erythrops Hartlaub and Finch Micronesian Broadbill[275]
Myiagra oceanica freycineti Oustalet Micronesian Broadbill[277]
Myiagra oceanica oceanica Pucheran Micronesian Broadbill[279]
Myiagra oceanica pluto Finsch Micronesian Broadbill[280]
Muscicapa narcissina narcissina Temminck* Narcissus Flycatcher[282]
Muscicapa griseisticta (Swinhoe)* Chinese Gray-spotted Flycatcher[282]
Colluricincla tenebrosa (Hartlaub and Finsch) Palau Morning Bird[282]
Family Artamidae—wood-swallows
Artamus leucorhynchus pelewensis Finsch White-breasted Wood-swallow[284]
Family Sturnidae—starlings
Aplonis opacus opacus (Kittlitz) Micronesian Starling[286]
Aplonis opacus ponapensis Takatsukasa and Yamashina Micronesian Starling[288]
Aplonis opacus angus Momiyama Micronesian Starling[289]
Aplonis opacus kurodai Momiyama Micronesian Starling[291]
Aplonis opacus orii (Takatsukasa and Yamashina) Micronesian Starling[292]
Aplonis opacus guami Momiyama Micronesian Starling[293]
Aplonis opacus aeneus (Takatsukasa and Yamashina) Micronesian Starling[297]
Aplonis pelzelni Finsch Ponapé Mountain Starling[299]
Aplonis corvinus (Kittlitz) Kusaie Mountain Starling[301]
Sturnus philippensis (Forster)* Violet-backed Starling[302]
Sturnus cineraceus Temminck* Ashy Starling[302]
Family Meliphagidae—honey-eaters
Cleptornis marchei (Oustalet) Golden Honey-eater[302]
Myzomela cardinalis rubratra (Lesson) Cardinal Honey-eater[304]
Myzomela cardinalis dichromata Wetmore Cardinal Honey-eater[307]
Myzomela cardinalis major Bonaparte Cardinal Honey-eater[307]
Myzomela cardinalis saffordi Wetmore Cardinal Honey-eater[309]
Myzomela cardinalis kurodai Momiyama Cardinal Honey-eater[312]
Myzomela cardinalis kobayashii Momiyama Cardinal Honey-eater[313]
Family Zosteropidae—white-eyes
Zosterops conspicillata conspicillata (Kittlitz) Bridled White-eye[316]
Zosterops conspicillata saypani Dubois Bridled White-eye[318]
Zosterops conspicillata rotensis Takatsukasa and Yamashina Bridled White-eye[319]
Zosterops conspicillata semperi Hartlaub Bridled White-eye[320]
Zosterops conspicillata owstoni Hartert Bridled White-eye[321]
Zosterops conspicillata takatsukasai Momiyama Bridled White-eye[322]
Zosterops conspicillata hypolais Hartlaub and Finsch Bridled White-eye[323]
Zosterops cinerea cinerea (Kittlitz) Micron. Dusky White-eye[326]
Zosterops cinerea ponapensis Finsch Micron. Dusky White-eye[327]
Zosterops cinerea finschii (Hartlaub) Micron. Dusky White-eye[328]
Rukia palauensis (Reichenow) Palau Greater White-eye[330]
Rukia oleaginea (Hartlaub and Finsch) Yap Greater White-eye[331]
Rukia ruki (Hartert) Truk Greater White-eye[332]
Rukia sanfordi (Mayr) Ponapé Greater White-eye[333]
Family Ploceidae—weaver-finches
Erythrura trichroa trichroa (Kittlitz) Blue-faced Parrot-finch[336]
Erythrura trichroa clara Takatsukasa and Yamashina Blue-faced Parrot-finch[337]
Erythrura trichroa pelewensis Kuroda Blue-faced Parrot-finch[338]
Lonchura nigerrima minor (Yamashina) Black-faced Weaver-finch[339]
Lonchura punctulata cabanisi (Sharpe)[+] Phil. Nutmeg Mannikin[340]

DISCUSSION OF THE BIRDS OF MICRONESIA

Of the 206 kinds of birds found in Micronesia, 30 kinds are classed as sea birds, 29 kinds as migratory shore birds, and 147 kinds are classed as land and fresh-water birds. For purposes of discussion these birds are arranged in these three categories, following the system used by Mayr (1945a).

Oceanic Birds

Oceanic birds found in Micronesia belong to the following families: Diomedeidae, Procellariidae, Phaëthontidae, Pelecanidae, Fregatidae, and Laridae. Following Wynne-Edwards (1935:240) and Murphy (1936:326), these birds may be grouped as inshore birds (Laridae and others), offshore birds (Pelecanidae, Fregatidae and others), and pelagic birds (Diomedeidae, Procellariidae, Phaëthontidae). As shown in [table 2] there are 30 kinds of oceanic birds in Micronesia, 18 kinds that are resident and 12 kinds that are regarded as visitors to the area. Records of nestings are few; field work in the future probably will yield evidence that more kinds of oceanic birds are actually resident in the Micronesian islands.

Table 2. List of Resident and Nonresident Oceanic Birds of Micronesia

Table 2. List of Resident and Nonresident Oceanic Birds of Micronesia

GeneraResident
kinds
Nonresident
kinds
Diomedea0 1
Puffinus4 1
Pterodroma1 1
Phaëthon2 1
Sula3 0
Fregata1 1
Larus0 1
Chlidonias0 1
Sterna2 4
Thalasseus1 0
Procelsterna0 1
Anoüs2 0
Gygis2 0

Inshore Oceanic Birds

The inshore zone, according to Wynne-Edwards (1935:240), "extends from high-water mark to a maximum of four or five miles out to sea, including islands and reefs within sight of shore." In Micronesia the majority of the Laridae occur in this zone including such residents as Sterna sumatrana, S. anaetheta, Thalasseus bergii, Anoüs stolidus, A. tenuirostris, Gygis alba. These birds, especially S. anaetheta, Thalasseus, and Anoüs, may venture into the offshore zone. Visitors to Micronesia include several terns which probably normally range in the inshore (as well as in offshore) zones, such as Childonias leucopterus and Sterna hirundo. These birds feed to a considerable extent inside the outer reefs surrounding the lagoons, coming to shore frequently in small or large groups. Gygis alba probably spends considerable time on shore; stomachs examined contained fish, crustaceans and insects, indicating that they obtain some of their food ashore.