Map of globe focused on the Pacific Ocean, with a red circle showing where Tuvalu is located
Location of Tuvalu
black heron with yellowish legs standing on rocks
The Pacific reef-heron (dark morph pictured) is one of three native land birds that breeds on Tuvalu.

Tuvalu, previously known as the Ellice Islands, is an island country in Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of six atolls and three reef islands (islands made of rocks from coral skeletons), with a total land area of 26 km2 (10 sq mi). Its climate is hot and humid, with annual rainfall varying from 2,500–3,500 mm (98–138 in). The soil is very weakly developed, consisting mostly of coral sand and calcium carbonate-rich regosols. Vegetation on the islands predominantly consists of coconuts, screw palms, Casuarina, creepers, and grass, although some native forest exists. Previously, the islands were likely covered with Pisonia woodland.[1][2]

Thirty-seven species of birds have been recorded on Tuvalu, one of which has been introduced by humans. Thirteen of these species, nine of which are seabirds, breed in the country. The Pacific reef-heron, Pacific imperial-pigeon, and buff-banded rail, along with the introduced red junglefowl, are the remaining breeding species. Nine species of shorebird, eight species of seabird, mallards, and long-railed koels are migratory visitors to the islands.[3] Four species of birds found in Tuvalu are globally threatened; the bristle-thighed curlew, bar-tailed godwit, and gray-tailed tattler are near-threatened, while the Phoenix petrel is endangered.[4][5][6][7] Before the arrival of humans, the birds of the islands may have also included kingfishers, Acrocephalus warblers, Aplonis starlings, Prosobonia sandpipers, and fruit doves. However, higher sea levels at that time might have eliminated fresh water sources on most of the atolls, making them unsuitable for pigeons or starlings.[1]

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, genera 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 show several categories. Species without any tags 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 direct or indirect consequence of human action.

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

brownish duck with blackish stripes on face
Pacific black duck

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.[8]

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

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 vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.[9]

Pigeons and doves

whitish pigeon with greenish wings and tail sitting on a branch
Pacific imperial-pigeon

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.[11]

Rails, gallinules, and coots

orangish-brown rail with black barring on the belly, a grey throat, and an orangish face
Buff-banded rail

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, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.[12] The buff-banded rail only established a breeding population in 1972.[1]

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 the open country worldwide.[13]

Sandpipers and allies

brownish shorebird with whitish underparts and a long black-tipped pinkish bill
Bar-tailed godwit in non-breeding plumage

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is 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 these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Some species have highly specialised bills adapted to specific feeding strategies.[14]

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

tern with white underparts and black upperparts perching on fence
Bridled tern

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds 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.[15]

Tropicbirds

flying white bird with red bill and long red tail feathers
Red-tailed tropicbird

Order: Phaethontiformes   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 procellariids 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 seabird inflating large red throat pouch
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 colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. They are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for days at a time.[18]

Boobies and gannets

perching brownish seabird with bright red webbed feet and thick blue bill
Brown morph of the red-footed booby

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]

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

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 warier. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted.[20]

See also

References

Specific

  1. 1 2 3 Steadman, David W. (2006). Extinction & biogeography of tropical Pacific birds. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 282–283. ISBN 0-226-77141-5. OCLC 62172698.
  2. ↑ Rodgers, K. A. (1991). "A brief history of Tuvalu's natural history" (PDF). South Pacific Journal of Natural Science. 11: 1–4.
  3. ↑ Parr, John W. K. (2008). "Important bird areas of Tuvalu: Key sites for conservation". BirdLife International. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  4. ↑ BirdLife International (2017). "Limosa lapponica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22693158A111221714. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22693158A111221714.en. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  5. ↑ BirdLife International (2018). "Pterodroma alba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22698001A132618432. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22698001A132618432.en. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  6. ↑ BirdLife International (2020). "Numenius tahitiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22693182A181357867. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22693182A181357867.en. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  7. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Tringa brevipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22693289A93394897. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693289A93394897.en. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  8. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl (Anatidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.anatid1.01. S2CID 216505323. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  9. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  10. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  11. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  12. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.rallid1.01. S2CID 216475559. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  13. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  14. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  15. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.). "Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.larida1.01. S2CID 216448411. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  16. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  17. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  18. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  19. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.
  20. ↑ Winkler, David W.; Billerman, Shawn M.; Lovette, Irby J. (2020-03-04). 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 2022-03-27.

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