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List of birds of Tokelau

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Map of Oceania, with a red circle showing where Tokelau is located
Location of Tokelau in Oceania
black seabird with white forehead facing right
The black noddy is one of the most common birds in Tokelau.

Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand in Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, comprising three coral atolls with a total land area of 10.1 km2 (3.9 sq mi).[1] There are 33 species of birds that have been recorded from Tokelau, of which one, the red junglefowl, has been introduced by humans. Anas ducks are also seasonal visitors to the islands.[2] The most common species in Tokelau are the black noddy, brown noddy, and white tern, which each have populations of thousands of pairs on each of the atolls.[2] Three species of birds found in Tokelau, the bristle-thighed curlew, bar-tailed godwit, and flesh-footed shearwater, are near-threatened.[3][4][5] One species, the Australian masked-owl, is locally extinct. Before the arrival of humans, Tokelau may also have been inhabited by Halcyon kingfishers, Gallirallus and Porzana rails, Acrocephalus warblers, Aplonis starlings, Prosobonia sandpipers, and fruit doves.[1]

Tokelau has a moist tropical climate year-round, with an average temperature of 28 °C (82 °F) and a mean annual rainfall of over 3,000 mm (120 in). The atolls consist of coral rubble of different sizes, with poor quality soil overlying coral rock. Plant diversity is low, with forest on the inner side of the atolls comprising mainly coconut palm, along with other tropical trees like Cordia subcordata, Pisonia grandis, Guettarda speciosa, and Pandanus. Undergrowth mainly consists of bird's-nest fern (Asplenium nidus). Vegetation nearer the beach is more diverse, with very little soil and plants like Scaevola taccada and Morinda citrifolia.[6]

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. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Tokelau.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. 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 Tokelau
  • (I) Introduced – a species introduced to Tokelau as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
  • (Ex) Extirpated – a species that no longer occurs here although populations may exist elsewhere


Pheasants, grouse, and allies

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Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds that consist 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.[7]

Pigeons and doves

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whitish pigeon with greenish wings and fleshy black beak sitting on 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.[8]

Cuckoos

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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. Many of the species are brood parasites.[9]

Plovers and lapwings

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brownish-tan shorebird with blackish markings
Pacific golden-plover in non-breeding plumage

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.[10]

Sandpipers and allies

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white shorebird with light brown upperparts and black beak
Sanderling 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.[11]

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

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brownish-black seabird with white forehead flying against blue background
Brown noddy
pure white seabird with black beak and eyespot with fish in beak
White tern

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

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.[12]

Tropicbirds

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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.[13]

Shearwaters and petrels

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black seabird sitting in branches under rocky shelf
Bulwer's petrel

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are a group of medium-sized petrels, characterised by united nostrils with medium nasal septa and a long outer functional primary flight feather.[14]

Frigatebirds

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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. They are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for days at a time.[15]

Boobies and gannets

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brown seabird with white underparts and large, thick blue beak
Female brown 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.[16]

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

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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.[17]

Barn-owls

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Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium-sized owls with large, flat heads, and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long legs with slightly curved talons.[18]

See also

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References

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Specific

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  1. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Pierce, Ray; Gruber, Monica; Atherton, James; Burne, Allan; Valu, Mere; Whistler, Art (2012). A Conservation Survey of Tokelau (PDF). Speewah, Queensland. pp. 8–11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ 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 16 April 2022.
  4. ^ 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 16 April 2022.
  5. ^ BirdLife International (2019). "Ardenna carneipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22698188A155469189. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22698188A155469189.en. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  6. ^ Abbott, K. L.; Sarty, M.; Lester, P. J. (2006). "The ants of Tokelau". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 33 (2): 157–164. doi:10.1080/03014223.2006.9518440. ISSN 0301-4223.
  7. ^ 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 16 April 2022.
  8. ^ 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 16 April 2022.
  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.). "Cuckoos (Cuculidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.cuculi1.01. S2CID 241787139. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  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.). "Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.charad1.01. S2CID 216164780. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  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.). "Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.scolop2.01. S2CID 216445504. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  12. ^ Elphick, Jonathan (2019). The Handbook of Bird Families. Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books. pp. 127–129. ISBN 978-0-2281-0119-2.
  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.). "Tropicbirds (Phaethontidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.phaeth1.01. S2CID 243054855. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  14. ^ 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 16 April 2022.
  15. ^ 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 16 April 2022.
  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.). "Boobies and Gannets (Sulidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.sulida1.01. S2CID 216477098. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  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.). "Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Ardeidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.ardeid1.01. S2CID 216231772. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  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.). "Barn-Owls (Tytonidae)". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.tytoni1.01. S2CID 216437168. Retrieved 16 April 2022.

General

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