List of birds of the Federated States of Micronesia

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus

Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis (A)

Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

Tahiti petrel, Pterodroma rostrata (A)

Kermadec petrel, Pterodroma neglecta (A)

Juan Fernandez petrel, Pterodroma externa

White-necked petrel, Pterodroma cervicalis (A)

Bonin petrel, Pterodroma hypoleuca

Black-winged petrel, Pterodroma nigripennis

Stejneger's petrel, Pterodroma longirostris (A)

Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii (A)

Streaked shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas (A)

Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes (A)

Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacificus

Buller's shearwater, Ardenna bulleri (A)

Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (A)

Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris

Christmas shearwater, Puffinus nativitatis

Newell's shearwater, Puffinus newelli (A)

Tropical shearwater, Puffinus bailloni

Storm petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A)

Polynesian storm petrel, Nesofregetta fuliginosa

Band-rumped storm petrel, Oceanodroma castro (A)

Leach's storm petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa

Matsudaira's storm petrel, Oceanodroma matsudairae

Tropicbirds

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.

Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda

White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus

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.

Masked booby, Sula dactylatra

Red-footed booby, Sula sula

Brown booby, Sula leucogaster

Cormorants

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (A)

Little pied cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos

Frigatebirds

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.

Great frigatebird, Fregata minor

Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel (A)

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.

Australian pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus (A)

Bitterns, herons and egrets

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.

Grey heron, Ardea cinerea (A)

Great egret, Ardea alba

Intermediate egret, Mesophoyx intermedia (A)

Little egret, Egretta garzetta

Pacific reef heron, Egretta sacra

Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis

Striated heron, Butorides striata (A)

Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (A)

Rufous night heron, Nycticorax caledonicus

Japanese night heron, Gorsachius goisagi (A)

Malayan night heron, Gorsachius melanolophus (A)

Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis

Schrenck's bittern, Ixobrychus eurhythmus (A)

Black bittern, Ixobrychus flavicollis (A)

Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (A)

Ducks, geese and swans

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.

Snow goose, Chen caerulescens (A)

Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A)

Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A)

Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope

American wigeon, Anas americana (A)

Gadwall, Anas strepera (A)

Eurasian teal, Anas crecca

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A)

Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa

Northern pintail, Anas acuta

Garganey, Anas querquedula (A)

Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata

Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A)

Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A)

Redhead, Aythya americana

Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula

Greater scaup, Aythya marila

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (A)

Hawks, kites and eagles

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus (A)

Chinese sparrowhawk, Accipiter soloensis

Japanese sparrowhawk, Accipiter gularis

Grey-faced buzzard, Butastur indicus (A)

Caracaras and falcons

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus (A)

Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Megapodes

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black colouring.

Micronesian scrubfowl, Megapodius laperouse

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

Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus (I)

Blue-breasted quail, Coturnix chinensis (I)

Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (I)

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, 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.

Red-legged crake, Rallina fasciata (A)

Slaty-legged crake, Rallina eurizonoides

Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis

Plain bush-hen, Amaurornis olivaceus (A)

Pale-vented bush-hen, Amaurornis moluccana (A)

Spotless crake, Porzana tabuensis

White-browed crake, Porzana cinerea

Black-backed swamphen, Porphyrio indicus

Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A)

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. .

Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (A)

Avocets and stilts

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus

White-headed stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus (A)

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards.

Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)

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.

Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva

Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola

Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A)

Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (A)

Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (A)

Lesser sandplover, Charadrius mongolus

Greater sandplover, Charadrius leschenaultii

Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus (A)

Sandpipers and allies

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. 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.

Latham's snipe, Gallinago hardwickii (A)

Swinhoe's snipe, Gallinago megala

Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago (A)

Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa

Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica

Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A)

Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus

Bristle-thighed curlew, Numenius tahitiensis

Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A)

Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis

Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (A)

Common redshank, Tringa totanus

Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis

Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia

Nordmann's greenshank, Tringa guttifer (A)

Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (A)

Grey-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes

Wandering tattler, Tringa incana

Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola

Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus

Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos

Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (A)

Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres

Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris (A)

Red knot, Calidris canutus (A)

Sanderling, Calidris alba

Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis

Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii (A)

Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta

Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos

Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata

Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea

Dunlin, Calidris alpina (A)

Broad-billed sandpiper, Limicola falcinellus (A)

Buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis (A)

Ruff, Philomachus pugnax

Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

South Polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A)

Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus

Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)

Gulls and terns

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls and kittiwakes. They 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. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Herring gull, Larus argentatus (A)

Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (A)

Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (A)

Greater crested tern, Thalasseus bergii

Black-naped tern, Sterna sumatrana

Common tern, Sterna hirundo

Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (A)

Little tern, Sternula albifrons

Spectacled tern, Onychoprion lunatus

Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus

Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus

Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida (A)

White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus

Black noddy, Anous minutus

Brown noddy, Anous stolidus

Blue noddy, Procelsterna cerulea

White tern, Gygis alba

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.

Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)

Philippine collared dove, Streptopelia dusumieri (I)

Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica

White-fronted ground dove, Gallicolumba kubaryi (E)

White-throated ground dove, Gallicolumba xanthonura

Friendly ground dove, Gallicolumba stairi (I)

Crimson-crowned fruit dove, Ptilinopus porphyraceus

Kosrae fruit dove, Ptilinopus hernsheimi (E)

Purple-capped fruit dove, Ptilinopus ponapensis

Micronesian imperial pigeon, Ducula oceanica

Cockatoos

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae

The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable headcrest.

Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Cacatua galerita (I)

Parrots, macaws and allies

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back.

Pohnpei lorikeet, Trichoglossus rubiginosus (E)

Eclectus parrot, Eclectus roratus (I)

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. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus (A)

Rufous hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx hyperythrus (A)

Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo, Hierococcyx nisicolor (A)

Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A)

Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus

Brush cuckoo, Cacomantis variolosus (A)

Long-tailed koel, Eudynamys taitensis

Shining bronze cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus (A}

Typical owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Island swiftlet, Aerodramus inquietus (E)

Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (A)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

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

Pohnpei kingfisher, Todirhamphus reichenbachii'

Sacred kingfisher, Todirhamphus sanctus

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

Rainbow bee-eater, Merops ornatus

Typical rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis (A)

Swallows and martins

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica

Tree martin, Petrochelidon nigricans (A)

Asian martin, Delichon dasypus

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (A)

Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea

Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus (A)

Cuckooshrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured.

Cicadabird, Coracina tenuirostris

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (A)

Dusky thrush, Turdus naumanni (A)

Locustellid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (A)

Acrocephalid warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

Carolinian reed warbler, Acrocephalus syrinx (E)

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius (A)

Grey-spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa griseisticta (A)

Narcissus flycatcher, Ficedula narcissina (A)

Siberian rubythroat, Luscinia calliope (A)

Fantails

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.

Rufous fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons

Pohnpei fantail, Rhipidura kubaryi (E)

Monarch flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

Truk monarch, Metabolus rugensis (E)

Yap monarch, Monarcha godeffroyi (E)

Pohnpei flycatcher, Myiagra pluto (E)

Oceanic flycatcher, Myiagra oceanica (E)

White-eyes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye.

Citrine white-eye, Zosterops semperi

Plain white-eye, Zosterops hypolais (E)

Kosrae white-eye, Zosterops cinereus (E)

Grey-brown white-eye, Zosterops ponapensis (E)

Yap white-eye, Zosterops oleagineus (E)

Truk white-eye, Rukia ruki (E)

Long-billed white-eye, Rukia longirostra (E)

Honeyeaters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea. They are nectar feeders and closely resemble other nectar-feeding passerines.

Micronesian myzomela, Myzomela rubratra

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (A)

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark grey in colour, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus (I)

Woodswallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings.

White-breasted woodswallow, Artamus leucorynchus (A)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Micronesian starling, Aplonis opaca

Pohnpei starling, Aplonis pelzelni (E)

Kosrae starling, Aplonis corvina (Ex)

Chestnut-cheeked starling, Agropsar philippensis (A)

White-cheeked starling, Spodiopsar cineraceus (A)

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.

Blue-faced parrotfinch, Erythrura trichroa

Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (I)

Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla (I)

Mottled munia, Lonchura hunsteini (I)

Buntings, sparrows, seedeaters and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala (A)

Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I)