kids encyclopedia robot

List of birds of the Aleutian Islands facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Aleutian Islands are a chain of islands in Alaska, and they are a super important place for birds! The word "avifauna" just means all the different kinds of birds that live in a certain area.

As of March 2021, experts like Gibson and Byrd, Avibase, and the American Ornithological Society have counted 376 different bird species in the Aleutian Islands. That's a lot of birds!

Here's a quick look at how these birds use the islands:

  • 44 species (about 12%) live there all year round and also raise their babies there. They are called residents and breeders.
  • 26 species (about 7%) fly to the Aleutians just to have their babies. They are summer breeders.
  • 18 species (about 5%) come to the islands to spend the winter. They are winter residents.
  • 6 species (about 2%) are there in the summer but don't breed.
  • 37 species (about 10%) are just passing through during their long migrations in spring or fall.
  • 196 species (about 53%) are "vagrants." This means they don't usually come to the Aleutians, but sometimes they get lost or blown off course and show up. Some of these birds have only been seen once!

The list of birds you'll see below follows a special scientific order set by the American Ornithological Society. The common names (like "Mallard") and scientific names (like Anas platyrhynchos) are also from their official list. The names for bird families (like "Ducks, geese, and waterfowl") come from the Clements taxonomy.

When you see a bird name, it will also have a note about its status in the Aleutians. Here's what those terms mean:

  • Accidental – This bird has only been seen once or twice. It's a rare visitor!
  • Casual – This bird is seen sometimes, but not every year. It shows up in less than 30% of the years.
  • Intermittent – This bird is seen more often than "casual" birds (in 30% or more of the years), but still not every single year.
  • Migrant – This bird regularly passes through the islands during its spring or fall journey.
  • Resident – Many of these birds live in the Aleutians all year long.
  • Summer – These birds fly to the Aleutians to breed or spend the summer near the islands.
  • Winter – These birds fly to the Aleutians to spend the colder months.
  • Annual breeders – If you see an asterisk (*) next to a status (like resident* or summer*), it means these birds regularly raise their young in the Aleutians.

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

These birds are known for living near water. They include many types of ducks, geese, and swans.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

These are ground-dwelling birds, often known for their strong legs and short, rounded wings.

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are diving birds that live in freshwater or coastal waters. They have lobed toes instead of webbed feet.

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

These are common birds found worldwide, known for their cooing sounds.

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

Cuckoos are known for their distinctive calls and, in some species, for laying their eggs in other birds' nests.

  • Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (intermittent)
  • Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus (casual)

Nightjars

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are nocturnal or crepuscular birds, meaning they are active at night or during twilight.

  • Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka (accidental)

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are amazing flyers, spending most of their lives in the air. They have long, narrow wings.

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are tiny, colorful birds known for their ability to hover and their very fast wing beats.

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

These are shy, marsh-dwelling birds with strong legs and long toes.

  • Sora, Porzana carolina (accidental)
  • Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (accidental)
  • Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra (accidental)
  • American coot, Fulica americana (accidental)

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds that often perform elaborate courtship dances.

Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

These are elegant wading birds with very long legs and slender bills.

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers are shorebirds with strong, brightly colored bills used for prying open shellfish.

  • Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (accidental)
  • Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani (resident*)

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

Plovers are small to medium-sized shorebirds with short bills and large eyes.

Sandpipers and Allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large group of shorebirds, many of which have long legs and bills for probing in mud or sand.

Pratincoles and Coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

These are shorebirds found in warmer parts of the world, known for their long wings and short legs.

Skuas and Jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

These are predatory seabirds that often chase other birds to steal their food.

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

These are diving seabirds that look a bit like penguins, using their wings to "fly" underwater.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

This group includes many familiar seabirds, often seen near coasts and large bodies of water.

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons are diving birds with dagger-like bills, known for their haunting calls.

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are very large seabirds with long, narrow wings, perfect for gliding over the ocean.

Northern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

These are small seabirds that flutter just above the water's surface, often looking for food.

Shearwaters and Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

This group includes many oceanic birds that spend most of their lives at sea, coming to land only to breed.

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds with long wings and deeply forked tails, known for stealing food from other birds.

Boobies and Gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

These are large seabirds that dive headfirst into the water to catch fish.

Cormorants and Shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are diving birds with long necks and hooked bills, often seen drying their wings in the sun.

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

These are wading birds with long legs and necks, often found in wetlands and shallow waters.

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The Osprey is a large bird of prey that specializes in catching fish.

  • Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (accidental)

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

This family includes many powerful birds of prey, known for their sharp talons and keen eyesight.

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Owls are nocturnal birds of prey, famous for their silent flight and excellent night vision.

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are colorful birds with large heads and long, pointed bills, often seen diving for fish.

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are known for pecking holes in trees to find insects or create nests.

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falcons are fast-flying birds of prey with pointed wings.

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

These birds are known for catching insects in mid-air.

Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

Vireos are small, often greenish birds that forage for insects in trees.

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are predatory songbirds that often impale their prey on thorns or barbed wire.

  • Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (accidental)
  • Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (casual or intermittent)

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

These are intelligent and often social birds, known for their varied calls.

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

These are small, active birds often found in woodlands and gardens.

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are ground-dwelling birds known for their beautiful songs, often sung in flight.

Grassbirds and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

These are small, secretive birds that live in dense vegetation.

  • Middendorff's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes ochotensis (casual)
  • Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (casual or accidental)

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

Swallows are agile flyers with sleek bodies and long, pointed wings, often seen catching insects in the air.

Leaf Warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

These are small, active birds that feed on insects among leaves.

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

Kinglets are tiny, active birds with small crests, often found in conifer forests.

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

Waxwings are sleek, social birds with soft plumage and unique waxy tips on some wing feathers.

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small birds that climb headfirst down tree trunks, looking for insects.

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small, often brown birds with short, upturned tails, known for their loud songs.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

These birds are famous for their ability to mimic the songs of other birds.

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are medium-sized songbirds, often seen in large flocks.

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are unique songbirds that can walk underwater in fast-flowing streams to find food.

Thrushes and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are medium-sized songbirds, many known for their beautiful, flute-like songs.

Old World Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

These are small, insect-eating birds, many of which have soft, muted colors.

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

Accentors are small, sparrow-like birds that live in mountainous or cold regions.

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

These are slender, ground-dwelling birds that often wag their tails.

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are small to medium-sized seed-eating birds with strong, conical bills.

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

These are ground-dwelling birds found in open, often cold, habitats.

Old World Buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

Buntings are small, seed-eating birds, often with distinctive head patterns.

  • Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos (casual or accidental)
  • Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (casual)
  • Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (intermittent)
  • Yellow-throated bunting, Emberiza elegans (accidental)
  • Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (casual)
  • Gray bunting, Emberiza variabilis (casual)
  • Pallas's bunting, Emberiza pallasi (accidental)
  • Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus (casual)

New World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

These are small, often brown birds, many of which are known for their cheerful songs.

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

This group includes blackbirds, orioles, and cowbirds, often known for their strong voices.

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

These are small, often colorful songbirds that primarily eat insects.

Cardinals and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

This family includes brightly colored birds like cardinals and tanagers.

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of birds of the Aleutian Islands Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.