List of birds of the United States Minor Outlying Islands facts for kids

Welcome to the amazing world of birds found in the United States Minor Outlying Islands! This special area includes several small islands in the Pacific Ocean like Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Island. It also includes Navassa Island in the Caribbean Sea. These islands are tiny but are home to many different bird species.

In total, 236 types of birds have been seen here. Some birds visit both the Pacific islands and Navassa Island. Others are only found on Navassa Island. Many of these birds are rare visitors, meaning they don't usually live here.

Sadly, some birds that once lived here are now gone. The Wake Island rail used to live only on Wake Island but is now extinct. The Laysan duck is a special bird found only in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, which includes Midway Atoll. Another bird, the Nihoa finch, used to live on Midway Atoll but is no longer found there.

This list uses names from The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World to keep everything clear.

Here are some special tags you'll see next to the bird names:

• A (Accidental): This bird is a rare visitor, seen only once or twice.
• E (Extinct): This bird no longer exists anywhere in the world.
• Ex (Extirpated): This bird no longer lives in these islands, but it still exists in other places.
• I (Introduced): Humans brought this bird to the islands.
• En (Endemic): This bird is native and found only in these islands.
• Nav (Navassa): This bird has only been seen on Navassa Island.
• Both (Both): This bird has been seen on Navassa Island and at least one Pacific island.

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

This group includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are great swimmers. They have webbed feet and special feathers that shed water easily.

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are plump birds with short necks. They have small, thin beaks. They eat seeds, fruit, and plants. These birds make a special "crop milk" to feed their young.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
• Scaly-naped pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa (Nav)
• White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (Nav)
• Plain pigeon, Patagioenas inornata (Nav)
• Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (Nav)
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (Nav)
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (A)

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

This family includes cuckoos and roadrunners. They have slender bodies and long tails. Many have strong legs.

• Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani (Nav)
• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (Nav)
• Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor (Nav)
• Long-tailed koel, Urodynamis tailtensis
• Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A)
• Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus (A)

Nightjars and Allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized birds active at night. They usually nest on the ground. They have long wings and short legs. Their soft feathers help them blend in with trees or leaves.

• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (Nav) (A)
• Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii (A)
• Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (Nav) (A)

Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs. They can't land on the ground easily. Many have long, swept-back wings.

• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (Nav) (A)
• Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (A)

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

This large family includes rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. They live in dense plants near water. They are often shy and hard to spot. Most have strong legs and long toes for walking on soft ground.

• Wake Island rail, Gallirallus wakensis (Ex) (E)
• Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (A)
• Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (Nav)
• Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai (A)
• Laysan rail, Zapornia palmeri (E)

Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

This family has large wading birds like avocets and stilts. Avocets have long legs and bills that curve upwards. Stilts have very long legs and thin, straight bills.

• Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus (A)
• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (A)

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

Plovers and lapwings are small to medium-sized birds. They have compact bodies and short, thick necks. They live in open areas, often near water.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola (A)
• Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
• Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A)
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A)
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (A)
• Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (A)

Sandpipers and Allies

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large group of shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, and godwits. Most eat small bugs from mud or soil. Their different leg and bill lengths let them find food without competing.

Skuas and Jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas are medium to large birds. They often have gray or brown feathers. They look like large, dark gulls. They are strong and agile fliers.

• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (Both)

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae

Alcids look a bit like penguins with their black and white colors. But unlike penguins, they can fly! They live on the open sea. They only come to land to nest.

• Japanese murrelet, Synthliboramphus wumizusume (A)
• Parakeet auklet, Aethia psittacula (A)
• Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata (A)
• Tufted puffin, Fratercula cirrhata (A)

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

This family includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are usually gray or white. Terns are often gray or white with black on their heads. Skimmers have a unique lower beak that is longer than the top. They use it to scoop up small fish from the water.

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans. They have very long central tail feathers. Their long wings and heads have black markings.

• White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (Both)
• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (Both) (A)
• Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are some of the largest flying birds. The great albatrosses have the biggest wingspans of any living bird. They can glide for a very long time.

• Salvin's albatross, Thalassarche salvini (A)
• Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis
• Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
• Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus

Southern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Oceanitidae

Storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds. They are related to petrels. They eat tiny sea creatures and small fish from the water's surface. They often hover while feeding.

• Polynesian storm-petrel, Nesofregetta fuliginosa

Northern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

These storm-petrels look and act like the southern ones. However, genetic differences show they belong in their own family.

• Fork-tailed storm-petrel, Hydrobates furcatus (A)
• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (Both)
• Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (A)
• Tristram's storm-petrel, Hydrobates tristrami

Shearwaters and Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

This group includes many medium-sized "true petrels." They have nostrils that are joined together. They are known for their long outer wing feathers.

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds found in tropical oceans. They are mostly black with long wings and deeply forked tails. Males have colorful throat pouches that they can inflate. They are amazing fliers and can stay in the air for over a week!

• Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
• Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (Nav)
• Great frigatebird, Fregata minor

Boobies and Gannets

Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae

This family includes gannets and boobies. They are medium to large seabirds that live near coasts. They dive headfirst into the water to catch fish.

• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (Both)
• Nazca booby, Sula granti (A)
• Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (Both)
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula (Both)

Cormorants

Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large water birds. They usually have dark feathers and colorful skin on their faces. Their beaks are long, thin, and hooked. They have webbed feet with four toes.

• Pelagic cormorant, Urile pelagicus

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds. They have a special pouch under their beak. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes.

• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (Nav)

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae

This family includes herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns are usually shorter-necked and more secretive. These birds fly with their necks pulled back.

• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (Both) (A – Pacific islands)
• Great egret, Ardea alba
• Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (Both)
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (A)

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae

The Osprey is a unique bird of prey that eats fish. It has a very large, strong, hooked beak. It also has powerful legs, sharp claws, and excellent eyesight.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (Both) (A – Pacific islands)

Hawks, Kites, and Eagles

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

This family includes hawks, eagles, kites, and harriers. These birds of prey have very strong, hooked beaks for tearing meat. They also have powerful legs, sharp talons, and keen eyesight.

• Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (A)
• Black kite, Milvus migrans (A)
• Steller's sea-eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus (A)
• Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (Both) (A – Pacific islands)
• Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (A)

Barn-Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Owls in this family are medium to large. They have big heads and special heart-shaped faces.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba (Both) (A – Pacific islands)
• Ashy-faced owl, Tyto glaucops (Nav)

Typical Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

These are the "true" owls. They are usually solitary birds of prey active at night. They have large eyes that face forward. They also have a hawk-like beak and a circle of feathers around each eye.

• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds. They have large heads and long, pointed beaks. Their legs are short, and their tails are stubby.

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (Nav)

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras. They are birds of prey active during the day. Unlike hawks, they kill their prey with their beaks, not their talons.

• American kestrel, Falco sparverius (Nav)
• Merlin, Falco columbarius (A)
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (Both) (A – Pacific islands)

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are found in North and South America. They look a bit like Old World flycatchers but are stronger. Most of them eat insects.

• Gray kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis (Nav)

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae

Vireos are small to medium-sized birds. They are usually greenish in color. They look like wood-warblers but have stronger beaks.

• White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus (Nav) (A)
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (Nav)
• Black-whiskered vireo, Vireo altiloquus (Nav)

Jays, Crows, Magpies, and Ravens

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

This family includes crows, ravens, and jays. Corvids are larger than average songbirds. Some of the bigger species are very intelligent.

• White-necked crow, Corvus leucognaphalus

Larks

Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small ground birds. They often have amazing songs and display flights. Most larks are not very colorful. They eat insects and seeds.

• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis (A)

Reed Warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae

Members of this family are usually quite large for "warblers." Most are plain brown on top and yellowish below. They live in open woodlands or tall grass.

• Millerbird, Acrocephalus familiaris

Swallows and Martins

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

This family is built for catching food while flying. They have slender bodies and long, pointed wings. Their feet are good for perching, not walking.

• Caribbean martin, Progne dominicensis (Nav)
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (Both) (A – Pacific islands)
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Nav)
• Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva (Nav)

Starlings and Mynas

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

Starlings and mynas are small to medium-sized birds. They have strong feet. They fly strongly and directly. Many species have dark feathers with a shiny, metallic look.

• Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (I)

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae

This family includes thrashers and mockingbirds. These birds are famous for their singing. They can copy many different bird calls and other sounds. They usually have dull gray and brown feathers.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (Nav)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (Both) (A – Pacific islands)

Thrushes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are a group of birds that often eat insects. They are plump and have soft feathers. Many of them have beautiful songs.

• Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (A)

Waxbills, Munias, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae

Members of this family are small birds from tropical areas. They live in groups and often in colonies. They eat seeds and have short, thick, pointed beaks.

• Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (Nav) (I)

Old World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small birds. They are usually plump and brownish or grayish. They have short tails and strong beaks. Sparrows eat seeds and small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I) (Ex)

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating birds. They are small to medium-sized. They have strong, cone-shaped beaks. They fly with a bouncy up-and-down motion. Most finches sing well.

• Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (A)
• Laysan finch, Telespiza cantans (Ex)
• Nihoa finch, Telespiza ultima (En – Nihoa Island)
• House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus (I) (A)
• Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea (A)
• Lesser redpoll, Acanthis cabaret (A)
• Island canary, Serinus canaria (I)

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae

This group of birds is usually found in open grassy areas. They were once grouped with New World sparrows, but they are different in many ways.

• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis (A)

Wood-Warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae

Wood-warblers are small, often colorful birds. They live in the New World. Most live in trees, but some spend more time on the ground. Most birds in this family eat insects.

• Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla (Nav)
• Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla (Nav)
• Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis (Nav)
• Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia (Nav)
• Nashville warbler, Leiothlypis ruficapilla (Nav)
• Mourning warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia (Nav)
• Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas (Nav)
• American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (Nav)
• Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina (Nav)
• Northern parula, Setophaga americana (Nav)
• Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (Nav)
• Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum (Nav)
• Pine warbler, Setophaga pinus (Nav)
• Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor (Nav)
• Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens (Nav)

Cardinals and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae

Cardinals are strong, seed-eating birds with powerful beaks. They usually live in open woodlands. Males and females often have different feather colors.

• Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis (A)

Tanagers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae

Tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized birds. They live in the New World, mostly in tropical areas. Many species are brightly colored. They eat fruits, seeds, insects, or other foods.

• Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola (Nav)
• Yellow-faced grassquit, Tiaris olivaceus (Nav)
• Black-faced grassquit, Melanospiza bicolor (Nav)