This is a list of the bird species recorded on the Auckland Islands . The avifauna of the Auckland Islands include a total of 123 species.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. 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 the Auckland Islands .
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs on the Auckland Islands . (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the Auckland Islands (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Auckland Islands as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A) Black swan, Cygnus atratus (A) Australian shelduck, Tadorna tadornoides (A) Australian shoveler, Spatula rhynchotis (A) Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (I) Gray teal, Anas gracilis Auckland Islands teal, Anas aucklandica (E) Hardhead, Aythya australis (A) Auckland Islands merganser, Mergus australis extinct
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.
Long-tailed koel, Urodynamis taitensis (A) Shining bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus (A)
Swifts
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: 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.
Auckland Islands rail, Lewinia muelleri (E) Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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 (A) Masked lapwing, Vanellus miles (A) Double-banded plover, Charadrius bicinctus
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (A) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus (A) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Red-necked stint, Tringa incana (A) Subantarctic snipe, Coenocorypha aucklandica (A) Gray-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes (A) Wandering tattler, Tringa incana (A) (A) Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
Skuas and jaegers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.