East Island is a beautiful and diverse ecosystem that is home to a wide variety of bird species. Located in the Pacific Ocean, this island is one of the most important regions for bird conservation, sheltering many unique and endangered bird species.
From colorful parrots to swift albatrosses, these feathered creatures play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the island’s ecosystem.
The abundance of food, suitable breeding grounds, favorable climatic conditions, and diverse habitats make East Island one of the best places for bird lovers to observe and study the behavior of these magnificent creatures.
This article will discuss the different bird species found on East Island, their habitats, behavior, and the importance of their conservation.
24 Birds That Live Around East Island
A representative selection of bird species that might inhabit or migrate through East Island based on its diverse ecosystem. Remember that the actual species present can vary, and some may be endangered or have specific conservation concerns.
Here’s a general list
1. Gull
Gulls are a type of seabird in the family Laridae found worldwide. They are highly adaptable, often seen soaring above shorelines or near bodies of water.
Gulls have strong wings and long bills and vary greatly in size, coloration, and behavior from one species to another.
Some gull species feed on fish, while others scavenge for food such as insects, small mammals, or discarded human refuse.
Despite their different dietary habits, they all share common traits, including webbed feet, which enable them to swim gracefully through the water after prey items like crabs or mollusks.
Gulls generally nest close to the shoreline where available food sources are abundant, making them excellent hunters that can live comfortably on land and at sea.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Suborder | Lari |
| Family | Laridae Rafinesque, 1815 |
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2. Rock Dove
Rock dove, also known as Rock Pigeon or Common Pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae.
It is considered an important creature worldwide due to its domestication by humans centuries ago, resulting in the modern-day Domestic pigeon, which descends from this species.
Its population has increased because some domestic pigeons have escaped captivity and joined wild populations.
The rock dove can most easily be identified by its prominent blue-grey feathers, darker bars on the wings and tail, and two black bands on each wing.
They are typically found in large flocks near cliffs or buildings but may also inhabit rural habitats such as open fields and meadows if there’s enough food available for them nearby.
Although they don’t migrate far distances like other birds, their numbers increase significantly during winter.
When more food sources become available close by, they won’t need to travel too far away from their home base for nourishment.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Columba |
| Species | C. livia |
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3. House Sparrow
The house sparrow is a small bird of the Passeridae family. It has an average length of 16 cm and weighs 24-39.5 gm.
Females have dull brown and grey plumage, whereas males are brighter, with black, white, and brown markings on their wings and back feathers.
This species is one among 25 different kinds in its genus Passer. These birds are found worldwide, mainly near human dwellings where they feed off food scraps from garbage bins or gardens.
They also make nests close to houses, making them even more visible to nearby people.
House sparrows can be seen hopping around yards for food during daytime hours but usually hide in colonies at night.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Passeridae |
| Genus | Passer |
| Species | P. domesticus |
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4. Sanderling
The Sanderling is a small wading bird found in the Arctic region. Its name comes from Old English, meaning “sand-ploughman”. It has grey feathers and light legs, giving it its distinct white coloration.
During summer breeding, they travel great distances – some wintering as far south as South America or Southern Africa. They typically feed on crustaceans such as shrimp and mollusks along coastal shores.
The Sanderling is an important species to watch out for because of their long migratory patterns and sensitivity to environmental change; if there’s trouble with this species then other birds may also be affected.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Calidris |
| Species | C. alba |
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5. Brown Booby
The Brown Booby is a large seabird from the booby family Sulidae. It has a pantropical range and can be found in many areas of the world.
This bird lives in flocks and forages by plunging into shallow waters to catch small fish driven near the surface by predators or storms.
The brown booby is known for its short wings, which make it highly maneuverable when hunting; this allows it to pursue prey quickly with sudden turns and dives.
Its diet also includes squid, crustaceans, eggs of other birds, and scraps from boats or ships they may come across while flying around coastlines.
They sometimes rest on floating objects during long flights between islands or continents over open water.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Sulidae |
| Genus | Sula |
| Species | S. leucogaster |
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6. Procellariidae
Procellariidae is a diverse family of seabirds belonging to the bird order Procellariiformes.
These birds are called tubenoses and include fulmarine petrels, gadfly petrels, diving petrels, prions, and shearwaters.
They range in size from the small storm petrel, which measures around 18cm long, to the giant albatross, which can reach up to 3 meters long.
Depending on the species, they are generally found near oceans or coasts where they feed on fish, squid, and other marine life.
Many procellariids will also nest inland during the breeding season before returning out to sea for most of their lives.
Their wings have specially adapted feathers that give them incredible gliding abilities, allowing them to fly with minimal effort over vast distances across oceanic regions
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae Leach, 1820 |
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7. Black-Tailed Godwit
The Black-tailed Godwit is a species of large shorebird first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
These beautiful birds have an orange head, neck, and chest during breeding season, while they turn to grey-brown coloration in winter.
They are easily identifiable due to their black and white wing bar throughout the year. As for their habitat, these godwits breed mostly in Iceland but also across Europe, eastward through Asia Minor to Mongolia; some even winter further south in Africa or India.
The Godwit has adapted well to human presence as it can be found near wetlands farms or villages where plenty of food is available from plowed fields.
It’s amazing how such a majestic bird with colorful plumage manages so successfully in this day and age.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Limosa |
| Species | L. limosa |
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8. Frigatebird
Frigatebirds are a beautiful and mysterious family of seabirds in tropical and subtropical oceans. The five extant species have glossy black plumage, long forked tails, and lengthy hooked bills.
During the breeding season, males display a bright red gular pouch, which they inflate to attract mates. Females have white underbellies year-round, giving them an elegant contrast against their darker feathers.
They spend most of their lives soaring with minimal effort over warm ocean waters, seeking food such as fish or squid taken from the surface or plucked out of midair by other birds.
Frigatebirds often nest on isolated islands due to lack of predators yet still manage to travel incredibly large distances between feeding grounds every day making them truly remarkable creatures.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Fregatidae Degland & Gerbe, 1867 |
| Genus | Fregata Lacépède, 1799 |
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9. Brant
The Brent Goose, or the Brant or Bernicla goose, is a small species of waterfowl belonging to the genus Branta. It has three subspecies that live along temperate coastlines and breed on high-Arctic tundras.
This species can be identified by its short stubby bill, which measures 22-26 inches long and 42-48 across its wingspan when fully grown.
They typically weigh between 0.88 – 2 lbs depending on location and seasonally changing diets they may consume while in flight or at rest stops during migration routes they take annually from one region to another.
The Brent Oilfield was named after this bird due to its abundance in certain areas near bodies of water where it would gather for safety during migrations over land formations such as mountain ranges or other geographical features that could otherwise become difficult obstacles if not avoided altogether.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Branta |
| Species | B. bernicla |
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10. White-Tailed Tropicbird
The White-tailed Tropicbird is a beautiful seabird that lives in the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
It is the smallest member of its order Phaethontiformes, measuring only 28 inches from head to tail.
Its wingspan can reach up to 45 inches wide. The bird has white plumage with black markings on its wings and tail feathers.
It also has an unmistakable long streamer trails behind them when they are in flight – a characteristic feature for all tropicbirds.
They nest mainly on remote islands throughout their range but have also recently begun nesting on Little Tobago.
These birds feed primarily off flying fish or squid near the ocean’s surface during daylight hours before returning home at nightfall.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Phaethontiformes |
| Family | Phaethontidae |
| Genus | Phaethon |
| Species | P. lepturus |
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11. Brown Noddy
The Brown Noddy is a species of seabird in the Laridae family. It’s the largest of its kind and can be distinguished from others by its dark brown plumage, which stands out compared to other noddies with black feathers.
Found around tropical oceans worldwide, it inhabits areas such as Hawaii and Australia to the Tuamotu Archipelago in Polynesia.
During the breeding season, they form large colonies on remote islands where their nests are constructed using twigs and leaves atop trees or shrubs – typically located near water sources like lagoons or estuaries. Hence, they can access food items like small fish and squid that comprise their diet.
As highly social birds, they often engage in synchronized flying displays over nesting sites before returning home at nightfall.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Anous |
| Species | A. stolidus |
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12. Red-Tailed Tropicbird
The Red-tailed Tropicbird is an exotic seabird found in tropical areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its striking appearance is mostly white feathers and a black mask covering its eyes.
Its bright red bill makes it stand out against its pale plumage. Both males and females have similar looks – unlike many other bird species where the male looks significantly different from the female.
As described by Pieter Boddaert in 1783, this impressive bird can be seen soaring through tropical skies, looking for food alone or within small flocks made up of several individuals at once.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Phaethontiformes |
| Family | Phaethontidae |
| Genus | Phaethon |
| Species | P. rubricauda |
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13. Spotted Sandpiper
The Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is a small shorebird found across North America and parts of South America.
It has an appealing spotted plumage, predominately brown, with white spots on the wings, tail feathers, head, and neck.
The Common Sandpiper (A. hypoleucos) is its sister species, which takes over geographically when the other moves away; they have been known to hybridize when strays settle down among breeders.
This bird was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766 in his twelfth edition of Systema Naturae as a migratory summer visitor to Europe. Still, it now also occupies many habitats like beaches, riversides, and even grasslands during migration periods or for the breeding season itself.
Its diet consists mainly of insects such as air-borne flies and mollusks from shallow water areas, making them quite unique amongst waders.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Actitis |
| Species | A. macularius |
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14. Red-Footed Booby
The Red-footed Booby is a large seabird of the Sulidae family, easily distinguished by its bright red feet. These birds are strong and agile fliers but can be clumsy in takeoffs and landings.
They live mostly in tropical areas and breed colonially on coastal islands worldwide.
The species faces few threats from either nature or humans, however their population has decreased slightly due to disturbances near breeding sites.
Despite this mild decline, they remain an incredibly common sight across many parts of the tropics – so much so that they have become symbolic of island life.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Sulidae |
| Genus | Sula |
| Species | S. sula |
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15. Sooty Tern
The Sooty Tern is a bird that lives in the tropics of all three major oceans. It is found mostly on remote islands, where it returns to nest and breed during its seasonal journeys.
Carl Linnaeus has described this member of the Laridae family as Sterna fuscata, though more recently, it was given its current name, Onychoprion fuscatus.
The sooty tern has dark grey wings and back, with white underneath for camouflage against predators when flying over open ocean waters; they are also adept at diving underwater in search of food, such as fish or crustaceans, which make up their diet.
They live in colonies and usually lay two eggs each year, incubating for about four weeks before hatching into fluffy little chicks.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Onychoprion |
| Species | O. fuscatus |
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16. White Tern
The White tern, also known as the common white tern or Fairy Tern, is a small seabird species found across tropical oceans worldwide.
Known for its elegance and beauty by humans and other animals, these birds are mesmerizing with snow-white feathers.
They can be seen soaring in high altitudes or circling ships at sea looking for food. The Hawaiian name ‘manu-o-Kū’ translates to ‘bird of heaven,’ reflecting how majestic this bird looks when it flies through the sky.
These lovely creatures often breed on isolated islands away from predators, along with another smaller species called Little White Terns (Gygis microrhyncha).
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Gygis |
| Species | G. alba |
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17. Great Frigatebird
The Great Frigatebird is a large seabird found in tropical regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and the South Atlantic.
It can grow up to 105 cm long with black plumage, making it one of the largest frigatebirds.
The species also exhibits sexual dimorphism; males have bright red throat pouches, while females have white or grey ones.
These birds nest in colonies on islands or near coastal areas, feeding off fish schools, squid, and other marine life that they snatch from their dive-bombing prey.
They are highly adept at soaring for hours above oceanic waters searching for food sources below them before dives down into shallow water to catch unsuspecting meals.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Fregatidae |
| Genus | Fregata |
| Species | F. minor |
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18. Black Noddy
The Black Noddy bird is a medium-sized member of the Laridae family, identifiable by its black plumage and white cap.
It closely resembles the Lesser Noddy but has slightly darker feathers with dark lores instead of pale ones.
The species was first formally described in 1758, although it was previously considered part of Anous tenuirostris before being identified as a separate species.
They are usually found near tropical oceans or islands where they forage for food, such as crustaceans, mollusks, and insects during the day.
They roost on trees or shrubs close to shorelines at night while avoiding larger predators like sea eagles.
During the breeding season, females lay single eggs, which both parents protect until hatching takes place around four weeks later.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Anous |
| Species | A. minutus |
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19. Wandering Tattler
The Wandering Tattler is a medium-sized wading bird found in coastal areas worldwide. It has unpatterned, greyish wings and back and a scaly breast pattern extending onto its belly.
Its closest relative is the Gray-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes). The species feeds on insects and crustaceans, which they hunt along shorelines. They also use low tide to feed on exposed mudflats or sandbars.
During migration season, these birds can be seen flying long distances over open ocean waters with their characteristic fluttering flight pattern before reaching land again to rest and refuel for another journey ahead.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Tringa |
| Species | T. incana |
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20. Sternidae
Sternidae are a subgroup of the family Laridae, consisting of eleven genera. They have slender bodies with long forked tails and narrow wings. Their bills are long, and their legs are relatively short.
Most species display pale grey or white plumage above, while underneath, they show black markings on the head along with varying shades of browns elsewhere on their body.
These seabirds can be found in coastal areas near oceans, rivers, and wetlands worldwide, but especially in North America, where they feed primarily on small fish, which they capture by swooping down from the air to snatch them up from below the surface.
They also supplement this diet with crustaceans such as crabs when available.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Subfamily | Sterninae Bonaparte, 1838 |
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21. Sandpiper
Sandpiper is a type of wading bird that belongs to the family Scolopacidae. It is a diverse family that includes various species, such as curlew and snipe.
Sandpipers have different bill lengths that allow them to feed on small invertebrates and creatures found in mud or soil.
Due to this diversity, different species can coexist in the same habitat without competing for food.
Sandpipers are commonly found near the coast and in other wetland environments.
They are known for their slender legs, long beak, and streamlined body that enables them to move easily in and out of water.
Sandpipers are a unique and fascinating bird species that are interesting to observe in their natural habitat.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Suborder | Scolopaci |
| Family | Scolopacidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
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22. Brown Pelican
The majestic brown pelican is a dive-feeding bird that belongs to the pelican family. It is one of the three pelican species in the Americas and is known to dive into water to catch its prey.
This bird can be found from the Atlantic Coast of New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to northern Chile, including the Galapagos Islands.
Its scientific name is Pelecanus occidentalis, and it has a colored brown plumage, its distinct characteristic.
The brown pelican belongs to the largest bird species today, with a wingspan that can stretch up to seven feet long.
This bird helps maintain a balance in the ecosystem by eating smaller fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic prey.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Pelecanidae |
| Genus | Pelecanus |
| Species | P. occidentalis |
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23. Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper
The Sharp-tailed sandpiper is a small wader bird that may belong to the Philomachus genus as P. acuminatus.
This would place it with the Ruff bird. However, it would also need to make room for the Broad-billed sandpiper.
This bird is unique among calidrid species, but it is uncertain whether it will be merged into the Philomachus genus along with the Sharp-tailed sandpiper.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Calidris |
| Species | C. acuminata |
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24. Pectoral Sandpiper
The pectoral sandpiper is a migratory wader found in North America and Asia but can be seen in South America and Oceania during the winter.
This small bird primarily feeds on small invertebrates. It creates a deep hole in the ground lined with thick materials to protect its four eggs from harsh weather conditions during breeding.
Measuring 21 cm (8.3 in) in length and with a wingspan of 46, the Pectoral sandpiper is a small bird that is easy to spot.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Calidris |
| Species | C. melanotos |
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Conclusion
East Island, situated in the South Pacific, is a critical nesting site for numerous bird species. Among the 24 birds commonly found around East Island are albatrosses, terns, and frigatebirds, each playing a unique role in the island’s ecosystem.
Their presence underscores the island’s significance as a breeding ground and highlights the delicate balance of marine and avian life in this remote region.
Conservation efforts to preserve East Island and its avian inhabitants are paramount to safeguarding its biodiversity for future generations.