Passage Islands is a breathtaking archipelago located on the northwest coast of the United States of America. Surrounded by stunning landscapes including rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and verdant forests, these islands are home to a diverse range of wildlife species.
Among them, the birdlife in Migration and Passage Islands is particularly notable. With an abundant variety of birds, these islands offer a perfect birdwatcher’s paradise to tourists and nature enthusiasts alike.
The region attracts both migratory and non-migratory birdlife, making it a significant stopover point for various species traveling across the Pacific Ocean.
This article delves into the intriguing world of birds in Passage Islands, exploring their unique behaviors and enthralling characteristics.
1. Long-billed dowitcher
The Long-billed Dowitcher is a beautiful shorebird with an unmistakable long bill. During breeding season, they are characterized by their rufous head and underparts combined with a dark mottled back and large white upper rump only visible when in flight.
These birds can be found in freshwater habitats all over the world, where they forage underwater using their long bills to seek out aquatic invertebrates such as insects or small crustaceans.
They also feed on plant material like seeds and berries during times of scarcity.
The Long-billed Dowitcher is an important species for ecological balance due to its unique feeding habits that help control populations of certain insect pests, which makes it one of the most valuable bird species around us.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Limnodromus |
| Species | L. scolopaceus |
Also Featured In: Top Birds Found in Mexico, Birds in Calgary You'll Love to See
2. Cormorants
Cormorants are a family of aquatic birds found around the world. They include 40 species, such as great cormorants and common shags.
In Britain, these two species are the most commonly seen in their natural habitats.
Cormorants have long necks, webbed feet and can be identified by their glossy black feathers which they use to help them swim through water with ease as they hunt for food like fish or crustaceans.
They have an impressive wingspan often reaching up to five feet across when fully extended.
Despite being strong swimmers, these birds also enjoy spending time perched on rocks near rivers or shorelines where they will preen themselves in order to keep clean and dry during cooler weather conditions
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Phalacrocoracidae Reichenbach, 1850 |
Also Featured In: Most common Birds in France, Turkey Birds You Should Know
3. Semipalmated sandpiper
The Semipalmated Sandpiper is a small shorebird belonging to the genus Calidris. It gets its name from Latin, with 'Calidris' meaning "grey-coloured waterside bird" and 'pusilla' translating as "very small".
This species was previously placed in the genus Ereun but it has since been moved into its own group called �stints�.
These birds are usually found near coastal areas or wetlands where they feed on insects, crustaceans, mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates.
They have brownish plumage with white underparts which helps them blend into their environment for camouflage purposes when predators come close by.
Despite being quite small compared to other shorebirds, these resilient little birds can fly long distances during migration season.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Calidris |
| Species | C. pusilla |
Also Featured In: Common Birds in Canada, Martinique Island Birds You Should Know
4. Common tern
The Common Tern is a seabird in the Laridae family, found all over Europe, Asia and North America. It has a migratory nature, spending its winters in coastal tropical and subtropical regions.
Breeding adults have light grey upperparts with white to very light grey underparts featuring an orange-red beak and black cap.
They are known for their graceful flight as they hunt small fish or insects by diving into water from great heights.
During breeding season they build nests together on islands or sandbars using grasses and other materials to create them.
The female will lay two eggs which she incubates while her mate stands guard nearby; both parents take turns feeding the chicks until it's time for them fly away.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Sterna |
| Species | S. hirundo |
Also Featured In: Birds of Netherlands, Flight Birds You Should Know
5. Wilson's storm petrel
Wilson's storm petrel is a small seabird of the Oceanitidae family. A circumpolar species, it can be found in both northern and southern hemispheres during summertime.
It has an abundance population estimated to be around 20 million birds as of 2022 making it one of the most populous bird species on Earth.
This nocturnal creature loves to feed on crustaceans, fish eggs and larval fishes that they catch while flying at night over open waters near coasts or islands.
During daylight hours Wilson’s Storm Petrel will rest in large groups and form colonies with fellow members for protection against predators like gulls and skuas which steal their food supplies if given opportunity.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Oceanitidae |
| Genus | Oceanites |
| Species | O. oceanicus |
Also Featured In: Dominican Republic birds, Birds Live in Tunisia
6. Red phalarope
The Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) is a small wader, native to the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia.
During breeding season it will migrate across oceanic routes and winter at sea on tropical oceans - an unusual behaviour for a wader species.
First described in 1750 by George Edwards, this bird has distinctive red plumage with black markings around its neck and wings.
Its bill is thin but sharp which helps them catch their prey from the water's surface such as insects or fish eggs.
As they are highly agile birds, they can be found spinning rapidly in shallow waters whilst searching for food using their long toes as paddles.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Phalaropus |
| Species | P. fulicarius |
Also Featured In: Kyrgyzstan Birds, Birds that Live in Greenland
7. Albatrosses
Albatrosses are majestic, large seabirds belonging to the Diomedeidae family in the Procellariiformes order.
These birds have an impressive wingspan and can fly great distances over oceans with minimal effort.
They inhabit all of the world’s southern oceans, ranging from Antarctica up through New Zealand and Australia as well as parts of the northern Pacific Ocean region.
Albatross populations were once abundant throughout much of their range but they now face threats such as longline fishing gear entanglement which has caused a significant decline in numbers in some areas.
Furthermore, occasional vagrants have been found outside their native ranges including fossil remains suggesting that albatrosses previously existed on other regions too.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae G.R. Gray 1840[1] |
Also Featured In: New Zealand Birds, Galapagos Birds You Should Know
8. Great black-backed gull
The Great Black-Backed Gull is the largest member of its family and aptly named as "king of the Atlantic waterfront".
It can be found on both European and North American coasts, islands in the North Atlantic, or farther inland near large lakes.
This seabird is an aggressive hunter with a tendency to scavenge for food that it may not have caught itself.
In addition to their formidable hunting skills they are also adept at stealing from other birds who have successfully managed to catch something themselves.
As such they are known for being very territorial when defending their nests during mating season.
The powerful wingspan of this majestic species make them able to soar through even strong winds but still remain graceful while doing so.
All these characteristics combined show why great black-backed gulls truly live up to their name as kings among seafaring birds.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | L. marinus |
Also Featured In: Iceland birds, Birds of Nova Scotia
9. Baird's sandpiper
Baird's sandpiper is a small shorebird belonging to the Calidris genus. It has grey feathers and generally inhabits waterside locations, making it highly visible in its natural environment.
This species was named after Spencer Fullerton Baird, a 19th century American ornithologist who worked with birds from across North America.
The bird is relatively widespread but may be declining in some areas due to human activity such as habitat destruction or pollution of coastal wetlands where they often reside.
As an adaptable species however, Baird's sandpipers have been observed foraging on dry land far away from water sources during migration periods when food resources are scarce at their home grounds near waterways.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Calidris |
| Species | C. bairdii |
Also Featured In: Grenada Birds, Common Birds in London
10. Black-browed Albatross
The Black-browed Albatross is a majestic seabird that belongs to the albatross family known as Diomedeidae.
It is an impressive bird, with its black beak and brow contrasting against white plumage on its wings and body.
The most widespread and common member of this group, it can often be seen flying around oceans in different parts of the world.
These birds share many features with other members of their order Procellariiformes, such as shearwaters, fulmars, storm petrels and diving petrels; they all have long wingspans for gliding effortlessly above water surfaces.
They feed mainly by scavenging or hunting small fish near sea surface while flying low over waters.
Its population has unfortunately declined due to commercial fishing vessels which attract them closer to shore resulting in entanglement into fishing nets leading them towards mortality.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae |
| Genus | Thalassarche |
| Species | T. melanophris |
Also Featured In: Antarctica Birds, Most Common Birds in South America Birds
11. White-chinned petrel
The White-chinned Petrel is a large seabird belonging to the Procellariidae family. It can be found in oceans around the Southern Hemisphere, ranging from Australia to Peru and Namibia.
These birds breed colonially on scattered islands and are sometimes known as Cape hens or Shoemakers.
They have unique white chins that distinguish them from other petrels, such as their former conspecies Spectacled Petrel.
Their wingspan averages about 115 cm across and they travel up to 4400 km during migration season.
The White-chinned Petrel feeds mainly on small fish, squid and zooplankton; it dives into the ocean for its prey using its strong webbed feet.
This species has an impressive lifespan of more than 35 years - making these majestic creatures some of our oldest avian companions.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Procellaria |
| Species | P. aequinoctialis |
Also Featured In: Patagonia Birds You Should Know, Common Birds that Live around Ushuaia
12. Blue petrel
The Blue Petrel is a small seabird of the Procellariidae family, found in the Southern Ocean. It is easily distinguished by its blue plumage and short forked tail.
The only species in its genus Halobaena, it has close genetic ties to Prions. Breeding mainly near Antarctic Convergence zone at various isolated island sites, this bird was first described in 1777 by German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas.
Its diet consists mostly of krill along with squid and fish which they plunge-dive into ocean waters to catch their prey before returning back to nest on land or cliffside burrows where two eggs are laid each year.
They have adapted well over time thanks to their unique traits such as long wingspan enabling them travel far distances while being able to store food reserves during days without feeding opportunities due migration patterns across vast oceans.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Halobaena Bonaparte, 1856 |
| Species | H. caerulea |
Also Featured In: South Shetland Islands Birds You Need To Know, Common Birds of Weddell Island
13. Grey-headed albatross
The Grey-headed Albatross is a magnificent seabird from the albatross family. Its name comes from its ash-gray head, throat and upper neck, making it easily distinguishable among other mollymawks.
This species has an impressive circumpolar distribution and can be found nesting on isolated islands in the Southern Ocean where they feed at high latitudes further south than any of their relatives.
They are truly amazing birds that have adapted to survive some of Earth's most hostile environments.
Through strong wingspan and agile movement, these albatrosses soar with ease over vast oceans while searching for food to sustain them during long migrations.
It is no wonder why this species stands out as one of nature’s greatest marvels.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Diomedeidae |
| Genus | Thalassarche |
| Species | T. chrysostoma |
Also Featured In: Native Birds Of West Falkland,
14. Sooty shearwater
The sooty shearwater is a medium-large seabird in the Procellariidae family. It is also known as tītī in New Zealand and muttonbird, like its relatives.
Johann Friedrich formally described the bird in 1789.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Ardenna |
| Species | A. grisea |
Also Featured In: Birds You'll Find in the Sea, Birds that Live in the Ocean
15. Pectoral sandpiper
The Pectoral sandpiper is a migratory wader that can be 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 |
Also Featured In: Birds of Norfolk, Birds that Live in Svalbard
16. Common diving petrel
The common diving petrel is a small bird that lives in the southern oceans. It is often mistaken for an auk due to its similar appearance.
These birds are native to several islands including those in the South Atlantic and Southern Indian Oceans, as well as islands off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand.
They are excellent divers, as their name suggests, and are able to dive deep into the water to catch their prey.
Despite their small size, these birds are hardy and are able to withstand the harsh conditions of their habitat. Their populations are stable, thanks to measures taken to protect their breeding grounds.
Overall, the common diving petrel is a fascinating bird that can be found in some of the most remote and rugged parts of the world.
Scientific classification:| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae |
| Genus | Pelecanoides |
| Species | P. urinatrix |
Also Featured In: Most Common Birds in Stewart Island, Birds That Live In Tristan da Cunha