LARIDAE (27 species)

The conclusions of Pons et al (2005) were considered to reflect morphological and DNA data and were adopted by Christidis and Boles (2008) and herein.

Creagrus furcatus Swallow-tailed Gull
Res Galapagos Is 10,000-15,000 prs. Post-breeding dispersal e to Ecuador, Peru. Cas Cocos I (Montoya 2003, Apr-May Zook).
F: Galapagos Is (217 seen, substantial nesting colony Punta Suarez on Espanola, also Champion and Enderby, Chartier).
Rissa tridactyla Black-legged Kittiwake
At sea n Pacific to 30N, incl Guadalupe I. Cas nw Hawaiian Is. Acc e Hawaiian Is (Oahu).
R. brevirostris Red-legged Kittiwake
At sea n Pacific to 40N (Olsen and Larsson 2004).
Xema sabini Sabine's Gull
At sea Apr-Jun and Aug-Oct (McGrath and Feeenstra 2005) off w coast N. and S. America incl Revillagigedo Is (Apr San Benedicto, Jehl and Parkes 1982), Cocos I (Montoya 2003). Acc Australia Mar-Jun, off Hawaiian Is (May, R. Baird).
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae Silver Gull
According to HANZAB there is "no justification for treatment of scopulinus as separate species...", although structural and plumage differences suggest allospecies treatment (Schodde, in Sibley and Monroe 1990; Enticott and Tipling 1997; Given et al 2005).
C. n. forsteri Res New Caledonia (most Grand Terre, reported Chesterfields and Lifou, Barre and Dutson 2000; 100-1500 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002).
F: New Caledonia (common on coast Noumea, Gregory); Noumea, Quested); 10 along coast Yate-Goro road, Fairbank); fairly common, T. Clarke).
C. n. novaehollandiae Cas Norfolk I (HANZAB).
novaehollandiae/scopulinus Cas Dec-Apr Vanuatu, Jan Fiji (Kadavu), Lord Howe I (11 recs, McAllan et al 2004), Kermadec Is (Nov-Dec, May, Veitch et al 2004). Acc ?Society Is, ?Marquesas Is, duPont 1976).
C. scopulinus Red-billed Gull
Res NZ total pop 500,000 prs (NI, SI, Stewart I), Chatham Is, Snares Is 160 prs (Miskelly et al 2001), Auckland Is, Campbell I. Cas Norfolk I (HANZAB), Lord Howe I (2 recs, McAllan et al 2004).
C. bulleri Black-billed Gull
Res NZ 50,000-100,000 prs (breeds NI, breeds SI, vis Stewart I). Cas Nov-Dec Snares Is.
C. ridibundus Black-headed Gull
Vis Nov-Mar Palau, Dec-Feb and Jun Mariana Is (Kessler 1999, Clements 2003). Cas Ogasawara Is, Hawaiian Is (Midway Is, Oahu), Solomon Is (Bougainville, Hadden 2004a; Guadalcanal Feb-Mar, Hadden 2004a). Acc Caroline Is (Mar Yap- Wiles et al 2000).
F: Palau (Dec, de Vries; esp Malakal Harbor at Koror where 10-15 annually, Engbring 1988; 3-5 Koror harbor Dec, Feb, Talbot, S. Smith).
C. philadelphia Bonaparte's Gull
Cas Hawaiian Is (incl Laysan I, Midway I, Olsen and Larsson 2004). Acc Revillagigedo Is.
Leucophaeus atricilla Laughing Gull
L. a. megalopterus Vis Sep-Apr Hawaiian Is, Revillagigedo Is, Clipperton I. Cas Johnston I, Marshall Is (Bikini), Kiribati, Palmyra (Vanderwerf et al 2004), Guadalupe I, Cocos I (Dean and Montoya 2005), Galapagos Is. Acc Gambier Is (Mar Mangareva, Vanderwerf et al 2004), Fiji (May, Watling 2001; 2004-2005 Viti Levu, Dec 1994-95 Kadavu, Dutson and Watling 2007), Samoa (Upolu Jan-Feb, Muse et al 1980, Muse and Muse 1982, and Feb 1994, Tarburton 2001; Tutuila: alternate Mar, Elepaio 58:50), Cook Is (McCormack 2006), Pitcairn Is (Pitcairn, Vanderwerf et al 2004).
L. pipixcan Franklin's Gull
Vis Oct-Jun Revillagigedo Is, Galapagos Is. Cas Hawaiian Is, Marshall Is, Johnston I, Caroline Is (Truk), Kiribati, Marquesas Is, Cocos I (2 recods Apr, Dean and Montoya 2005), Clipperton I. Acc NZ (Jul SI, Onley and Schweigman 2004), Kermadec Is (Jul Raoul, Onley and Schweigman 2004, Veitch et al 2004).
L. modestus Grey Gull
Acc May Cocos I (Montoya 2003).
Larus crassirostris Black-tailed Gull
Acc Ogasawara Is (Chichijima), Mariana Is (Jan Guam, Wiles), Solomon Is (Bougainville).
L. heermanni Heermann's Gull
Cas Guadalupe I. Acc Revillagigedo Is (Apr Socorro I).
L. fuliginosus Lava Gull
Res <400 prs Galapagos Is (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela).
F: Galapagos Is (a few daily, Ottesen; SAnta Cruz: most at Academy Bay, Enticott and Tipling 1997); 12 on Santa Cruz, Baltra I, Santiago, Fernandina, Isabela, Chartier).
L. canus Common Gull
Some authors consider the subspecies to be full species, L. kamtschatschensis Eastern Common Gull, and L. brachyrhynchus Mew Gull.
L. c. kamtschatschensis Cas Ogasawara Is (Chichijima), Iwo Is (Kitaiwojima). Hypo (this subsp?) Palau (Pyle and Engbring 1985).
L. c. brachyrhynchus Acc Hawaiian Is (Kure I).
L. delawarensis Ring-billed Gull
Vis Oct-May Hawaiian Is, Guadalupe I. Cas Kiribati (Line Is), Revillagigedo Is, Galapagos Is.
L. californicus California Gull
L. c. subsp.? Vis Nov-Mar Guadalupe I. Cas Nov-Mar e Hawaiian Is. Acc Revillagigedo Is (Nov Socorro).
L. dominicanus Kelp Gull
Taxonomy of this species was reviewed by Jiguet (2002); NZ and S. American birds were indistinguishable, but populations in Antarctica are separable as L. d. austrinus.
L. d. dominicanus Res NZ (NI, SI, Stewart I), Chatham Is, Bounty Is, Antipodes Is, Snares Is (first bred ca 1990, Miskelly et al 2001), Auckland Is, Campbell I, Macquarie I 500 prs. At sea Tasman Sea, but only cas Aug and Nov-Dec Lord Howe I (4 recs, McAllan et al 2004), Mar and Sep Norfolk I, Kermadec Is (Dec, Jan, Aug, Veitch et al 2004), Jun Niue (Powlesland et al 2000), Galapagos Is (this subsp?).
L. glaucescens Glaucous-winged Gull
Vis Nov-Mar w Hawaiian Is, Guadalupe I. Cas e Hawaiian Is, Revillagigedo Is (Nov Socorro). Acc Johnston I.
F: Hawaiian Is (Midway I: subad Sand I Apr, Vandenberg).
L. livens Yellow-footed Gull
Hypo Revillagigedo Is (see occidentalis), below.
L. occidentalis Western Gull
L. o. wymani Res Guadalupe I. Cas Hawaiian Is. Hypo Revillagigedo Is (Clarion, Brattstrom and Howell 1982; Howell and Webb 1995 state this sighting equivocal, poss ref to Yellow-footed Gull).
L. hyperboreus Glaucous Gull
L. h. pallidissimus Acc Ogasawara Is (Chichijima).
L. h. subsp? Cas Hawaiian Is.
L. smithsonianus American Herring Gull
This taxon appears to differ specifically from European taxa L. argentatus subsp. with which it was previously considered conspecific (Yesou 2002).
Vis Nov-Mar Hawaiian Is. Cas Johnston I, Guadalupe I, Revillagigedo Is (Clarion I), Cocos I (Montoya 2003).
L. vegae East Siberian (Vega) Gull.
This taxon may deserve specific status (Yesou 2002).
L. v. vegae Cas Ogasawara Is, Mariana Is (Maug, Reichel and Glass 1991; hypo Agrihan, Reichel and Glass 1991; Jan Agiguan, Baker 1951, but Jouanin considered this juvenile specimen either L. fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull or L. taimyrensis, a northern Siberian Herring Gull taxon, Reichel and Glass 1991), Hawaiian Is (Midway). Hypo Palau (listed as L. argentatus, Pyle and Engbring 1985).
L. thayeri Thayer's Gull
Cas Nov-Apr Guadalupe I.
L. schistisagus Slaty-backed Gull
Cas Hawaiian Is (Kure I, Midway Is: Sand I, Feb Oahu). Acc s Izu Is (Torishima), Iwo Is (Kitaiwojima).


STERNIDAE (29 species)

This family is sometimes included in Laridae. Recent genetic studies (Bridge et al 2005) showed that the genus Sterna is paraphyletic. The names of the taxa below reflect the generic names re-erected for the separate clades, as well as the new sequence of genera.

Anous stolidus Brown Noddy
A. s. pileatus Breeds Ogasawara Is, Iwo Is, Hawaiian Is 500,000 inds, Mariana Is (except Medinilla, Saragan, Alamagan, Asuncion, Reichel and Glass 1991), Palau, Caroline Is, Marshall Is (Spennemann and Benjamin 2004), Kiribati (Gilbert Is; throughout, Amerson 1969, Phoenix Is, Line Is), Society Is (present Sep-Mar), Solomon Is (incl Nuguria: Namotu, Takuu, Nukumanu, Hadden 2004b, but not Green Is, Tarburton 2006), New Caledonia (North and South Lagoons, Matthew, Hunter, Walpole, Chesterfields, Surprise, Barre and Dutson 2000; 1000 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002), Vanuatu, Norfolk I, Lord Howe I 1000+ prs (McAllan et al 2004), Kermadec Is (Curtis I: 25 prs first noted 1989, Veitch et al 2004), Fiji, Samoa (Tutuila, Manua Is,Rose Atoll- Watling 2001, Upolu 5+ prs- Tarburton 2001), Tuvalu, Tokelau Is, Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Is, Cook Is (Holyoak 1980), Gambier Is 150-242 prs, Pitcairn Is. Cas s Izu Is. Acc NZ (Jun NI). Eggs Lord Howe I Oct-Jan (Hutton 1991). At sea vicinity of breeding locations and intervening ocean.
F: Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: common Apr, Vandenberg; common offshore Oahu, flocks more than 3 usually Blacks, Pratt 1993). Solomon Is (Ghizo: 10+ Gizo to Kolombangara and Vella Lavella, Hornbuckle; Solomon Sea: 570 in Aug, M. Carter). Lord Howe I (seen Dec, ground nester, Quested; easily seen Apr esp North Bay, Walker). Palau (Dec, de Vries; abund, nest in trees away from coast, Engbring 1988). Mariana Is (common throughout, Talbot, S. Smith). Caroline Is (common throughout, S. Smith, Talbot). Samoa (Savaii: common Aug, Reed 1980). Norfolk I (present Oct-May, Hermes). New Caledonia very common (Barre and Dutson 2000).
A. s. ridgwayi Breeds Revillagigedo Is (Roca Partida, Socorro: Roca Oneal), Cocos I (breeds? Montoya 2003), Clipperton I, Easter I, Sala y Gomez Is, Desventurada Is (San Ambrosio I, San Felix I).
A. s. galapagensis Breeds Galapagos Is. At sea year round in vicinity.
F: Galapagos Is (977 throughout archipelago Jun-Jul, Chartier).
A. minutus Black Noddy
Sometimes considered conspecific with A. tenuirostris of the Indian Ocean.
A. m. minutus Breeds From Solomon Is (incl Nuguria- Namotu, Takuu, Nukumanu, Hadden 2004b, but not Green Is, Tarburton 2006) and New Caledonia (>60,000 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnlle 2002, Chesterfields, Surprise, Walpole, Lifou, Barre and Dutson 2000) east to Kiribati (Gilbert Is, Amerson 1969; Line Is, Phoenix Is), Cook Is (Penrhyn 000s, Rakahanga 000s, Manihiki 000s, Pukapuka 000s, Suwarrow, Takutea, Holyoak 1980), Tuamotu Is, Gambier Is <50 prs, and s to Lord Howe I 200 prs (McAllan et al 2004), Norfolk I <10,000 prs, Kermadec Is (1000 prs Herald Is, 50 prs Macauley, 40 prs Curtis, Veitch et al 2004). Does not breed Niue or Samoa (Watling 2001), but seen Savaii Aug (Reed 1980), and bred Tutuila, Tau, Rose I, Swains I before 1982 (Tarburton 2001). At sea vicinity, but apparent non-breeding ads and imms banded Fiji recovered Solomon Is (Watling 2001). Cas Vanuatu, Pitcairn Is (Henderson I, Bourne and David 1983), NZ (Aug-May NI and SI). Eggs Dec-Jan Norfolk I, Oct and Feb-Mar Lord Howe I (2 laying periods, Hutton 1991, McAllan et al 2004), Aug-Jan Kermadec Is (Veitch et al 2004).
F: Lord Howe I (seen Dec, tree nester, Quested; Apr, Bielewicz; easily seen Apr esp North Bay, Walker). Solomon Is (1 Ghizo and Kolombangara, Hornbuckle; Solomon Sea: 500 in Aug, M. Carter). Samoa (Savaii: flock 8 Aug, Reed 1980). Norfolk I (present all year, Hermes; very common, esp Rocky Point, Duranti).
A. m. marcusi Breeds Marcus I (=Minamitorishima), nw Hawaiian Is (French Frigate Shoals to Wake I, Wilds unpubl. ms. fide R. Pyle) to Mariana Is (Guam-Cocos I, Aguigan, Tinian, Medinilla, Guguan, Pagan, Maug, Reichel and Glass 1991), Palau, Caroline Is, Marshall Is (throughout, Amerson 1969). Vis Wake I (Pyle and Engbring 1985). Cas Ogasawara Is, Iwo Is. At sea vicinity.
F: Palau (Dec, de Vries; abund, nests in mangroves coastally, Engbring 1988). Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: very common Sand I Apr, Vandenberg).
A. m. melanogenys This taxon may differ at the species level from the previous two; marcusi and minutus breed in trees, while melanogenys breeds in rocky areas (Wilds, unpubl. ms. fide R.Pyle).
Breeds Hawaiian Is 90,000 inds (Hawaii to Kauai, Wilds unpubl. ms. fide R. Pyle). At sea vicinity.
F: Hawaiian Is (Kauai: from land, try Kee Beach, Pratt 1993; Oahu: Nuupia Pond, Manana Is on beaches; Pratt 1993; Mauai: Waianapanapa Caves SP, Pratt 1993; Hawaii: Holei Sea Arch, Pratt 1993).
A. m. diamesus Breeds Clipperton I, Cocos I. At sea vicinity.
Procelsterna cerulea Blue-Gray Noddy
Subspecies are poorly-defined; often treated as only two subspecies, cerulea and albivitta. Some authors consider these separate species, first 5 subsp below in P. cerulea Blue Noddy and remainder in P. albivitta Gray Noddy. However murphyi has characters intermediate between cerulea and albivitta (Thibault and Bretagnolle 1999).
P. c. saxatilis Breeds Marcus I (=Minamitorishima), nw Hawaiian Is 16,000 inds, Marshall Is (Taongi, Bikar, Pratt et al 1987; Pyle and Engbring 1985). At sea vicinity. Acc (this subsp?) Iwo Is (Kitaiwojima).
P. c. cerulea Breeds Kiribati except Phoenix Is. At sea vicinity.
P. c. nebouxi Breeds Kiribati (Phoenix Is), Tuvalu, Samoa (Nuutele, Nuuloa, McAllan and Hobcroft 2005, Namua, Tutuila, Aunuu, Manua), Cook Is (Penrhyn, ?Mangaia, Holyoak 1980). At sea vicinity. Cas Aug Fiji (Watling 2001), Tonga (this subsp? Tafahi, Watling 2001).
P. c. teretirostris Breeds Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Arch except Gambier Is, Society Is. At sea vicinity. Eggs Sep-Oct Marquesas Is (Tahuata, Chester et al 1998).
F: Marquesas Is (Tahuata: seacliffs Hanamoenoa Beach, Chester et al 1998).
P. c. murphyi Breeds Gambier Is 60-123 prs. At sea vicinity.
P. c. albivitta Breeds New Caledonia (Matthew, Hunter, Walpole, Barre and Dutson 2000), Lord Howe I <1000 prs (McAllan et al 2004), Norfolk I (Phillip and Nepean Is 1000-10,000 prs), Kermadec Is (10,000 prs Macauley, 5000+ prs Herald Is, 5000 prs Curtis, <1500 prs L'Esperance, 1000 prs Cheeseman, <100 prsRaoul, Veitch et al 2004), Tonga (Eua, Ata), NZ (ne NI: Three Kings Is, White I, Poor Knights Is, Mokohinau Is; acc Apr SI). At sea vicinity. Eggs Oct-Dec Norfolk I, Sep-Oct Lord Howe I (Hutton 1991), Aug-Sep Kermadec Is (Veitch et al 2004).
F: Lord Howe I (common Dec, Quested; Jan, Shimba; Apr Bielewicz; abundant at Ball's Pyramid Apr, Walker). Norfolk I (seen offshore May, 30+ Phillip I, R. Clarke; seen from land, Hobcroft). New Caledonia very rare; at north limit of range (Barre and Dutson 2000).
P. c. skottsbergii Breeds Pitcairn Is (Henderson I, Pitcairn I), Easter I. At sea vicinity.
P. c. imitatrix Breeds Desventurada Is (San Ambrosio I, San Felix I), Sala-y-Gomez I. At sea vicinity.
Gygis candida Pacific White-Tern
Olson (2005), noting treatment by AOU (1998), supported species status for G. candida and G. microrhyncha. First 4 subspecies below considered to vary only clinally and combined as candida by Holyoak and Thibault (in HANZAB).
G. c. rothschildi Breeds 80,000 inds Hawaiian Is (nw islands; Niihau: Kaula Rock; Oahu 250 prs, Olson 2005).
F: Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: 100s of thousands Apr, Vandenberg).
G. c. pacifica Breeds Polynesia e to Easter I, Clipperton I, Cocos I (absent Oct-Jan, Dean and Montoya 2005), Desventurada Is (Sala y Gomez Is), including Tonga (Niuafoou, Rinke 1986), Samoa (Savaii, Upolu, Tutuila, Tarburton 2001, Muse and Muse 1982), Cook Is (Holyoak 1980), Marquesas Is (Hatutu), Tuamotu Arch, Gambier Is <600 prs, but excluding Kiribati (Phoenix Is, Line Is), and Marquesas Is (Eiao to Fatu Hiva). Acc Revillagigedo Is (Jul Socorro: Roca Oneal, Brattstrom and Howell 1956), Galapagos Is (Genovesa, at sea to sw).
F: Samoa (Savaii: common, Reed 1980).
G. c. candida Breeds Mariana Is (Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, Medinilla, Guguan, Maug, Reichel and Glass 1991), Palau, Caroline Is, Marshall Is (Amerson 1969, Spennemann and Benjamin 2004), Kiribati (this taxon? Gilbert Is: Makin, Kuria, Onotoa, Amerson 1969), Wake I, Solomon Is (Nuguria, Tulun, Takuu, Nukumanu, Hadden 2004a, 2004b), New Caledonia (Walpole 20-80 prs, Chesterfields, ?Hunter, ?Matthew, Barre and Dutson 2000), Fiji (Rotuma, Vatulele, Vatoa, noilau). Vis Iwo Is, Ogasawara Is, Solomon Is (other than breeding sites) and Santa Cruz Is, Vanuatu.
F: Palau (Dec, de Vries; common main islands, Engbring 1988). Mariana Is (common, Talbot, S. Smith). Caroline Is (common, Talbot, S. Smith). Solomon Is (Solomon Sea: 6 in Aug, M. Carter). New Caledonia rare (Barre and Dutson 2000).
G. c. royana May vary only clinally from G. a. candida. Breeds Norfolk I 2000-2500 prs, Lord Howe I 60-100 prs, Kermadec Is (<10 prs Raoul I, Veitch et al 2004). Usually absent Lord Howe I Jun-Sep (McAllan et al 2004). Cas NZ (Apr-Jul NI, acc Mar SI). Eggs Oct-Apr Lord Howe I (Hutton 1991), Oct-Jan Kermadec Is (Veitch et al 2004).
F: Lord Howe I (Apr, Bielewicz; very easily seen around settlement Apr, Walker). Norfolk I (present all year, few in winter, Hermes; very common throughout, Duranti).
G. c. leucopes Breeds Pitcairn Is (Ducie I, Henderson I, Bourne and David 1983).
G. microrhyncha Little White-Tern
Considered conspecific with G. candida by some authors based on limited intergradation in Marquesas Is, although differences in bill coloration may provide an isolating mechanism (Pratt 2000); size difference is marked (Olson 2005). This may be a relict population of a formerly widespread species now being genetically swamped by G. candida (see Olson 2005).
Breeds Kiribati (now extirpated? Phoenix Is, Line Is), Marquesas Is (Eiao to Fatu Hiva). Acc Hawaiian Is (Apr 1924 Oahu, Olson 2005).
Onychoprion fuscata Sooty Tern
O. f. oahuensis Breeds Ogasawara Is (Nishinoshima; these birds sometimes included in nubilosa), Mariana Is (Agiguan, Guguan, Uracas, Reichel and Glass 1991), Palau, Caroline Is (Truk, Pohnpei, Yap, ?Kosrae), Marshall Is 98,550 inds (Taongi, Bikar, Taka, Eniwetok, Ujalong, Ailinginae, Jaluit, Amerson 1969); Marcus I (=Minamitorishima), Wake I (1,750,000 inds, King 1974), Hawaiian Is (Kure to Manana) 1,500,000 prs, 8,000,000 inds; Johnston Atoll 600,000 inds (King 1974); Kiribati (Gilbert Is: Kuria, Nonouti, Amerson 1969, Phoenix Is 1,000,000 prs, Line Is 10,000,000 prs). Vis Iwo Is. At sea vicinity, imms dispersive, but recoveries suggest allopatry of breeding and non-breeding ranges of oahuensis and serrata (King 1974). Most reports westward as far as Japan and Philippines apparently storm-driven (King 1974).
F: Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: Eastern I 1000+ prs Apr, Vandenberg; Oahu: abund Apr-Sep Moko Manu and Manana, pelagic other times, Pratt 1993). Palau (Southwest Is: abundant only at Helen I, Engbring 1988).
O. f. serrata Breeds Solomon Is (but not Bougainville area, Hadden 2004a, or Green Is and Nuguria, Tarburton 2006), New Caledonia (Surprise, Matthew, Chesterfields, Southern Lagoon islets, Barre and Dutson 2000; 200-300 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002), Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Is (Penrhyn 100-10,000 prs, Suwarrow 100,000-10,000,000 prs, extirp Palmerston, Holyoak 1980), Samoa (Rose I 300,000 inds, Tarburton 2001), Marquesas Is 1,000,000 prs, Society Is, Tubuai Is, Tuamotu Arch. At sea vicinity but imms dispersive and non-breeders pelagic.
F: Solomon Is (Solomon Sea: 1060 in Aug, M. Carter); New Caledonia (30+ one-hour seawatch off Noumea Oct, T. Clarke).
O. f. kermadeci (included in serrata by HANZAB) Breeds Norfolk I (Philip and Neapean Is 40,000-70,000 prs), Lord Howe I 1,000,000 prs, Kermadec Is (10,000 prs Macauley,<10,000 prs Herald, 5500 prs Curtis, 5000+ Cheeseman, <5000 Raoul, Veitch et al 2004). Cas NZ (Feb and Jun NI, Feb and Sep SI). At sea vicinity but imms dispersive and non-breeders pelagic. Birds banded Lord Howe I recovered mid-Pacific and near Philippine Is (Hutton 1991) and one banded as a chick Kermadec Is recovered as breeding adult on Seychelles (Veitch et al 2004). Absent Kermadecs Jun-Aug (Veitch et al 2004). Eggs Aug-Dec Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004), Norfolk I, Oct-Dec Kermadec Is (Veitch et al 2004).
F: Lord Howe I (seen Apr, Bielewicz; Dec, Quested; easily seen esp North Bay, Walker). Norfolk I present Sep-Apr, Hermes; 6 at Anson Bay, Duranti).
O. f. crissalis Breeds Revillagigedo Is (Roca Partida, Socorro: Roca Oneal), Cocos I (breeds? Montoya 2003), Clipperton I, Galapagos Is (Culpepper), Sala y Gomez Is, Desventurada Is (San Felix I), Easter I. At sea vicinity, imms dispersive.
O. f. luctuosa Breeds Juan Fernandez Is. At sea vicinity.
O. lunata Grey-backed Tern
Breeds c Pacific from Hawaiian Is 200,000 inds (Oahu: Moko Manu; Kure to Kaula, Pratt et al 1987), Mariana Is (Guguan, Reichel and Glass 1991), Johnston I, Kiribati (Phoenix Is, Line Is), Tonga (Nomuka), Samoa (Rose I, Tutuila, Aunuu, Tarburton 2001), Society Is, Tuamotu Is. Extirp Tuvalu, Tokelau Is (Watling 2001). Vis Palau (not listed as breeding, Engbring 1988), Mariana Is (Tinian, Alamagan, Reichel and Glass 1991), Wake I, Marshall Is (breeding not known either location, Wiles et al 2000, Wiles 2005), Caroline Is (Yap, Pyle and Engbring 1985, Wiles 2005; Chuuk, Buden 2006). Cas Solomon Is (not known to breed, Hadden 2004a, Penhallurick 2003; 14 in Solomon Sea Aug, M. Carter), Fiji (not currently breeding, Watling 2001), Marquesas Is (Chester et al 1998), Easter I. Acc Iwo Is (Kitaiwojima), Aug Clipperton I, NZ (NI Jan-Feb, Southern Bird #27).
F: Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: 100+ prs Eastern I Apr, Vandenberg); Oahu: nest Moko Manu I but hard to see; also offshore from Koko Head Regional Park and Diamond Head lighthouse, Pratt 1993). Palau (Dec, de Vries).
O. anaethetus Bridled Tern
O. a. anaethetus Breeds Palau, Solomon Is (not listed as breeding Green Is, Tarburton 2006), New Caledonia (Doughty et al 1999; uncommon breeder Southern Lagoon, Barre and Dutson 2000; 500-1000 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002), Fiji (Watling 2001), Samoa (Upolu 130 inds, Savaii 82 inds, Tarburton 2001), Tonga (Tongatapu, Vavau, Watling 2001), Wallis and Futuna (Uvea, Watling 2001). At sea vicinity, n to Iwo Is (Watling 2001, Muse and Muse 1982). Acc Marshall Is (Bikar, Pratt et al 1987), NZ (Nov SI).
F: Solomon Is (Rennell: L Tenggano, Richards; Vella Lavella: 3, Hornbuckle; Solomon Sea: 22 in Aug, M. Carter). Palau (Dec, de Vries; common, Engbring 1988; 5-10 ferry Peleliu to Koror, Talbot, S. Smith). New Caledonia (seen off Noumea (2) Oct, T. Clarke). Fiji (Viti Levu: one on cruise from Nadi Sep, T. Clarke).
O. a. nelsoni At sea off Mexico Mar-Aug and Sep-Feb, poss further south?
O. aleutica Aleutian Tern
At sea Oct-Apr nc and nw Pacific s to 45N.
Sternula albifrons Little Tern
S. a. sinensis Res Solomon Is, Mariana Is (Saipan, Reichel and Glass 1991, Pyle et al 2001), Hawaiian Is (Pearl and Hermes Reef: late 1980s; Midway Is: nested 1999 and 2000 [1999 alongside Least Terns]; nestlings at French Frigate Shoals 1980 and Oahu 1984 not identified to species vs Least Tern, Pyle et al 2001). Vis Oct-Apr Ogasawara Is, Mariana Is (Guam, Rota, Reichel and Glass 1991), Oct-Apr Palau, Caroline Is (Wiles et al 2000), Marshall Is (Spennemann and Benjamin 2004), Feb-May, obs in nuptial plumage, but prob occurs Oct-May New Caledonia, Barre and Bachy 2003), Oct-Dec and Feb-Mar Lord Howe I (4 recs, McAllan et al 2004), Oct-Nov Kermadec Is (2 records, Veitch et al 2004), Oct-Apr NZ (these birds visitors from northern hemisphere [chick banded at nest near Tokyo Jun 99 rec Miranda; one banded Jun 2001 in Chiva Region of Japan recovered Firth of Thames Jan 2002], although one recovery in NZ of imm banded in Vic, Austr; this prob an aberrant event- C. Minton, pers comm., but T. Habraken believes birds from both sources occur in NZ. Two ads full breeding plumage NI Jan 2001 suggestive of Aust origin, D. Lawrie). Acc Fiji (Lakemba), Samoa (Upolu), (this sp or S. albifrons) Norfolk I Nov 1975 (HANZAB), Dec-Feb Chatham Is (Bell and Bell 2002).
F: Caroline Is (Yap: 2 in lagoon, Dec, Talbot). Samoa (Upolu: one Apia Aug, Child 1979). Solomon Is (Bougainville: breeding Jaba Delta, Hadden 1981).
S. antillarum Least Tern
S. a. browni? Cas Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: unsuccessful nest 1999, Pyle et al 2001; Oahu Feb, NAB).
S. nereis Fairy Tern
S. n. exsul Res New Caledonia (rare, possibly declining, a few dozen prs Southern Lagoon and Chesterfields, Barre and Dutson 2000; <10 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002).
F: 84 at Amedee Jan 1998 (Barre and Dutson 2000).
S. n. davisae Res NZ (NI 10-12 prs, 40 inds).
S. n. subsp. Nesting (4 birds; poss exsul), East Diamond Islet, Coral Sea, Dec 2006 (Mustoe). May be nesting Samoa (Upolu: incr sightings there recent years, Watling 2001, Tarburton 2001). Acc ?Fiji; Norfolk I Nov 1975 (this sp or S. nereis, HANZAB).
Gelochelidon nilotica Gull-billed Tern
G. n. macrotarsa? Cas NZ (NI, SI).
G. n. subsp? Cas Hawaiian Is (Oahu, Molokai, Maui). Acc Mariana Is (Nov Guam, Wiles et al 2000; hypo fall Saipan, Pratt et al 1987, Reichel and Glass 1991), Solomon Is (Russell Is Jul, Dutson 2001), Jan-Feb Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004).
Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern
H. c. strenua? Res NZ 3000 inds (NI, SI). Cas Hawaiian Is (Hawaii, Oahu, Maui), Dec and Feb Chatham Is (Miskelly et al 2006). Acc Jan Kermadec Is, Sep-Nov Lord Howe I (2 recs, McAllan et al 2004).
Chlidonias niger Black Tern
Establishment of Chlidonias as masculine is discussed by David and Gosselin (2002b). Use of hybrida instead of hybridus is discussed by David and Gosselin (2002a,b); hybrida is a masculine noun, not an adjective, and is thus invariable.
C. n. surinamensis Cas Hawaiian Is. Acc Clipperton I, Galapagos Is.
C. leucopterus White-winged Black Tern
Vis mostly Sep-Apr Mariana Is (Guam, Tinian, Saipan, Reichel and Glass 1991), Palau, Caroline Is (Yap- Clements 2003), Solomon Is (Bougainville, Hadden 2004a; Rennell: acc L Tenggano), Norfolk I, NZ (NI, SI, one breeding rec). Cas Nov-Feb Lord Howe I (6 recs, McAllan et al 2004). Acc Ogasawara Is.
F: Palau (Peleliu: 5-10 Koror harbor Dec, prob this sp, Talbot).
C. albostriatus Black-fronted Tern
Res NZ (breeds SI, vis NI, Stewart I). Acc Feb Snares Is (Miskelly et al 2001).
C. hybrida Whiskered Tern
C. h. javanicus Cas Solomon Is (Bougainville, Hadden 2004a), NZ (Mar and May-Oct NI; Dec SI). Acc Dec Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004). C. h. subsp? Cas Mariana Is (Guam, Saipan, Reichel and Glass 1991), Caroline Is (Feb-Mar Yap, Wiles et al 2000), Palau (Feb 1993, Wiles et al 2000; Feb 2002, 3 Koror Harbor, S. Smith), Hawaiian Is (Scott et al 2001). Acc New Caledonia (Grande Terre, Apr-May 2000, Bachy; Barre and Dutson 2000).
Sterna dougalli Roseate Tern
S. d. bangsi Breeds Solomon Is, New Caledonia (Grande Terre 2000-5000 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002). At sea vicinity. Cas Vanuatu (Bregulla 1992). Acc Fiji (Vatuira, questioned by Watling 2001), Tonga, Tuamotu Arch (duPont 1976).
F: Solomon Is (Guadalcanal: 16 in brdg plge Aug Wanderer Bay, M. Carter); New Caledonia (4 off Point Mangin Oct, T. Clarke).
S. hirundo Common Tern
S. h. longipennis Vis Oct-Apr (first summer inds often winter) Mariana Is (Guam, Saipan, hypo Pagan, Reichel and Glass 1991), Palau, Caroline Is (Yap, Truk, Pohnpei), Solomon Is incl Green Is (Hadden 2004b, Tarburton 2006). Cas Marshall Is (Amerson 1969), New Caledonia, Vanuatu, ?Fiji, Dec-Feb Lord Howe I (3 recs, McAllan et al 2004), NZ (Nov-Apr NI and SI).
F: Solomon Is (Bougainville: common Jaba Delta, Hadden 1981; Florida Is: Mana I Jan, Talbot).
S. h. hirundo Vis Oct-Apr Galapagos Is. Cas Clipperton I. Acc Hawaiian Is (Pyle 2002; Feb Oahu this subsp? NAB; Mar Molokai this subsp? NAB), Cook Is (Aitutaki: banded as nestling Canada, Holyoak 1980).
S. paradisaea Arctic Tern
At sea e Pacific w to Hawaiian Is, Kiribati (Phoenix Is) Aug-Oct and Mar-Apr; Oct-Mar (immatures winter) s Pacific n to 35S: Oct-Jan NZ (one banded Jun Uppsala, Sweden, beached Oct Stewart I), Nov-Jan Snares Is, Nov Antipodes Is (Tennyson et al 2002). Acc Apr Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004), Apr Macquarie I. A record for Marshall Is (Enewetak) is unsubstantiated (Pyle and Engbring 1985).
F: Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: boat off Kona Apr, 6 prob this sp, T. Pratt; Oahu: one Apr, Nikas).
S. vittata Antarctic Tern
The population at Macquarie I is sometimes separated as S. v. macquariensis.
S. v. bethunei Breeds total pop 1000 prs NZ (Stewart I), Snares Is 65-70 prs (alt plumage Jul-Mar, Miskelly et al 2001; Sagar et al 2003), Auckland Is, Bounty I, Antipodes Is, Campbell I, Macquarie I 24+ prs (Schulz and Gales 2004). At sea vicinity. Acc Chatham Is (Bell and Bell 2002).
S. striata White-fronted Tern
Res 12-15,000 prs (Taylor 2000) NZ (NI, SI, Stewart I), Chatham Is (where most depart in winter, prob to NZ or Australia, Aikman and Miskelly 2004), Auckland Is. At sea (juvs) Tasman Sea. Cas Feb-May Snares Is (Miskelly et al 2001), Nov-Jan Campbell I. Acc "austral winter" Norfolk I, Feb Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004), Macquarie I (Oliver 1955).
S. sumatrana Black-naped Tern
S. s. sumatrana Breeds sw Pacific incl Palau, Caroline Is (Yap, Truk, Pohnpei), Marshall Is (Taka, Erikub, Arno, Eniwetok, Ujae, Jaluit, Amerson 1969; Ebon, Spennemann and Benjamin 2004), Kiribati (Gilbert Is: Makin, Tarawa, Onotoa, Amerson 1969; vis Line Is); Solomon Is, New Caledonia (4 small colonies North and South Lagoons, rare Lifou, Barre and Dutson 2000; 500 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002), Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Is (Penrhyn, Manihiki, Suwarrow), Samoa (Upolu 1-5 prs, Tarburton 2001), Tokelau Is, Society Is, Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Is, Tubuai Is. Cas Mariana Is (Guam, hypo Rota and Pagan, Reichel and Glass 1991). Acc Apr Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004).
F: Solomon Is (Rennell: 12 L Tenggano, Richards; Ghizo: fairly common Ghizo, Richards; New Georgia Is: Uepi, Talbot; Solomon Sea: 26 in Aug, M. Carter; common Green Is, Tarburton 2006). Palau (Dec, de Vries; common Babelduab south, Engbring 1988). Caroline Is (Yap: 3 by Mantaray Hotel, S. Smith; Truk: 2 from Blue Lagoon Resort, Weno, Talbot). Kiribati (9 Jul "res, poss breeding", Child 1982). Fiji (not common Mar, Myers; Taveuni: 2 Sep, T. Clarke; Viti Levu: 10 on cruise off Nadi Sep, T. Clarke). New Caledonia (5 off Point Mangin Oct, T. Clarke).
Thalasseus maxima Royal Tern
T. m. maxima Cas Jun-Mar Galapagos Is.
T. bengalensis Lesser Crested-Tern
T. b. torresii Acc Solomon Is (Bougainville, Dutson 2001, HANZAB).
T. bergii Great Crested-Tern
T. b. cristatus Breeds sw Pacific n of 25S incl Ogasawara Is (Baker 1951), Palau, Caroline Is (Truk, Pohnpei, ?Yap, ?Kosrae), Marshall Is (Taongi, Bikar, Taka, Arno, Eniwetok, Bikini, Ailinginae, Jaluit, Amerson 1969), Kiribati (Gilbert Is: Tarawa, Kuria, Onotoa, Amerson 1969; Line Is), Solomon Is (not listed as breeder Green Is or Nuguria, Tarburton 2006), Vanuatu, New Caledonia (North and South Lagoons, vis Lifou, Barre and Dutson 2000; 1000 prs Southern Lagoon, Benoit and Bretagnolle 2002), Fiji, Tonga, Society Is (Thibault et al 1975), Marquesas Is (Chester et al 1998), Tuamotu Is. Vis mostly May-Sep, but recorded year-round Mariana Is (Rota, Reichel and Glass 1991, Saipan, Guam and s of Guam, Pyle and Engbring 1985, Wiles et al 2000), Samoa (Upolu, Tutuila, Tarburton 2001). Cas Hawaiian Is (Oahu: Oct-Mar, French Frigate Shoals: Aug), Cook Is (Mangaia, Suwarrow, Holyoak 1980; Aitutaki, McCormack 2006), Gambier Is, Feb-Mar Norfolk I, NZ (Sep-Apr NI, Jan SI). Acc Feb Lord Howe I (2 recs, McAllan et al 2004), Kermadec Is (Apr Raoul, Veitch et al 2004).
F: Palau (breeds Helen I, Ngeruangel I, common, Engbring 1988; 1-10 Peleliu, Koror, Talbot, S. Smith); Caroline Is (Truk: one, Feb, S. Smith); Solomon Is (Ghizo: up to 20 around Gizo, Hornbuckle; Santa Isabel: 2, Hornbuckle; Solomon Sea: 45 in Aug, M. Carter); Vanuatu (Efate: 7 in harbor,Ewin).
T. sandvicensis Sandwich Tern
Acc Hawaiian Is (Scott et al 2001), Cocos I (Montoya 2003).
T. elegans Elegant Tern
Acc Johnston I (Apr 1969, banded California May 1966, Atoll Res. Bull. 192), Cocos I (Montoya and Pascal 2004).


ALCIDAE (16 species)

Uria aalge Common Murre
U. a. inornata At sea Oct-Mar n and nw Pacific; cas >200 mi offshore?
U. a. californica At sea Oct-Mar ne Pacific; cas >200 mi offshore?
U. lomvia Thick-billed Murre
U. l. arra At sea Oct-Mar nc Pacific; cas >200 mi offshore?
Brachyramphus perdix Long-billed Murrelet
At sea Oct-Mar n Pacific; cas >200 mi offshore?
B. marmoratus Marbled Murelet
At sea winter Gulf of Alaska 300+ km offshore ("Birds of North America").
B. brevirostris Kittlitz's Murrelet
Acc off Oregon (93 miles, P. Pyle). Casual >200 miles offshore?
Synthliboramphus hypoleucus Xantus's Murrelet
S. h. hypoleuca Breeds Guadalupe I 2400-3500 inds. Eggs Feb-Mar. At sea Aug-Sep n to California (McGrath and Feenstra 2005). Casual >200 miles offshore?
S. h. scrippsi At sea post-breeding n. to s. Canada and s. to Mexico (McGrath and Feenstra 2005). Casual >200 miles offshore s. California?
S. craveri Craveri's Murrelet
Cas Jul-Oct >200 miles offshore? (McGrath and Feenstra 2005)
S. antiquus Ancient Murrelet
S. a. antiquus Acc Oct-Mar Iwo Is (Iwojima), s Izu Is (Torishima), Hawaiian Is (Nov Oahu).
S. wumizusume Japanese Murrelet
Breeds s Izu Is (Torishima). At sea vicinity. Acc Hawaiian Is (Midway; prob best considered hypothetical- P.Pyle).
Endomychura carveri Craveri's Murrelet
At sea Jul-Dec off nw Mexico; cas >200 miles offshore?
Ptychoramphus aleuticus Cassin's Auklet
P. a. australis Res Guadalupe I. Eggs Apr-Jul. At sea s to 23N off Mexico.
P. a. aleuticus At sea Oct-Mar n Pacific generally within 200 miles of land. Acc Hawaiian Is (Oahu).
Aethia psittacula Parakeet Auklet
At sea Oct-Mar nw Pacific, casually to s. California Jan-Mar (McGrath and Feenstra 2005). Acc Hawaiian Is (Kure I, Midway Is).
A. cristatella Crested Auklet
At sea Oct-Mar nw Pacific.
A. pusilla Least Auklet
At sea Oct-Mar nw Pacific.
A. pygmaea Whiskered Auklet
At sea Oct-Mar nw Pacific.
Cerorhinca monocerata Rhinoceros Auklet
At sea Oct-May n Pacific, se to 24N incl Guadalupe I. Casual >200 miles offshore? (McGrath and Feenstra 2005).
Fratercula corniculata Horned Puffin
At sea year round n. Pacific s to 35N, more Oct-Mar. Acc nw Hawaiian Is.
F. cirrhata Tufted Puffin
At sea Oct-Mar n Pacific s. to 35N. Alt ad Jun 1999 44N 133.5W (Smith). Cas Hawaiian Is (Kure I, Laysan I, Mar Midway, Klavitter).