MEGAPODIIDAE (4 species)

The species eremita and layardi are sometimes considered subspecies of freycinet, widespread from Malysia through Melanesia. They are treated here as species within a superspecies (Sibley and Monroe 1990).

Megapodius eremita Melanesian Megapode
M. e. brenchleyi Res Solomon Is except Rennell and Bellona, but incl Green Is and Nuguria (Tarburton 2006), Takuu, Nukumanu, and Ontong Java (Hadden 2004b).
F: Solomon Is (Buka and Bougainville common, Hadden 2004a; Nissan, common, Hadden 2004b; Kolombangara: near Iriri on track to Mt Veve, Richards, Hornbuckle; Santa Isabel: unc Garanga R, Kratter et al 2001; Buka, Gregory; Ranonnga, Hornbuckle; Vella Lavella, Hornbuckle; Makira: heard, Hornbuckle; Florida Is: Mana I, Talbot).
M. layardi Vanuatu Megapode
Res Vanuatu (Banks Is, islands n and c Vanuatu, Bregulla 1992; 2500-10000 inds, Birdlife International 2003).
F: Loru Protected Area (Hobcroft); coastal forest Palikulo (Ewin).
M. laperouse Micronesian Megapode
M. l. laperouse Res Mariana Is from Anatahan north except Asuncion and Saipan (current Saipan population about 50 possibly due to recolonization, Pratt and Bruner 1978); extirp Guam, Rota, Tinian; status uncertain Aguigan, Medinilla (Reichel and Glass 1991).
F: Saipan (Marpi- forest behind Japanese memorial, Watson; near Korean War Mem at north end, Klauber).
M. l. senex Res Palau.
F: Palau (Peleliu, Angaur, de Vries; most Kayangel and limestone islands with beaches, Engbring 1988; Peleliu: 2 on side track betw road and Orange Beach, Talbot; 4 in forest near Japanese War HQ, S. Smith; German Lighthouse Trail on Urukthapel, McFadden).
M. pritchardii Polynesian Megapode (Malau)
Res Tonga (Niuafoou c200 prs, Rinke 1986; (re?)-int Fonualei 300-500 inds; int Tafahi [failed? Watling 2001], Late [failed- Birdlife International 2004], Niuatoputapu [failed, Rinke 1986]). Extirp (this sp?) Kermadec Is. (Holdaway 2001, Veitch et al 2004), American Samoa (Ofu, Steadman 1993).


ODONTOPHORIDAE (2 species)

Callipepla californica California Quail
OSNZ (1990) shows that C. c. brunnescens is the subspecies introduced to New Zealand, whereas Long (1981) suggested that brunnescens and californicus were both introduced there and to the Hawaiian Is. Madge and McGowan (2002) indicate instead that achrustera was introduced to both New Zealand and Hawaiian Is.
C. c. californicus Int Norfolk I from NZ, NZ (NI, SI), Chatham Is (?extirpated, Miskelly et al 2006), Hawaiian Is (Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Hawaii; most now hybrids with C. c. brunnescens). Int Lord Howe I, now extirpated (Hutton 1991).
F: Norfolk I (common, Duranti).
C. c. brunnescens Int NZ (NI, SI), Chatham Is (Chatham, Pitt, poss extirpated, Miskelly et al 2006), Hawaiian Is (Kauai, Lanai, Mauai, Hawaii, most now hybrids with californicus). Int Juan Fernandez Is (Mas Afuera I).
F: Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: Puu Lauu large flocks, Lindsay).
C. gambelii Gambel's Quail
C. g. subsp? Int Hawaiian Is (Hawaii, Lanai, Kahoolawe).
F: Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: Keanakolu Rd between Mauna Kea Rd and Hakalau Forest NWR in rocky places, Pratt 1993; Pohakuloa on verge, Lindsay; Kahoolawe: Honokonaia Bay, Starr).


MELEAGRIDIDAE (1 species)

Family doubtfully distinct from Phasianidae (Christidis and Boles 1994).

Meleagris gallopavo Wild Turkey
M. g. silvestris Int Hawaiian Is (Niihau, Lanai, Maui, Hawaii, Molokai; most turkeys in Hawaiian Is now hybrids of this and next taxon, as well as domesticated forms); New Caledonia (this subsp? Grande Terre, birds from United States, Barre and Dutson 2000).
M. g. intermedia Int Hawaiian Is (see above).
F: Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: west end Saddle Rd, Lindsay; Maui: south slope of East Maui, Starr).
M. g. mexicana Int NZ (NI, SI).
M. g. subsp. Int Fiji (Taveuni, Laucala, Naitauba; int and extirp Makogai, Mago, Watling 2001).


PHASIANIDAE (15 species)

Alectoris rufa Red-legged Partridge
Int NZ (NI, Chambers 2000).
A. chukar Chukar
A. c. chukar Int NZ (SI, most hybrids with A. c. koroviakovi, but see HANZAB: little evidence for this), Hawaiian Is except Oahu (Long 1981).
F: Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: Waimea Plains behind cement plant; Keanakolu Rd, Lindsay; Maui: between lower vis center and summit in Haleakala NP, Pratt 1993).
Francolinus pondicerianus Grey Francolin
F. p. interpositus? Int Hawaiian Is except Oahu (Long 1981), but now present Oahu (Pratt 1993).
F: Hawaiian Is (Maui: lowlands; Oahu: Na Laau Arboretum, Pratt 1993; Hawaii: Waikoloa, Lindsay).
F. francolinus Black Francolin
F. f. subsp? Int Hawaiian Is (Molokai, Maui, Lanai, Hawaii, Oahu), Mariana Is (Guam).
F: Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: highways South Kohala, Pratt 1993; Saddle Rd, Parker Ranch; Maui: Keokea area, Pratt); Mariana Is (Guam: several in southeast, vocal, Klauber).
F. erckelii Erckel's Francolin
F. e. erckelii? Int Hawaiian Is.
F: Hawaiian Is (Kauai: road between Waimea Canyon and Kokee SP, Pratt 1993; Hawaii: Keanakolu Rd, Lindsay).
Coturnix japonica Japanese Quail
Int Hawaiian Is except Oahu.
F: Hawaiian Is (Kauai: between Anahola and Kilauea; Hawaii: Keanakolu Rd above Hakalau Forest NWR; sneezy calls early in morning spr and summer, Pratt 1993).
C. novaezelandiae New Zealand Quail
Some authors (eg OSNZ) consider conspecific with C. pectoralis Stubble Quail, but consistent plumage and structural differences (HANZAB; Christidis and Boles 2008).
Extinct. Res formerly NZ (NI, Great Barrier I, SI).
C. ypsilophora Brown Quail
Some authors retain in Synoicus, but generally merged with Coturnix (Christidis and Boles 2008).
Although subspecies australis and ypsilophora said to have been int to NZ (see Long 1981), specimens examined are consistent with australis (HANZAB). In any event, the subsp are doubtfully distinct (Christidis and Boles 1994).
C. y. australis Int (poss self-int?) NZ (NI). Int Fiji (Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Makogai [where now extirp- Watling 2001]).
C. chinensis Blue-breasted Quail
C. c. lineata Int Mariana Is (Guam).
F: pair at State Dept property- hard to see well, Klauber.
Bambusicola thoracicus Chinese Bamboo Partridge
David and Gosselin (2002b) established that Bambusicola is masculine.
B. t. thoracicus Int Iwo Is (Iwojima).
Gallus gallus Red Jungle-Fowl
Int, generally by indigenous peoples although since advent of Europeans interbreeding with domestic strains common; except for possibly the Caroline Islands, there appear to be no genetically pure populations in the Pacific (Peterson and Brisbin 2005).
Int Mariana Is (Rota, Tinian, Saipan, Anatahan, Alamagan, Pagan, extirp Guam, Rieichel and Glass 1991), Palau, Caroline Is, Marshall Is, Kiribati, Hawaiian Is (Kauai, Oahu), Society Is, Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Is, Tubuai Is, Gambier Is, New Caledonia (Isle of Pines, extirp Grande Terre, Barre and Dutson 2000), Vanuatu, Fiji but extirp Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, Norfolk I, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, Tokelau Is, Cook Is (Rarotonga, Holyoak 1980). Int by Europeans but now extirpated, late 1700s and early 1800s NZ (NI,SI, HANZAB), Lord Howe I (Hutton 1991).
F: Norfolk I (very common, Duranti). Palau (Peleliu and Angaur, de Vries; abund Peleliu and Angaur, less common Babeldaob and Koror, Engbring 1988; Peleliu: 12 in forest, S. Smith). Caroline Is (Yap: low nos forest, S. Smith). Mariana Is (Saipan, Rota: low nos forest, S. Smith). Vanuatu (Santo: Loru and Matevulu, Ewin); Samoa (Savaii: rather timid, not near coast, Reed 1980; sea level to 1200m, McAllan and Hobcroft 2005). Kiribati (scattered throughout, Child 1982). Fiji (Taveuni: 2 heard lower elevations transmitter rd, Sargeant 1992). Hawaiian Is (Kauai: most at Kokee SP are "real", with dull-colored legs, Pratt 1993).
Lophura leucomelanos Kalij Pheasant
Int Hawaiian Is (Hawaii), apparently mix of subspecies leucomelanos and hamiltonii, T. Pratt).
F: Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: Mauna Loa Rd incl Kipuka Puaulu, Pratt 1993; Devastation Trail in Volcano Park, Lindsay).
Phasianus colchicus Common (Ring-necked) Pheasant
Birds introduced to Hawaiian Is and New Zealand are of several subspecies, including colchicus, torquatus, and mongolicus, which have hybridized to varying extents; in the Hawaiian Is pure torquatus may still occur on Lanai (Long 1981).
Int Hawaiian Is 70,000 inds in 1951 (Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Hawaii); New Caledonia (Grande Terre, birds from NZ, Barre and Dutson 2000); New Zealand (NI,SI); Norfolk I, now extirpated (HANZAB).
F: Hawaiian Is (Kauai: hillside near albatross nests Kilauea Pt, Lindsay; Waimea Canyon Rd. Hawaii: Huehue and from Volcano to Kau).
P. versicolor Green Pheasant
Some authors (see Madge and McGowan 2002) consider this taxon a good species; it occurs in apparently pure form sympatric with colchicus/torquatus in Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Long 1981).
Int Hawaiian Is (Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, ?Maui, AOU 1998).
F: Windward slopes Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa (Pratt 1987).
Pavo cristatus Indian Peafowl
Int NZ (NI, SI), Hawaiian Is (Hawaii, Oahu, Niihau, Maui), New Caledonia (established? Grande Terre, Barre and Dutson 2000).


PHAETHONTIDAE (3 species)

Phaethon aethereus Red-billed Tropicbird
P. a. mesonauta Breeds Revillagigedo Is incl San Benedicto 200 prs (Pitman and Ballance 2002), Galapagos Is several thousand prs. Eggs year round, but synchronous Galapagos Is (Plazas), possibly due to plentiful space for nesting (Castro and Phillips 1996) and Nov-Dec Revillagigedo Is (San Benedicto, Pitman and Ballance 2002). At sea tropical e Pacific between California (peak Sep) and Peru. Cas (juvs?) Hawaiian Is (French Frigate Shoals, Nihoa, Kauai AOU 1998, Oahu NAB), Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Arch. Recs for Fiji considered incorrect (Watling 2001) and those for Marshall Is and Caroline Is (Kosrae), considered hypothetical (Pyle and Engbring 1985), although there is a specimen from Marshall Is (Ratak group).
F: 94 Galapagos Is (mostly off Floreana, Champion, and Enderby, Chartier).
P. rubricauda Red-tailed Tropicbird
Although Tarburton (1989) showed that measurements are clinal in the Pacific, and suggested that the traditional subspecies were invalid, the data (wing, culmen) show that Pacific birds can generally be assigned to subspecies mensurally. The Indian ocean subspecies rubricauda and westralis are generally not separable, however, from each other or from melanorhynchos, suggesting that there may be 3 valid races, as shown below.
P. r. rothschildi Breeds Iwo Is, Ogasawara Is, Mariana Is (Rota, Guguan, Pagan, Maug, Uracas, Reichel and Glass 1991), Marshall Is 825+ inds, King 1974 (Taongi, Bikar, Taka, Eniwetok, Jemo, Amerson 1969; King 1974, Pyle and Engbring 1985), Wake I (Pyle and 20 inds (King 1974, Engbring 1985), Hawaiian Is 12,000 prs, Johnston I 110 inds (King 1974), ?Revillagigedo Is (San Benedicto 10 prs present but breeding not yet proven, Pitman and Ballance 2002), ?Clipperton I (Howell and Webb 1995). Vis Caroline Is (Pohnpei, Truk). Cas (this subsp?) Palau; atolls n of Solomon Is (Hadden 2004a, 2004b; Dutson 2001). Acc off Baja California 31N/123W, banded at Kure Atoll (King 1974). At sea to 10N, occ as far south as 0/178W (King 1974).
F: Hawaiian Is (Midway Is: Sand, Eastern, a few thousand Apr, Vandenberg). Mariana Is (Saipan: 3 at cliffs Marpi Forest S. Smith, Talbot; Rota: 10 at bird sanctuary, Talbot).
P. r. rubricauda (incl melanorhynchus) Breeds islands of tropical Pacific between ranges of rothschildi and roseotinctus: Howland I (130 inds, King 1974), Baker I (20 inds, King 1974), Kiribati (Phoenix Is 1740+ ins, Line Is 10,070 inds, King 1974), Samoa (Rose Atoll), Fiji, Tonga, Cook Is (Mangaia <100 prs, Rarotonga <100 prs, Mitiaro <100 prs, Manuae <100 prs, Takutea 1000-10,000 prs, Suwarrow 100-1000 prs, Palmerston 100-1000 prs, Pukapuka <100 prs, Penrhyn <100 prs, ?Manihiki, ?Rakahanga, Holyoak 1980), Tuamotu Is, Tubuai (Rurutu, Rimatara, Tubuai, Raivavao, Rapa, Penhallurick 2003), Pitcairn Is, ?Easter I. Eggs year round most locations. Vis Marquesas Is (Chester et al 1998), Niue. At sea to 4N, occ to 18N/166W (King 1974).
P. r. roseotinctus (For use of roseotinctus, not roseotincta, see David and Gosselin 2002a). Breeds New Caledonia (this subsp- Barre and Dutson 2000- Surprise, Walpole 65 prs, Matthew, Hunter, Isle Pines), Norfolk I 400 inds, Lord Howe I 500-1000 prs (McAllan et al 2004), Kermadec Is (200 prs Herald, <100 prs Macauley, <50 prs Raoul, <20 prs Curtis, Veitch et al 2004). Eggs peak Dec-Apr Kermadec Is and Norfolk I, Nov-Feb at Lord Howe I (Hutton 1991). Few birds pres Jul-Sep Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004).
F: New Caledonia very common around rocky islets, Barre and Dutson 2000), Lord Howe I (seen Apr, Bielewicz; easily seen Apr from atop Malabar, Walker; 50 around Mt Lidgard Mar, Gregory). Norfolk I (most Oct-Nov, Hermes; roosting cliff Rocky Point Mar, Duranti; common Feb, Langfield).
P. r. subsp. At sea between 40N and 40S, generally at latitudes of breeding ranges (King 1974), e to Guadalupe I, Revillagigedo Is, Clipperton I (see rothschildi and off s. California (McGrath and Feenstra 2005); AOU 1957, 1998). Cas Solomon Is (Green Is, Tarburton 2006), New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Nauru, Tuvalu, Tokelau Is (Penhallurick 2003), NZ (Jan-May and Oct NI). Acc Galapagos Is.
P. lepturus White-tailed Tropicbird
P. l. dorotheae Breeds Ogasawara Is, Iwo Is, Palau, Mariana Is (Guam, Guguan, Agrihan, Reichel and Glass 1991), Caroline Is (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae), Wake I, Marshall Is (Bikar, Erikub, Eniwetok, Jaluit, Amerson 1969), Kiribati (Phoenix Is, Line Is), Nauru, Hawaiian Is (main islands, Midway Is), Solomon Is (Sikaiana, Ontong Java, Dutson 2001; Nukumanu, Tulun, Hadden 2004b), Vanuatu, New Caledonia (Walpole 20 prs, Matthew, Hunter, Barre and Dutson 2000), Tuvalu, Fiji, Samoa (Upolu, Savaii, Tutuila, Manua), Tonga (incl Niuafoou, Rinke 1986), Cook Is (Rarotonga 100-1000 prs, Aitutaki few prs, Mangaia few prs, ?Pukapuka, Holyoak 1980), Niue (Powlesland et al 2000), Society Is, Marquesas Is, Tuamotu Is, Tubuai Is, Gambier Is 15-22 prs, Pitcairn Is, Easter I. Eggs year round. At sea w and c Pacific between 30N and 30S. Cas NZ (Dec-Jun NI), Lord Howe I (7 recs Feb-May, McAllan et al 2004), Norfolk I. Acc Clipperton I, Cocos I (Montoya 2003), several 300-500 miles off So. California Dec 1988 (Stallcup 1990).
F: Palau (Peleliu: seen Dec, de Vries; common, Engbring 1988). Caroline Is (seen Yap, Pohnpei; Talbot, S. Smith). Mariana Is (Saipan: seen, S. Smith). Solomon Is (10 in Solomon Sea Aug, M. Carter); Samoa (Savaii: common Aug, Reed 1980).

PODICIPEDIDAE (10 species)

An almost cosmopolitan family containing 21 species in 6 genera. In the Pacific Region, grebes occur regularly only in the sw on larger islands with freshwater lakes and ponds, where they are essentially sedentary, but capable of long-range movements in unfavorable conditions. Some movement between breeding and winter ranges in a few species.

Tachybaptus ruficollis Little Grebe
This species and T. novaehollandiae (below) have been treated as conspecific, but they are sympatric in New Guinea (Sibley and Monroe 1990; Mayr and Diamond 2001). Iris color differs in the area of sympatry: while northeastern subspecies of ruficollis have pale irises (eg poggei), irises are dark in southeastern subspecies, including collaris (pers. comm. Alain Fosse, Paul Van Gasse).
T. r. poggei Cas Ogasawara Is.
T. r. collaris Res Solomon Is (?Nuguria, Tarburton 2006; Bougainville).
F: Common Torokina, L Loloru, South Bougainville, L Billy Mitchell (Hadden 2004a).
T. novaehollandiae Australasian Grebe
T. n. rennellianus Res Solomon Is (Rennell; acc Guadalcanal? Mayr and Diamond 2001).
F: Few L Tenggano (Richards), common (Filardi et al 1999).
T. n. leucosternos Res Vanuatu, New Caledonia.
F: Common, increasing (Barre and Dutson 2000).
T. n. novaehollandiae Res NZ (NI: Northland 50, cas SI, has bred).
F: Lake Kereta.
T. n. subsp? Acc Apr-Nov 1975 up to 12 Lord Howe I (McAllan et al 2004), ?Norfolk I.
Podilymbus podiceps Pied-billed Grebe
P. p. podiceps? Formerly res Hawaiian Is (Hawaii: Aimakapa Pond). Cas Oct-Apr Hawaiian Is.
P. p. antarcticus? Res? Galapagos Is (Isabela, Santa Maria, Santa Cruz, San Cristobal).
P. p. subsp? Vis Galapagos Is. Acc Guadalupe I, Revillagigedo Is (Socorro, Jehl and Parkes 1982), Cocos I (Montoya 2003).
Poliocephalus poliocephalus Hoary-headed Grebe
Cas NZ (NI, SI; has bred). Acc Jun Lord Howe I (Hutton 1991, McAllan et al 2004), Feb Snares Is (Best 1976).
P. rufopectus New Zealand Grebe (Dabchick)
Breeds NZ (NI, total 1200-1500: Northland 200, Volcanic Plateau 500, Hawke's Bay 400, Wairarapa 150, Manawatu 400.)
F: Lake Kereta; Rotorua area: L Rotorua, Blue L, L Okareka.
Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe
P. c. australis Breeds NZ (SI, total in 2004 est 390: Marlborough 2; Canterbury 230, including 99 at Lake Heron, 22 at Lake Pearson, 22 at Lake Benmore; West Coast 17; Otago 123, including 75 at Lake Hayes; Fiordland 18; Jensen and Snoyink 2005). Cas NZ (NI).
F: L Pearson.
P. auritus Horned Grebe
Acc Hawaiian Is (Nov-Mar Kauai: one bird, 1976-77; Pratt et al 1987).
P. grisegena Red-necked Grebe
Acc Hawaiian Is (Pyle 2002).
P. nigricollis Black-necked (Eared) Grebe
P. n. californicus Acc (this subsp?) Hawaiian Is (Nov-Mar Oahu 1983 single bird for several months; Pratt et al 1987), Guadalupe I.
P. n. nigricollis Cas Ogasawara Is.
Aechmophorus occidentalis/clarkii Western/Clark's Grebe
Acc Nov-Mar Guadalupe I.

PHOENICOPTERIDAE (1 species)

Phoenicopterus ruber Greater Flamingo
P. r. ruber Res 500-1000 inds Galapagos Is (San Salvador, Floreana, Santa Cruz, s Isabela, Rabida).
F: Galapagos Is (17 at Rabida and Puerto Villamil, Chartier).


RHYNOCHETIDAE (1 species)

Rhynochetos jubatus Kagu
Res New Caledonia (Grande Terre).
F: New Caledonia (PTRB, Quested; up to 5 PTRB from 1 km before Grand Kaori Tree to camp site at river, Fairbank; "common" PTRB Oct-Nov, T. Clarke; readily seen near Grand Kaori and at start of Piste Pourina, Gregory).