List of birds of Antarctica

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Antarctica. The avifauna of Antarctica includes a total of 46 species, of which 1 is endemic.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of Clements's 5th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account.

The following tags have been used to highlight certain relevant categories. It must be noted that not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring, native species.

* (E) Endemic A species endemic to Antarctica.

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Penguins

Order: SphenisciformesFamily: Spheniscidae

The penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater. There are 17 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Antarctica.

*King Penguin "Aptenodytes patagonicus"
*Emperor Penguin "Aptenodytes forsteri" (E)
*Gentoo Penguin "Pygoscelis papua"
*Adelie Penguin "Pygoscelis adeliae"
*Chinstrap Penguin "Pygoscelis antarctica"
*Rockhopper Penguin "Eudyptes chrysocome"
*Macaroni Penguin "Eudyptes chrysolophus"

Albatrosses

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. There are 21 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Antarctica.

*Wandering Albatross "Diomedea exulans"
*Gray-headed Albatross "Thalassarche chrysostoma"
*Black-browed Albatross "Thalassarche melanophris"
*Sooty Albatross "Phoebetria fusca"
*Light-mantled Albatross "Phoebetria palpebrata"

hearwaters and Petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with a medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide and 18 species which occur in Antarctica.

*Antarctic Giant Petrel "Macronectes giganteus"
*Hall's Giant Petrel "Macronectes halli"
*Southern Fulmar "Fulmarus glacialoides"
*Antarctic Petrel "Thalassoica antarctica"
*Cape Petrel "Daption capense"
*Snow Petrel "Pagodroma nivea"
*Great-winged Petrel "Pterodroma macroptera"
*White-headed Petrel "Pterodroma lessonii"
*Blue Petrel "Halobaena caerulea"
*Broad-billed Prion "Pachyptila vittata"
*Salvin's Prion "Pachyptila salvini"
*Antarctic Prion "Pachyptila desolata"
*Slender-billed Prion "Pachyptila belcheri"
*Fairy Prion "Pachyptila turtur"
*Gray Petrel "Procellaria cinerea"
*White-chinned Petrel "Procellaria aequinoctialis"
*Kerguelen Petrel "Aphrodroma brevirostris"
*Sooty Shearwater "Puffinus griseus"

torm-Petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels, and are the smallest of sea-birds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Antarctica.

*Gray-backed Storm-Petrel "Garrodia nereis"
*Wilson's Storm-Petrel "Oceanites oceanicus"
*Black-bellied Storm-Petrel "Fregetta tropica"

Diving petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Pelecanoididae

The diving petrels are small auk-like birds found in the southern oceans. They feed on krill, copepods and small fish and squid. There are 4 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Antarctica.

*South Georgia Diving-Petrel "Pelecanoides georgicus"
*Common Diving-Petrel "Pelecanoides urinatrix"

Cormorants

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae

The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black and white, and a few being colourful. There are 38 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Antarctica.

*Antarctic Shag "Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis"
*Imperial Shag "Phalacrocorax atriceps"
*Crozet Shag "Phalacrocorax melanogenis"

Bitterns, Herons and Egrets

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Antarctica.

*Cattle Egret "Bubulcus ibis"

Ducks, Geese and Swans

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These are birds that are modified for an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 131 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Antarctica.

*Yellow-billed Pintail "Anas georgica"

heathbills

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Chionididae

The sheathbills are scavengers of the Antarctic regions. They have white plumage, and look plump and dove-like, but are believed to be similar to the ancestors of the modern gulls and terns. There are 2 species and 1 species which occurs in Antarctica.

*Snowy Sheathbill "Chionis alba"

kuas and Jaegers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 7 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Antarctica.

*South Polar Skua "Stercorarius maccormicki"
*Brown Skua "Stercorarius antarctica"

Gulls

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large birds seabirds and includes gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. There are 55 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Antarctica.

*Kelp Gull "Larus dominicanus"

Terns

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Sternidae

Terns are a group of generally general medium to large sea-birds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species now known to live in excess of 25 to 30 years. There are 44 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Antarctica.

*Arctic Tern "Sterna paradisaea"
*Antarctic Tern "Sterna vittata"

ee also

*List of birds
*Lists of birds by region
*List of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds

References

*cite web
last = Lepage
first = Denis
authorlink =
coauthors =
year =
url = http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?region=aq&pg=checklist&list=clements
title = Checklist of birds of Antarctica
format =
work = Bird Checklists of the World
publisher = Avibase
accessdate = 27 April
accessyear = 2007
*cite book
title=Birds of the World: a Checklist
first= James F.
last = Clements
publisher = Cornell University Press
date = 2000
id = ISBN 0934797161
pages = 880