Table I.  Birds of the Rock Islands

 

 RESIDENT LAND BIRDS

 

  Scientific Name

    English Name

 Palauan Name

 Relative Abundance*

 

Ixobrychus sinensis

 Yellow bittern

Cheloteachel

Uncommon

Nycticorax caledonicus

 Rufous night heron

Melabaob

Common

Egretta sacra

 Pacific reef-heron

Sechou

Common

Megapodius laperouse 1

 Mironesian megapode

Belkai

Uncommon

Rallina eurizonoides

 Slaty-legged crake

Ulerratel

Uncommon

Cloenas nicobarica

 Nicobar pigeon

Laib

Uncommon

Gallicolumba canifrons 2

 Palau ground dove

Omekrengukl

Rare

Ptilinopus pelewensis 2

 Palau fruit dove

Biib

Abundant

Ducula oceanica

 Micronesian pigeon

Belochel

Common

Pyrroglaux podargina 2

 Palau owl

Chesuch

Common

Caprimulgus indicus

 Jungle nightjar

Chebacheb

Uncommon

Cacatua galerita

 Greater sulphur-crested cockatoo

Iakkotsiang

Uncommon

Eclectus roratus

 Eclectus Parrot

Iakkotsiang (Japanese)

Uncommon

Aerodramus vanikorensis

 Vanikoro swiftlet

Chesisekiaid

Abundant

Halcyon cinnamomina

 Micronesian kingfisher

Cherosech

Common

Halcyon chlorus

 Collared kingfisher

Tengadidik

Common

Coracina tenuirostris

 Cicadabird

Kinidukall

Uncommon

Colluricincla tenebrosa 2

 Palau morningbird

Tutau

Common

Myiagra erythrops 2

 Palau flycatcher

Charmelachull

Common

Rhipidura lepida 2

 Palau fantail

Melimdelebteb, Chesisirech on Peleliu

Common

Cettia annae 2

 Palau bush-warbler

Wuul

Common

Aplonis opaca

 Micronesian starling

Kiuid

Abundant

Zosterops cenereus

 Dusky white-eye

Chetitalial

Abundant

Zosterops conspicillatus

 Bridled white-eye (Carolina Islands white-eye)

Charmbedl

Common

Megazosterops palauensis 2

 Palau greater white-eye

Charmbedel

Common

Myzomela rubratra

 Cardinal honeyeater

Chesisebangiau

Common

Erythrura trichroa

 Blue-faced Parrotfinch

--

Rare

 

 

 BREEDING SEABIRDS

 

  Scientific Name

    English Name

 Palauan Name

 Relative Abundance*

 

Puffinus Iherminiera

 Audubon Shearwater

Ochaieu

Abundant

Phaetou lepturus

.White-tailed tropicbird

Dudek

Common

Phalacrocorax melanoleucos

 Little pied cormorant

Deroech

Common

Sterna sumatrana

 Black-naped tern

Kerkirs

Common

Sterna anaethetus

 Bridled tern

Bedebedechakl

Common

Fregata minor

 Great frigatebird

Kedam

Abundant

Fregata aeriel

 Lesser frigatebird

Kedam

Common

Fregata aeriel

 Lesser frigatebird

Kedam

Common

Sterna bergii

 Great crested tern

Roall

Common

Anous stolidus

 Brown noddy

Mechadelbedaoch

Abundant

Anous minutus

 Black noddy

Bedaoch

Abundant

Gygis alba

 Common fairy-tern

Sechosech

Common

 

 

MIGRATORY BIRDS (Migrate through or to Palau, generally in winter months only)

 

  Scientific Name

    English Name

 Palauan Name

 Relative Abundance*

Egretta intermedia

 Intermediate egret

Sechou

Uncommon

Egretta garzetta

 Little egret

Sechou

Uncommon

Pandion haliaetus

 Osprey

Oterilakelat

Uncommon

Pluvialis dominica

 Lesser golden plover

Derariik

Common

Tringa glareola

 Wood sandpiper

--

Common

Heteriscelus brevipes

 Gray-tailed sandpiper

--

Common

Actitis hypoleucos

 Common sandpiper

Bengobaingukl

Common

Numenius phaeopus

 Whimbrel

Okak

Common

Arenaria interpres

 Ruddy turnstone

--

Common

Calidris ruficollis

 Rufous-necked stint

--

Common

Cuculus saturatus

 Oriental cuckoo

Charmudrenges

Uncommon

Hirundo rustica

 Barn swallow

Tsubamer (Japanese)

Common

Motacilla flava

 Yellow wagtail

--

Uncommon

     

    

      Relative Abundance

     

      Abundant        Almost certain to be found in numbers within representative habitat. 

     

      Common           A few individuals almost certain to be found within representative habitat.  Common migrants arrive annually in numbers. 

     

      Uncommon      Not certain to be found within representive habitat.  Uncommon migrants arrive annually, but are generally seen only a few times during the year. 

     

      Rare                   Only a very limited population present.  Rare migrants genrally do not arrive annually. 

     

          1 Endemic to Palau

     

          2 Listed as endangered species

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