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Critically Endangered Migratory Birds |
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Amsterdam Island Albatross
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The Amsterdam Island Albatross is classified as Critically Endangered because of its small population as well as its very small breeding range on only one island. It is a huge albatross, which measures 110 cm on average. An adult bird has a white face, throat and belly and chocolate brown upperparts. Its best recognition feature is the pink bill with the dark edges and tip. This species breeds only on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean, but it forages up to 2,200 km away from its home island. It travels from South Africa to the south of Western Australia. The Amsterdam Island Albatross is mainly threatened by the spread of diseases, degradation of breeding sites, predators – especially feral cats – and human disturbance.
For further information please see: Amsterdam Island Albatross (Diomedea amsterdamensis) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Bachmann's Warbler
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This species is classified as Critically Endangered for the reason that it has not been sighted since 1988. It may have gone extinct because of habitat loss, but there are still small areas of suitable breeding habitats, which have not yet been surveyed. The Bachman’s Warbler measures 12 cm on average, it has got olive-green upperparts, grey wings and a black crown. Its underparts as well as its forehead are yellow and it has got a black patch on its upper breast. This bird bred in south-eastern United States. For wintering it travelled to Cuba. Reasons for its disappearance are probably drainage of river-bottom swamplands in the USA and the conversion of much of Cuba to sugarcane plantation.
For further information please see: Bachman’s Warbler (Vermivora bachmanii) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Balearic Shearwater
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Since the Balearic Shearwater has a tiny breeding range and a small population, which is decreasing rapidly, it is categorized as Critically Endangered. This species is a rather dark, medium-sized shearwater, which measures 33 cm on average. Its plumage changes from dark brown on the upperparts to brown-whitish on the undersides. The Balearic Shearwater breeds in the Balearic Islands, Spain and in the Mediterranean area. After breeding most of them travel past Gibraltar out into the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay. Some even migrate to the British Isles and southern Scandinavia. Threats to this species include predation by introduced cats, genets and rats, fisheries by-catch and climate change.
For further information please see: Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Beck's Petrel
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The Beck’s Petrel is qualified as Critically Endangered because only a very small number of individuals are currently known and this tiny population is suspected to have declined. This species is a small petrel (29 cm), which has dark glossy brown upperparts, head and throat as well as dark underwings. Its breast and belly are white. This bird was sighted near New Ireland and New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It seems likely that it breeds in the forests of southern New Ireland, but the extend of its breeding range and at-sea distribution is still unknown. And there is no information about its migration routes. Threat factors to the Beck’s Petrel probably include predation by introduced cats and rats.
For further information please see: Beck's Petrel (Pseudobulweria becki) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Bengal Florican
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Since this species has a very small, declining population, it is categorized as Critically Endangered. The Bengal Florican measures 66-68 cm and is mostly black with white wings. It has two separate populations. One occurs in India and Nepal and the other in Cambodia and possibly Vietnam. While the population in India is stable, it is decreasing in Nepal and Cambodia. The Indian population is resident, but the Bengal Floricans in Cambodia and Nepal make local movements. The main threat to this species is loss of grassland through conversion to agriculture, overgrazing, inappropriate cutting and burning regimes as well as flooding.
For further information please see: Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Blue-crowned Laughingthrush
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This species is categorized as Critically Endangered, because its range and population are very small and its population is likely to be declining. It is a small bird (23 cm) with blue crown and nape, olive-brown back, black mask as well as yellow throat and belly with grayish breast-band. The Blue-crowned Laughingthrush is endemic to China. Its breeding range in Jiangxi Province is fragmented into five to six sites. It is not known where it migrates for wintering but it is thought to stay near the breeding range. Reasons for its population decline might include destruction of nesting sites due to road construction and urban development, hunting pressure and bird trade.
For further information please see: Blue-crowned Laughingthrush (Garrulax courtoisi) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Chatham Albatross
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The Chatham Albatross is treated as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small breeding area. This species, which measures 90 cm, has a dark grey crown, face, throat and upper mantle. Its back, upperwing and tail are grey-black and its underparts are white. A striking feature is the yellow bill with dark spot at tip. This albatross breeds only on the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. During the non-breeding season it flies northwards with the Humboldt Current to the south-west coast of South America. Threats to the Chatham Albatross are storms and extreme weather, which cause poorer quality nests that collapse easily, as well as long-line fisheries.
For further information please see: Chatham Albatross (Thalassarche eremite) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Chinese Crested Tern
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Because of its very small declining population, the Chinese Crested Tern is classified as Critically Endangered. It is a largish tern, which measures 43 cm on average. It is mostly white and has a black crown. Aside from that it can be distinguished by the black-tipped yellow bill. This bird breeds on two islets of the Chinese eastern coast and migrates to South-East Asia for wintering. The Chinese Crested Tern is threatened by egg-collection, disturbance, pollution from domestic sewage, industrial effluent as well as plastic waste and the loss of coastal wetlands.
For further information please see: Chinese Crested Tern (Sterna bernsteini) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Crested Shelduck
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There have been no confirmed sightings of this species since 1964 and because any remaining population is assumed to be tiny, the Crested Shelduck is treated as Critically Endangered. This species, which measures 60-63 cm, has a red bill and legs, mostly white wing-coverts and greyish head sides, upper foreneck, lower mantle and belly as well as pale rufous undertail-coverts. The Crested Shelduck has been seen in Russia, Japan and South Korea. It is presumed that it breeds on mountains and migrates to the coasts for wintering. Threats to the Crested Shelduck include hunting and a large-scale Development Project in the border areas of Russia, China and North Korea.
For further information please see: Crested Shelduck (Tadorna cristata) on the BirdLife International Website
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Entre Rios Seedeater
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The Entre Rios Seedeater is categorized as Critically Endangered since most reports of this bird have been isolated pairs and it is caught for cage bird trade. It is a small (10 cm) bird with white collar, grey crown, reddish-chestnut back and belly as well as dark wings and tail. This seedeater has been sighted in north-east Argentina, southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and south-east Uruguay. Its movements are unknown, but there is evidence that it is migratory. Wintering sites are presumed to be in Brazilian Cerrado or Pantanal. Threats to the Entre Rios Seedeater include bird-trappers, forestation in wet valley bottoms and pollution of marshes by pesticides and other chemicals.
For further information please see: Entre Rios Seedeater (Sporophila zelichi) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Eskimo Curlew
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Given that this species decreased rapidly over a century and has not been recorded since the early 1980s, it is qualified as Critically Endangered. The Eskimo Curlew is a small curlew, which measures 29 to 34 cm. Its plumage is cinnamon-colored and in comparison to other curlews it has got shorter legs. It bred in north-western Canada and migrated to Argentina. One cause for the decline is spring hunting in North America. But the main reasons are the loss of prairies to agriculture and the extinction of the Rocky Mountain Grasshopper, which has been a food source.
For further information please see: Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Fiji Petrel
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This species is classified as Critically Endangered because of its very small breeding area and its tiny population. The Fiji Petrel’s plumage is dark chocolate-brown all over and it has mostly black feet with pale blue patch. This small petrel measures 30 cm. The Fiji Petrel is likely to breed on Gau Island, Fiji, but it is not known where it migrates. Threats to the Fiji petrel include predation by feral cats and rats as well as feral pigs, which have recently become established on the southern hinterland of Gau.
For further information please see: Fiji Petrel (Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Galápagos Petrel
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This species is qualified as Critically Endangered as a result of extremely rapid declines in the past three generations. The Galápagos Petrel is a large (43 cm), long-winged petrel which has a black and white plumage with several black markings on a white forehead. This petrel lives on the Galápagos Islands; it breeds on Santa Cruz, Floreana, Santiago, San Cristóbal and Isabela. For feeding it travels up to 2,000 km to the coasts of South America and Mexico. Introduced mammals like rats, cats, dogs and pigs eat eggs, juvenile and adult birds. Goats, donkeys, cattle and horses destroy nests. Besides power lines, radio towers and barbed wire fences are also threats to the Galápagos Petrel.
For further information please see: Galápagos Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Guadalupe Storm-petrel
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The Guadalupe Storm-petrel is treated as Critically Endangered because it has not been recorded since 1912. But given that it is difficult to detect, it cannot yet be presumed to be extinct. This storm-petrel, which measures 23 cm is generally blackish-brown and its underparts are slightly paler than its upperparts. It can be distinguished by its forked tail with white patch. This species may still live on Guadalupe, Mexico, 280 km west of Baja California. It is not known where it travels during non-breeding seasons. Threats to the Guadalupe Storm-petrel may comprise predation by feral cats and destruction of nesting habitats by goats.
For further information please see: Guadalupe Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma macrodactyla) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Jamaica Petrel
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The Jamaica Petrel is categorized as Critically Endangered because it has not been sighted since 1879 and any remaining population is assumed to be tiny. But because nocturnal petrels are difficult to record, this species cannot yet be assumed to be extinct. The Jamaica Petrel is more or less uniform sooty brown except for a cream-colored upper tail and measures 40 cm. It is known that it bred in the Blue and John Crow Mountains of eastern Jamaica and may be also on Dominica and Guadeloupe. The main reason for this species’ decline was probably predation by introduced rats and mongooses.
For further information please see: Jamaica Petrel (Pterodroma caribbaea) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Kittlitz's Murrelet
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The Kittlitz’s Murrelet is categorized as Critically Endangered since it has recently experienced a very fast population decline. It is a small bird, which measures 25 cm on average. While breeding, this species has a dark grey plumage with light buff fringing and light buff or off-white underparts. In winter the plumage is slate grey and white. Its distribution is centered on the Bering Sea. The Kittlitz’s Murrelet mostly breeds in the coastal areas of Alaska. Its wintering distribution is unknown, but it can be found in Kamchatka, the Kuril islands, Hokkaido (Japan) and northern Alaska during winter. Threats to this species include human disturbance, fisheries by-catch and pollution. In addition strong links have been made between this species’ decline and glacial recessions, which probably result from global warming.
For further information please see: Kittlitz’s Murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Magenta Petrel
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Since the Magenta Petrel has undergone an extremely rapid decline over three generations and its population and range are very small, it is categorized as Critically Endangered. This petrel, which measures 38 cm, has a mostly dark brownish-grey plumage with white breast, belly and undertail. Its bill is black and its legs are pink. This species breeds on Chatham Island in New Zealand and probably travels to the west coast of South America during non-breeding season. The Magenta Petrel is threatened by introduced species like rats, pigs, cats and dogs, which take eggs, chicks and adults or destroy the burrows. Loss of forest habitats due to accidental fire is an additional threat.
For further information please see: Magenta Petrel (Pterodroma magentae) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Mascarene Petrel
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Because this petrel is assumed to have an extremely small breeding population, which is declining, it is categorized as Critically Endangered. The Mascarene Petrel, which measures 36 cm, has a dark chocolate-brown plumage with slightly paler chin, upper throat and underwing. Its bill and feet are black and its tarsi pink. This species breeds on Réunion east of Madagascar, where it breeds in burrows. It is not known where it migrates during non-breeding season. The main threats are predation by feral cats and rats as well as urban light pollution such as street lamps and sport installations, which are responsible for many deaths as a result of collisions.
For further information please see: Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima) on the BirdLife International Website.
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New Zealand Storm-Petrel
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Since the New Zealand Storm-Petrel had been believed to be extinct for more than 100 years and there is very little information about it, it has been classified as Critically Endangered as a precaution after this medium-sized storm petrel (17 cm) was rediscovered in 2003. This species has got a blackish-brown plumage apart from a white rump and belly. Furthermore it has got long legs and feet. This Storm-Petrel spends the summer in Hauraki Gulf area, North Island, New Zealand. Its absence during the winter months indicates that it is migratory. There is no knowledge about any threats, but introduced predators on the nesting-sites could be a danger for this extremely small population.
For further information please see: New Zealand Storm-Petrel (Oceanites maorianus) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Northern Bald Ibis
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Because the Northern Bald Ibis has experienced a long-term decline and now has a very small population, it is classified as Critically Endangered. This 70 to 80 cm long ibis has a red, naked head and a black plumage, which glistens in blue, green and copper in sunlight. There are two feral populations: one in Morocco and one in Syria. The Moroccan population is mainly resident, but the Syrian population migrates to Ethiopia for wintering. Threats to the Moroccan population comprise human disturbance, loss of eggs to predators, poor chick survival and conversions in agriculture on the feeding areas. The main threats to the Syrian population are hunting and reduced habitat quality due to overgrazing by sheep.
For further information please see: Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Orange-bellied Parrot
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This species is categorized as Critically Endangered since it has a tiny population, which is assumed to be declining. The plumage of this 22 to 25 cm measuring parrot changes from grass-green to yellow top down. Furthermore it has a blue frontal band and the striking orange patch on its belly. The Orange-bellied Parrot breeds in south-western Tasmania, Australia. After breeding-season, the birds travel to south-east Australia for wintering. The main threat to this species is habitat loss in wintering sites due to grazing, agriculture as well as urban and industrial development. In addition, this parrot is threatened by competition with introduced species and changes in fire regimes.
For further information please see: Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Rueck's Blue Flycatcher
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This species has not been recorded since 1918 and its population is presumed to be declining because of habitat destruction. Therefore it is classified as Critically Endangered. The Rueck’s Blue-flycatcher, which measures 17 cm on average, has got a blue plumage with white belly and black bill and legs. This bird is only known from two specimens collected on northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Since they were found in January and April 1918, it is assumed that they are migratory. At the collecting localities the forest vanished; as a result this bird’s range may have diminished. But given that its habitat was described as exploited forests, it may have survived in neighboring disturbed wooded areas.
For further information please see: Rueck’s Blue-flycatcher (Cyornis ruckii) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Short-crested Coquette
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Since it seems that this species inhabits a tiny range, it is categorized as Critically Endangered. The Short-crested Coquette is a very small hummingbird, which measures only 7 cm. It has green upperparts with a reddish crown, crest and cheek patch. Furthermore it has a white band on the upper rump and cinnamon-colored underparts. Females lack the crest and cheek patch. All records of this bird have been on the Atoyac-Paraíso-Puerto el Gallo road in the Sierra de Atoyac in south-western Mexico. Local reports indicate that it may migrate to higher elevations for breeding. Evaluation of habitat quality is difficult, because the extant forest is used for illegal drug-growing.
For further information please see: Short-crested Coquette (Lophornis brachylophus) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Siberian Crane
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The Siberian Crane is qualified as Critically Endangered because it is feared that the global population will decline very rapidly over the next three generations due to the expected development of the Three Gorges Dam in China, which threatens the wintering site of many Siberian Cranes. This large crane, which measures 140 cm, is all white apart from a dark red mask which extends form the bill to behind the eye. It breeds in arctic Russia as well as in western Siberia. For wintering it migrates to China, India and Iran. The threats to Siberian Crane include wetland loss as well as degradation at wintering areas through agricultural and other human utilization.
For further information please see: Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Slender-billed Curlew
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Because the scarcity of recently confirmed records indicates that the population is probably lower than 50 individuals, the Slender-billed Curlew is classified as Critically Endangered. This medium-sized curlew measures 36 to 41 cm. Its plumage is mottled brown-grey with whitish underparts. Moreover it has got a long slightly curved bill as well as long legs. There is only one confirmed breeding site north of Omsk in Siberia, Russia. The Slender-billed Curlew migrates through eastern and central Europe to southern Europe and North Africa. Threats on the breeding and wintering sites are unknown or of unknown importance. Hunting in the past could be seen as a key factor in its decline.
For further information please see: Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Sociable Lapwing
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The Sociable Lapwing is classified as Critically Endangered due to its rapid population decline for poorly understood reasons. This species, which measures 27 to 30 cm, is mostly grayish with chestnut-brown belly and black crown and eye-stripe. Another characteristic is its long black legs. The Sociable Lapwing breeds in northern and central Kazakhstan as well as in south-central Russia. It migrates to Israel, Eritrea, Sudan and north-west India for wintering. Because suitable nesting sites are mainly found near villages, it is presumed that the Sociable Lapwings are threatened by human disturbance and trampling by sheep and goats. Illegal hunting could be another key threat.
For further information please see: Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Spoon-billed Sandpiper
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This species is classified as Critically Endangered because its population is decreasing extremely rapidly. The Spoon-billed Sandpiper measures 14 to 16 cm. It has got blackish-brown upperparts and white underparts. While breeding, its head, neck and breast have a reddish coloration. But its most distinctive feature is the spatulate black bill. This species breeds in north-eastern Russia and travels along the Pacific to its main wintering sites in Myanmar and Bangladesh. The main threat to the Spoon-billed Sandpiper is habitat loss on its breeding grounds as well as wintering sites due to infrastructure development, agriculture and pollution.
For further information please see: Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Townsend's Shearwater
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This species qualifies as Critically Endangered because it has been eradicated from two islands and its remaining breeding area is now restricted to only one island. The Townsend’s Shearwater measures 33 cm and is characterized by its black upperparts and white underparts. The transitions from white to black are generally sharp with some freckling. It breeds in a small area on Socorro Island, Mexico and forages in waters over the continental shelf of Mexico during the non-breeding season. The reasons for this species’ decline are predation by cats and destruction of nests by sheep, pigs and rabbits.
For further information please see: Townsend's Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis) on the BirdLife International Website
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Tristan Albatross
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This species is classified as Critically Endangered due to its extremely small breeding range and a predicted population decline. This huge Albatross (110 cm) has a pink bill and its plumage is mostly white except for the upperparts of the wings and its tail, which are dark brown. The Tristan Albatross breeds on Gough Island in Tristan da Cunha in the southern Atlantic. Outside the breeding season it migrates to South American and South African waters and occasionally also to Australia. This bird species is at risk because of predation by mice feral pigs and humans as well as long-line fisheries.
For further information please see: Tristan Albatross (Diomedea dabbenena) on the BirdLife International Website.
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Waved Albatross
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The Waved Albatross is categorized as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small breeding range, is essentially confined to one island, and evidence suggests that it has experienced a substantial recent population decline. It is a medium-sized albatross, which measures 90 cm on average, with a white head and mostly brown body. It is distinctive for its yellowish-cream neck and its long, bright yellow bill. The Waved Albatross breeds on south Española Island in the Galápagos Islands and on Isla de la Plata off Manabí province, Ecuador. During the non-breeding season, this species migrates mostly to the Ecuadorian and Peruvian coasts. Threats to the Waved Albatross include accidental by-catch, harvesting for food and feathers and climate change.
For further information please see: Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) on the BirdLife International Website.
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White-eyed River-martin
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The White-eyed River-martin is classified as Critically Endangered, because it has not been recorded since 1978 and any remaining population is probably tiny. Its plumage is mostly dark with white rump-band. It is distinctive for its yellow bill, white eyes and long streamers, which extend from its tail feathers. This species occurs in central Thailand as a non-breeding visitor, but it is not known where it travels for breeding. Threats to this bird might include trapping for food, disturbance of riverine sand-bars, flooding upstream and the alteration of downstream hydrology caused by dams, extensive deforestation as well as agricultural intensification.
For further information please see: White-eyed River-martin (Eurochelidon sirintarae) on the BirdLife International Website.
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