Laysan Reference Libraries

The Christmas Shearwater, (Puffinus nativitatis), is a species of bird found throughout the tropical Central Pacific islands, including the Hawaiian Islands, Tuamotu, the Marshall Islands, Kiritimati and Sala-y-Gómez. It has become locally extinct on a number of islands within its range. During the non-breeding seasons it extends across the Pacific, with some records reaching Mexico and...

The Bristle-thighed Curlew, (Numenius tahitiensis), is a species of bird found in Alaska during the breeding season, and throughout the tropical Pacific islands in the winter, including Micronesia, Fiji, Tuvalu, Tonga, Hawaiian Islands, Samoa, and French Polynesia. There is some concern over human encroachment and introduced predators in this bird’s wintering habitat. This bird is a rare...

The Short-tailed Albatross or Steller's Albatross, Phoebastria albatrus, is a large rare seabird from the North Pacific. They nest on the Japanese islands of Torishima and Minami-kojima. When at sea feeding they range across the North Pacific, particularly in the Bering Sea where the largest numbers are seen today, but also as far west as California. Although related to the other North Pacific...

The Laysan Duck (Anas laysanensis) is a dabbling duck which is native to Laysan Island, Hawaii. This duck is related to the Mallard, and has sometimes been considered to be an island race of that species. It has been determined, however, that it is not as closely related, but rather is a sister taxon to the Mallard and its closest relatives. Subfossil remains found on the major southeastern...

The Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) is a large seabird that ranges across the North Pacific. This small albatross is the second most common seabird in the Hawaiian Islands, with an estimated population of 2.5 million birds, and is currently expanding (or possibly re-expanding) its range to new islands. It is named for Laysan, one of its breeding colonies in the Northwestern Hawaiian...