Birds of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Indian Ocean

Abstract

The birds of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Indian Ocean, were surveyed by T.S. and W.S. in January 1982 and other records by W.S. and K.D. are included. Thirty-four species are recorded, of which nine are new records for the islands. Three species, introduced between 1885-1906 and recorded in 1940-41 or 1958, are believed to be extinct. Very few land or sea birds remain on the main atoll and the large rookery of seabirds on North Keeling Island is threatened by a recent increase in the number of birds killed. The endemic subspecies of the Buff-banded Rail Rallus philippensis andraosi which is common on North Keeling Island but rare on the main atoll, appears to be endangered.