Observations on the status of the land birds, wading birds and seabirds of Samoa

Abstract

This paper reports my observations during 1994–97 for both American Samoa and [W] Samoa. New waders added to the Samoan list are Wood Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), and Red Knot (Calidris canutus). The new breeding records are for the Black-naped tern (Sterna sumatrana), Bridled Tern (Sterna anaethetus), the Common Noddy (Anous stolidus), Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus) and the Red-headed Parrot-finch (Erythura cyaneovirens), in Samoa. Crested terns (Sterna bergii), Brown Boobies (Sula leucogaster) and Fairy Terns (Sterna nereis) were also observed with juveniles and so must be regarded as possible breeders in one of the Samoas.