List of birds of Tristan da Cunha

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Tristan da Cunha. The avifauna of Tristan da Cunha include a total of eighty-eight species, of which twelve are endemic or breeding endemic, and one is extinct.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of "The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World", 2018 edition.
The following tags have been used to categorise some species:
Ducks, geese, and swans.
Order AnseriformesFamily Anatidae
Includes all but four species of Anseriformes. They are excellent at an aquatic life thanks to an oily covering on their feathers. One species has been recorded in Tristan da Cunha.
Cuckoos and anis.
Order CuculiformesFamily Cuculidae
Cuckoos are found almost worldwide. They are highly variable in size, shape, colour, and habits.
Nighthawks.
Order CaprimulgiformesFamily Caprimulgidae
Nighthawks belong to the same family as nightjars but are found only in the Americas. They have mottled or striped plumage for camouflage.
Rails, gallinules, and coots.
Order GruiformesFamily Rallidae
Rails are usually secretive birds. Many island species are flightless and many of those have gone extinct in the last five centuries. Gallinules are less secretive, and are usually found near or on water.
Penguins.
Penguins are southern ocean birds with only one species north of the equator. Small to large in size and mostly black and white in colour. Five species have been recorded in Tristan da Cunha.
Tropicbirds.
Order PhaethontiformesFamily Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are seabirds once thought to be closely related to pelicans but now known to belong in a clade known as Metaves. Three species have been record in Tristan da Cunha.
Storm petrels.
Order ProcellariiformesFamily Hydrobatidae
Storm petrels are small marine birds mostly black and white. Seven species have been recorded in Tristan da Cunha.
Petrels and shearwaters.
Order ProcellariiformesFamily Procellariidae
Petrels and shearwaters are known collectively as tubenoses for the tubes on their beaks which they use for excreting salt. There are 22 species in Tristan da Cunha.
Albatrosses.
Order ProcellariiformesFamily Diomedeidae
Albatrosses are large tubenoses with wingspans of more than a meter. Most are southern ocean species but some are found in the north Pacific Ocean. There are seven species in Tristan da Cunha.
Herons, egrets, and bitterns.
Order PelecaniformesFamily Ardeidae
Herons are long-necked long-legged water birds. The majority feed on fish and other pond-life. Six species have been recorded in Tristan da Cunha.
Sheathbills.
Order CharadriiformesFamily Chionidae
Sheathbills are scavenging ground-dwelling birds native to Antarctica.
Plovers and lapwings.
Order CharadriiformesFamily Charadriidae
Plovers are small to medium-sized wading birds found worldwide, which live both on coasts and inland. Two species have been recorded in Tristan da Cunha.
Sandpipers and allies.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil.
Skuas and jaegers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
Gulls, terns, and skimmers.
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.
Storks.
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. Only one species is a visitor to Tristan da Cunha.
Falcons.
Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. One species has been recorded in Tristan da Cunha.
Swallows.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
Tanagers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Thraupidae
This large family includes the true tanagers, as well as a number of other species often referred to simply as "finches", although they are not members of the true finch family.
Leaf-warblers.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae
This widespread family consists of small, insectivorous birds that forage mainly in trees.
Thrushes.
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.