antarctic

Field Guide

Sighting locations and images are collated as species pages in the field guide (below). Expand the list by clicking on a group, then a species name to view the page. If there are no icons next to the species, it means there are no data - enter your own sightings and images to see them appear here. If you'd like to contribute to writing text for species pages, please contact us.

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Birds
- Land Birds
  - Accipitridae (Hawks, eagles, harriers, Old World vultures) - (5 species)
    - Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
    - Red-backed Hawk (Buteo polyosoma)
    - Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
    - Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni)
    - Cinereous Harrier (Circus cinereus)
  - Alaudidae (Larks) - (1 species)
    - Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
  - Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) - (1 species)
    - Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
  - Anatidae (Ducks, geese, swans) - (34 species)
    - Auckland Island Teal (Anas aucklandica)
    - Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
    - Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)
    - Kerguelen Pintail (Anas eatoni)
    - Speckled Teal (Anas flavirostris)
    - Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica)
    - Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
    - Amsterdam Island Duck (Anas marecula)
    - Campbell Island Teal (Anas nesiotis)
    - Red Shoveler (Anas platalea)
    - Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
    - Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis)
    - Chiloe Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix)
    - Crested Duck (Anas specularioides)
    - Spectacled Duck (Anas specularis)
    - Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
    - Silver Teal (Anas versicolor)
    - New Zealand Scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae)
    - Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
    - Kelp Goose (Chloephaga hybrida)
    - Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta)
    - Ashy-headed Goose (Chloephaga poliocephala)
    - Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps)
    - Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba)
    - Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
    - Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melanocoryphus)
    - Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla)
    - Auckland Island Merganser (Mergus australis)
    - Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca)
    - Lake Duck (Oxyura vittata)
    - Falkland Steamerduck (Tachyeres brachypterus)
    - Flying Steamerduck (Tachyeres patachonicus)
    - Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)
    - Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata)
  - Apodidae (Swifts) - (5 species)
    - Common Swift (Apus apus)
    - Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus)
    - Ashy-tailed Swift (Chaetura andrei)
    - White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus)
    - White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)
  - Ardeidae (Herons, egrets, bitterns) - (10 species)
    - Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoi)
    - Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)
    - Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia)
    - Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)
    - Great Egret (Casmerodius albus)
    - White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
    - Eastern Reef Egret (Egretta sacra)
    - Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
    - New Zealand Little Bittern (Ixobrychus novaezelandiae)
    - Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
  - Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) - (1 species)
    - Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
  - Cathartidae (New World vultures) - (1 species)
    - Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
  - Charadriidae (Plovers) - (19 species)
    - Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis)
    - Double-banded Plover (Charadrius bicinctus)
    - Two-banded Plover (Charadrius falklandicus)
    - Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
    - Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
    - Rufous-chested Plover (Charadrius modestus)
    - Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
    - Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris)
    - Oriental Plover (Charadrius veredus)
    - Tawny-throated Dotterel (Eudromias ruficollis)
    - American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominicus)
    - Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
    - Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
    - Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus socialis)
    - Shore Plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae)
    - Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)
    - Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)
    - Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
    - Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)
  - Chionidae (Sheathbills ) - (1 species)
    - Black-faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor)
  - Chionididae (Sheathbills) - (1 species)
    - Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis alba)
  - Ciconiidae (Storks) - (1 species)
    - White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
  - Columbidae (Pigeons, doves) - (8 species)
    - Chilean Pigeon (Columba araucana)
    - Rock Dove (Columba livia)
    - Ruddy Ground-dove (Columbina talpacoti)
    - Chatham Island Pigeon (Hemiphaga chathamensis)
    - Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola)
    - Laughing Turtle-dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
    - European Turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur)
    - Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)
  - Coraciidae (Rollers, ground-rollers) - (1 species)
    - Broad-billed Roller (Eurystomus glaucurus)
  - Corvidae (Crows) - (1 species)
    - Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
  - Cuculidae (Cuckoos, coucals ) - (9 species)
    - Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus)
    - Shining Bronze-cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus)
    - Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus)
    - Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
    - African Cuckoo (Cuculus gularis)
    - Lesser Cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)
    - Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus)
    - Red-chested Cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius)
    - Long-tailed Cuckoo (Eudynamys taitensis)
  - Diomedeidae (Albatrosses ) - (5 species)
    - Antipodean Albatross (Diomedea antipodensis)
    - Tristan Albatross (Diomedea dabbenena)
    - Diomedea gibsoni
    - Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche carteri)
    - Thalassarche steadi
  - Emberizinae (Buntings ) - (8 species)
    - Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
    - Canary-winged Finch (Melanodera melanodera)
    - Yellow-bridled Finch (Melanodera xanthogramma)
    - Tristan Bunting (Nesospiza acunhae)
    - Grosbeak Bunting (Nesospiza wilkinsi)
    - Mourning Sierra-finch (Phrygilus fruticeti)
    - Gough Bunting (Rowettia goughensis)
    - Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis)
  - Estrildidae (Waxbills) - (1 species)
    - Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild)
  - Falconidae (Falcons, caracaras) - (8 species)
    - Southern (Crested) Caracara (Caracara plancus)
    - Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis)
    - New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae)
    - Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
    - American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
    - Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
    - Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango)
    - Striated Caracara (Phalcoboenus australis)
  - Fringillidae (Finches ) - (5 species)
    - Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
    - Black-chinned Siskin (Carduelis barbata)
    - European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
    - European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
    - Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
  - Furnariidae (Ovenbirds) - (3 species)
    - Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda)
    - Blackish Cinclodes (Cinclodes antarcticus)
    - Bar-winged Cinclodes (Cinclodes fuscus)
  - Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers) - (4 species)
    - Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater)
    - Chatham Island Oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis)
    - South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi)
    - Magellanic Oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus)
  - Hirundinidae (Swallows, martins) - (14 species)
    - Tawny-headed Swallow (Alopochelidon fucata)
    - Northern House-martin (Delichon urbica)
    - Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
    - Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
    - Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)
    - Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
    - Southern Martin (Progne modesta)
    - Purple Martin (Progne subis)
    - Brown-chested Martin (Progne tapera)
    - Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca)
    - Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
    - Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis)
    - White-rumped Swallow (Tachycineta leucorrhoa)
    - Chilean Swallow (Tachycineta meyeni)
  - Icteridae (New World orioles) - (1 species)
    - Long-tailed Meadowlark (Sturnella loyca)
  - Laniidae (Shrikes) - (1 species)
    - Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)
  - Malurinae (Australian warblers) - (2 species)
    - Chatham Island Warbler (Gerygone albofrontata)
    - Grey Gerygone (Gerygone igata)
  - Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters ) - (2 species)
    - New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura)
    - Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
  - Motacillidae (Wagtails, pipits) - (4 species)
    - South Georgia Pipit (Anthus antarcticus)
    - Correndera Pipit (Anthus correndera)
    - Australian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae)
    - Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
  - Muscicapinae (Old World flycatchers) - (4 species)
    - Chatham Island Tomtit (Petroica chathamensis)
    - Snares Tomtit (Petroica dannefaerdi)
    - Auckland Island Tomtit (Petroica marrineri)
    - Black Robin (Petroica traversi)
  - Odontophoridae (New world quail ) - (1 species)
    - California Quail (Callipepla californica)
  - Passeridae (Sparrows ) - (1 species)
    - House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
  - Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos ) - (1 species)
    - Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)
  - Phytotomidae (Plantcutters) - (1 species)
    - Rufous-tailed Plantcutter (Phytotoma rara)
  - Procellariidae (Petrels, shearwaters ) - (1 species)
    - Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata)
  - Prunellidae (Accentors) - (1 species)
    - Hedge Accentor (Prunella modularis)
  - Psittacidae (Parrots, cockatoos, lories, macaws ) - (9 species)
    - Burrowing Parakeet (Cyanoliseus patagonus)
    - Yellow-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps)
    - Chatham Island Red-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus chathamensis)
    - Macquarie Island Red-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus erythrotis)
    - Forbes's Parakeet (Cyanoramphus forbesi)
    - Antipodes Red-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus hochstetteri)
    - Red-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)
    - Antipodes Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor)
    - Austral Parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus)
  - Rallidae (Rails, crakes, coots ) - (21 species)
    - Inaccessible Rail (Atlantisia rogersi)
    - Speckled Crake (Coturnicops notatus)
    - Corn Crake (Crex crex)
    - Giant Chatham Island Rail (Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi)
    - Auckland Island Rail (Dryolimnas muelleri)
    - Red-gartered Coot (Fulica armillata)
    - Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
    - White-winged Coot (Fulica leucoptera)
    - Red-fronted Coot (Fulica rufifrons)
    - Gough Moorhen (Gallinula comeri)
    - Tristan Moorhen (Gallinula nesiotis)
    - Weka (Gallirallus australis)
    - Macquarie Island Rail (Gallirallus macquariensis)
    - Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
    - Paint-billed Crake (Neocrex erythrops)
    - Plumbeous Rail (Pardirallus sanguinolentus)
    - Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)
    - Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
    - Baillon's Crake (Porzana pusilla)
    - Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis)
    - Chatham Island Rail (Rallus modestus)
  - Recurvirostridae (Avocets, stilts ) - (1 species)
    - Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
  - Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos) - (1 species)
    - Magellanic Tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus)
  - Rhipiduridae (Fantails ) - (2 species)
    - Chatham Island Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
    - New Zealand Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
  - Scolopacidae (Snipes, woodcocks, sandpipers) - (41 species)
    - Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
    - Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
    - Surfbird (Aphriza virgata)
    - Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
    - Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
    - Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
    - Sanderling (Calidris alba)
    - Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
    - Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
    - Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
    - White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
    - Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)
    - Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
    - Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
    - Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
    - Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
    - Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
    - New Zealand Snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica)
    - Snares Island Snipe (Coenocorypha huegeli)
    - Antipodes Island Snipe (Coenocorypha meinertzhagenae)
    - Chatham Island Snipe (Coenocorypha pusilla)
    - Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)
    - Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica)
    - Fuegian Snipe (Gallinago stricklandii)
    - Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)
    - Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
    - Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
    - Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis)
    - Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
    - Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
    - Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)
    - Wilson's Phalarope (Steganopus tricolor)
    - Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes)
    - Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
    - Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
    - Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
    - Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
    - Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
    - Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
    - Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
    - Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
  - Strigidae (Owls ) - (4 species)
    - Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
    - Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
    - Magellanic Horned Owl (Bubo magellanicus)
    - Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
  - Sturnidae (Starlings ) - (1 species)
    - Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
  - Sylviinae (Old World warblers) - (3 species)
    - Chatham Island Fernbird (Bowdleria rufescens)
    - Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
    - Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
  - Thinocoridae (Seed snipe) - (2 species)
    - White-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis malouinus)
    - Least Seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus)
  - Threskiornithidae (Ibises, spoonbills ) - (3 species)
    - Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)
    - Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
    - Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus)
  - Timaliidae (White-eyes ) - (1 species)
    - Silvereye / Capricorn White-eye (Zosterops lateralis)
  - Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) - (1 species)
    - Green-backed Firecrown (Sephanoides sephaniodes)
  - Troglodytidae (Wrens) - (2 species)
    - Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)
    - Cobb's Wren (Troglodytes cobbi)
  - Turdidae (Thrushes ) - (2 species)
    - Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
    - Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
  - Turdinae (Trushes, robins, chats) - (5 species)
    - Familiar Chat (Cercomela familiaris)
    - Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
    - Tristan Thrush (Nesocichla eremita)
    - Mountain Wheatear (Oenanthe monticola)
    - Austral Thrush (Turdus falcklandii)
  - Tyrannidae (Tyrant-flycatchers) - (11 species)
    - Black-billed Shrike-tyrant (Agriornis montana)
    - Tufted Tit-tyrant (Anairetes parulus)
    - White-crested Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps)
    - Patagonian Negrito (Lessonia rufa)
    - Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosus)
    - White-browed Ground-tyrant (Muscisaxicola albilora)
    - Dark-faced Ground-tyrant (Muscisaxicola macloviana)
    - Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
    - Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
    - Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
    - Fire-eyed Diucon (Xolmis pyrope)
  - Tytonidae (Barn owls ) - (1 species)
    - Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
- Seabirds
Marine Mammals
- Balaenidae (Right Whales ) - (1 species)
  - Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)
- Balaenopteridae (Baleen Whales ) - (6 species)
- Delphinidae (Ocean Dolphins ) - (10 species)
- Neobalaenidae (Pygmy Right Whale ) - (1 species)
  - Pygmy Right Whale (Caperea marginata)
- Otariidae (Eared Seals ) - (7 species)
- Phocidae (True Seals ) - (5 species)
- Phocoenidae (Porpoises ) - (1 species)
  - Spectacled Porpoise (Phocaena dioptrica)
- Physeteridae (Sperm Whale ) - (1 species)
  - Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
- Ziphiidae (Beaked Whales ) - (10 species)