Birds of Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil

Islands represent only 5.3% of the global land area but they are epicenters of biodiversity loss, harboring 37% of critically endangered species. Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago with 21 volcanic islets and islands 345 km off the coast of northeast Brazil, is an Important Bird Area with two endemic landbirds and nesting colonies of several seabirds. The most recent data concerning avian species in Fernando de Noronha were obtained through a meticulous review of extant literature, searches of citizen science databases, and ad libitum field surveys. In this study, 76 species of birds were recorded, with 20 residents, 22 migrants and 34 vagrants. Most of the vagrant species were found in artificial freshwater reservoirs, proving to be a critical resource. Fernando de Noronha has the highest number of breeding seabird species of any other Brazilian oceanic island, but introduced predators (rats, tegu lizards and cats) have restricted most colonies to the isolated islets. Understanding the use of the archipelago's territory and which areas are most important for these populations is key for implementing efficient conservation strategies.