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Environment Fauna

As the Island has never been joined to any major land mass, some faunal groups are either under-represented or absent.

There are no amphibians (such as frogs) and only two species of reptile have been recorded, a gecko and a skink (no snakes!).

Native Animals
Sea Birds
Land Birds

While a relatively small number of native species are present, many are endemic forms and are of considerable scientific interest.

For example, most of the landbirds present at settlement were endemic species. Of the 15 species present then, 6 are now extinct and a further 4 are highly endangered.

The Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (ANPWS) has conservation management programs underway to recover two of the highly endangered species: the Norfolk Island Green Parrot and the Norfolk Island Morepork (Boobook Owl).

Sea Birds

White Tern (Gygis alba): 13 species of seabird breed in the Norfolk Island group; Nests on Norfolk Island in late spring and summer (present all year). It has brilliant white plumage and a forked tail. The bill is black with a blue base and the eyes are circled with black.
Providence Petrel/ Bird of Providence or Solanders Petrel (Pterodroma solandri): Nests on Phillip Island in the spring and summer. A heavily built petrel with slate grey upperparts contrasting with darker brown head, wings and tail. Greyish-brown underneath with a white oval patch under each wing. In the early days of the First Settlement prolific numbers of these birds were found in the Mt Pitt area. The bird was named "Bird of Providence" from its role in saving the Settlement from starvation after the sinking of the "HMS Sirius" in 1790. Over 170,000 birds were collected for food between April and July 1790.
Little Shearwater or Laro (Puffinus assimilis): A winter breeder which nests in deep burrows on Norfolk, Phillip and Nepean Islands (Present from July to December). It is very similar in appearance to the Black-winged Petrel, but there is only a short period when both species are present in the area. It is black above and white below, with a white face.
Australasian Gannet (Morous serrator): A large (87cm) handsome bird. The adult is white, with a golden head and upper neck, and black around the trailing edge of the wings. Only a small population (a few pairs) can be found on Phillip Island (from November to March).
Red-tailed Tropicbirds or Bosun Bird (Phaethon rubicauda roseotincta): A strikingly beautiful bird with white plumage, black marks around the eyes and in the wings, large red bill and long red tail streamers. It is present all year, and breeding takes place in the summer on coastal cliffs and rock ledges around Norfolk, Phillip and Nepean Islands.
Common Noddy (Anous stolidus): Nests on Phillip Island and the other small islets (present from September to March). It is brown with a pale greyish-white cap and white under the eye. Despite its name, this bird is not common in the Norfolk Island group.
Black Noddy (Anous minutus): The more common of the two noddies found in Norfolk Island; present all year. It is mostly black with a white head and white eye ring. Nesting colonies are found in summer on Norfolk and Phillip Islands where the birds nest in trees.
Black-winged Petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis): Nests on Phillip Island in late spring and summer (present around Norfolk and Phillip Islands from November to March). It is easily identified by its distinctive rapid high pitched call and bold black markings under the wing. Upper parts are black and grey; mostly white underneath.
Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta): Nests on Phillip Island in the winter months. A lightly built petrel, with long narrow wings and a black bill. Upper parts are brown to blackish-brown and the head usually freckled whitish-brown. Underneath varies from white with brownish feathers to entirely brown.
Wedge-tailed Shearwater or Ghostbird (Puffinus pacificus): Derives its local name from its eerie call. It nests in colonies on Norfolk and Phillip Islands (present from October to May). It is dark brown all over with a long wedged-shaped tail. At dusk, large numbers gather in 'rafts' at sea, awaiting nightfall to return to their clifftop burrows.
Masked Booby or Gannet (Sula dactylatra): Similar in size to the Australasian Gannet. It is mostly white except for a black mask in front of the eyes, a black edge on the wing and tail, and a yellow bill. Present all year, these birds breed on Phillip and Nepean Islands and the small islets off the north cost of Norfolk Island.
Whale Bird or Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata): Nests on Phillip and Nepean Islands and the other small islets (present from October to May). It is black on top and white underneath with a white forehead; the tail is deeply forked with white outer feathers. The local name for these birds stems from the time when their arrival coincided with that of the whales.
Grey Ternlet or Patro or Little Blue Petrel (Procelsterna albivittata): Nests on Phillip and Nepean Island and other islets in early summer, and is present all year. It is almost entirely blue grey with a black bill, and has black feet with yellow webs.

Native Animals

Gould's wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii): A rare, probably extinct, species (current status is unknown).

Land Birds

Norfolk Island Green Parrot (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cookii): In 1790, Green Parrots were so common that convicts used sticks to drive them from ripening corn. By 1983 there were only 16 known to be in the wild, and the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service commenced a program of captive breeding and habitat management. Green parrots were first bred in captivity in 1988. With progress in the wild, breeding in the aviary, and Phillip Island as a possible future refuge, prospects are improving for the endangered Green Parrot.
Norfolk Island Morepork (Boobook Owl) (Ninox novaeseelandiae royana): Although originally common in the rainforest, the Boobook Owl was quite scarce by 1911. In 1987, the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Services could find only one female. Two male New Zealand Moreporks (a closely related subspecies) were introduced in September 1987 as mates for the lonely female. She raised her first chicks in December 1989 and breed successfully again in 1990.
Silvereye or Grinnell (Zosterops lateralis): An introduced species (first recorded on Norfolk Island in 1904) which is widespread on both Norfolk and Phillip Islands. It is a small sleek bird with a white eye ring, a gray throat and reddish brown flank.
White-Breasted White-eye (Zosterops albogularis): An endangered species. It can be distinguished from the Silvereye and other White-eye by its clear white Upperparts. It has a bright green head and olive green back.
Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa pelzelni): A small grey and white bird with a long grey fan-shaped tail; very common on the Island.
Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica): Widespread in thick forest and spends much of its time on the forest floor, searching for seeds. It is easily recognised by its distinctive emerald wings and brownish body.
Scarlet Robin (Petroica multicolor multicolor): A threatened endemic subspecies which is restricted to native forest on Norfolk Island. The brilliant read breast against the deep black of this small (13cm) bird shows like a flash of colour in the forest. The female robin is much less obvious with pale peach colouring on the breast and a brown back.
Long-billed White-eye (Zosterops tenuirostris): An endemic species restricted to native forest, where noisy flocks may be encountered feeding in trees. It is easy to identify from its bright white eye ring, long downcurved bill and grey Upperparts. The head and back are a dull green.
Golden Whistler or Tamey (Pachycephala pectoralis xanthoprocta): Unlike its often brilliantly coloured Australian counterpart, it is an even greyish colour, with a short black bill. The bird's loud and persistent song during spring and summer (the breeding season) declares its territory.
Grey Gerygone or Hummingbird (Gerygone igata modesta): The smallest Norfolk Island bird and one of the most widely distributed. It is grey with pale Upperparts. These birds often raise the young of the Shining Bronze Cuckoo which migrates from the Solomon Islands each year.
Sacred Kingfisher or Nuffka (Halcyon sancta vagans): Nets in burrows in creek beds or roadside cuttings and is widespread on Norfolk Island. It has a blue black head, a large black bill, and yellowish collar and yellow Upperparts.

Courtesy of Department of Environment & Natural Resources