U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
The U.S. Minor Outlying Islands are a scattered collection of small islands and atolls across the central Pacific, together with Navassa Island in the Caribbean. Pacific territories such as Midway, Wake, Johnston, Palmyra and Baker Islands range from low coral atolls and sand cays to densely vegetated tropical islands. Most are uninhabited and protected primarily for wildlife, with little or no conventional infrastructure. Palmyra Atoll stands out for its lush tropical forest and extensive lagoon and reef system, while Midway has a cooler subtropical climate and a history of military occupation. Their extreme isolation and limited human presence have made several of these islands exceptionally important conservation areas.
Overview
The islands are globally significant for seabirds, with enormous colonies concentrated on tiny areas of land. Midway Atoll is particularly famous for its vast breeding populations of Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses, alongside Bonin Petrels, tropicbirds, terns and other seabirds. Palmyra Atoll supports major colonies of Red-footed Boobies, Great Frigatebirds and Black Noddies, while several other outlying islands provide critical nesting habitat for tropical seabirds. Migratory shorebirds also use the islands as remote Pacific stopovers. Despite their exceptional birdlife, most are not practical birding destinations: public access is prohibited or tightly controlled on many islands and may require permits, research involvement or specialised expeditions. Midway, formerly accessible through organised wildlife visits, currently has no regular public tourism.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-billed White-Tern Gygis candida | 83.7% | 73.8% | 80.2% | 83.1% | 84.5% | 91.7% | 79.3% | 92.7% | 75.4% | 92.1% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 75.6% |
| Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis | 70.2% | 90.2% | 84.9% | 87.7% | 84.9% | 86.4% | 68.0% | 82.3% | 68.4% | 10.6% | 2.1% | 86.1% | 90.5% |
| Brown Noddy Anous stolidus | 59.0% | 30.8% | 14.2% | 17.4% | 35.6% | 73.6% | 73.3% | 82.6% | 69.3% | 86.4% | 86.7% | 79.1% | 58.7% |
| Great Frigatebird Fregata minor | 56.8% | 37.6% | 33.6% | 44.3% | 46.9% | 67.8% | 62.0% | 77.3% | 64.0% | 77.0% | 73.4% | 52.4% | 45.0% |
| Laysan Duck Anas laysanensis | 55.8% | 47.3% | 50.0% | 46.1% | 51.2% | 63.2% | 47.8% | 50.4% | 49.8% | 65.8% | 65.8% | 70.5% | 61.4% |
| Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva | 53.1% | 55.9% | 52.1% | 48.2% | 57.5% | 30.7% | 29.5% | 30.2% | 49.9% | 80.0% | 76.6% | 65.7% | 61.4% |
| Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus | 48.5% | 10.2% | 22.8% | 40.5% | 58.3% | 82.1% | 76.7% | 73.7% | 76.4% | 64.2% | 52.9% | 18.3% | 6.4% |
| Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres | 48.2% | 45.7% | 35.9% | 37.7% | 49.3% | 44.0% | 20.8% | 35.7% | 65.4% | 74.8% | 71.3% | 48.7% | 48.8% |
| Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda | 44.0% | 42.9% | 49.1% | 61.9% | 58.2% | 59.3% | 52.9% | 60.8% | 44.1% | 35.1% | 31.0% | 14.1% | 18.4% |
| Common Myna Acridotheres tristis | 43.3% | 38.2% | 41.6% | 32.2% | 41.2% | 51.3% | 39.3% | 46.1% | 39.3% | 46.6% | 50.4% | 52.0% | 41.5% |