Extinct Birds of Lord Howe Island

There are 8 known extinct birds, that once lived on Lord Howe Island.

Lord Howe Fantail
(Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina)

Lord Howe Boobook
(Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria)

Lord Howe Pigeon
(Columba vitiensis godmanae)

Lord Howe Gerygone
(Gerygone insularis)

Lord Howe Island Thrush
(Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus)

Lord Howe Red-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae subflavescens)

Robust White-eye
(Zosterops strenuous)

White Gallinule
(Porphyrio albus)

Also known as Lord Howe Morepork was endemic to Lord Howe. The Lord Howe Island Board introduced Masked Owls and Barn Owls in the 1920’s with the hope of them getting rid of the black rats. The larger Owls would have forced the smaller Boobook out of his area. Extinct some time around 1950.

This bird was endemic to Lord Howe, common all over the island. Was still present on the island in 1909 but was wiped out by black rats that arrived here in 1918 on the ship SS Makambo.

A common bird in the forest when the Island was discovered in 1788, mostly brown with a purple head and breast with a white patch under its throat. The last record of the Pigeon was in 1853, they were all eaten by the small population of residents and whalers passing.

Locally known as the rain bird was endemic to Lord Howe. A small brown to greyish bird would have been common in the forest. Black rats wiped this one out also, no record of then since 1928.

Known as the Doctor bird by locals was an endemic species to Lord Howe. Was common up until 1906, disappeared soon after black rats arrived in 1918.

Was an endemic medium sized parrot to Lord Howe. Was common on the Island but shot out by the early settlers by 1869. They would destroy the Islanders crops of food.

Was an endemic species of White-eye to Lord Howe, mainly green with a white belly and yellow throat. Pushed to extinction buy black rats in the 1920’s. This bird was larger than the Silvereye we have here now.

An endemic bird to Lord Howe, white in colour with red legs and bill. Described by early visitors to the Island in the 1700’s. Eaten by whalers and sailors, thought to be extinct before the Island was first settled.