Data Zone
Country/territory: Kiribati
IBA criteria met: A4i, A4iii (2012)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 2,647 ha
Site description (baseline)
Starbuck Island is a low-lying island with a dry climate. The interior contains several dark-coloured saline lagoons which at times dry out completely. Starbuck rises from its reef fringed coast to a steep beach crest before descending into a slight interior depression.
Key biodiversity
The island is importantly primarily for its large sooty tern population. There is little information on other species present.
Non-bird biodiversity: Green turtles may use the island for egg-laying, although there is no information on counts. An endemic plant, Bidens kiribatiensis has been identified from the island (Garnett 1983).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Starbuck Island. Downloaded from
http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/27463 on 04/06/2023.
