KI011
Starbuck Island


Country/territory: Kiribati

IBA criteria met: A4i, A4iii (2012)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 2,647 ha

IBA conservation status
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2012 not assessed medium low
For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here


Site description (2007 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 (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Starbuck Island (Kiribati). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/starbuck-island-iba-kiribati on 23/11/2024.