Birds Nine small
cays, with a combined area of , comprise the Swain Reefs
Important Bird Area (IBA), identified as such by
BirdLife International because together they support over 1% of the world population of breeding
roseate terns, and even larger numbers of non-breeding roseate terns, with up to 25,000 individuals recorded there. Other birds recorded on the cays include
masked and
brown boobies,
silver gulls,
black-naped,
sooty,
bridled,
greater crested,
lesser crested and
little terns,
black and
common noddies, and
lesser frigatebirds. Cays supporting seabirds include Gannet Cay (), Bylund Cay (), Thomas Cay (), Bacchi Cay (), Frigate Cay (), Price Cay (), Distant Cay (), Riptide Cay () and Bell Cay ().
Fish The rockcod (
Epinephelus fuscomarginatus), which is popular in
Australian cuisine, occurs here at depths of about . ==See also==