List of birds of Fiji
The avifauna of Fiji is the richest in West Polynesia. Numerous families reach the farthest east of their range, and the island is home to several endemic species and genera, as well as sharing several more endemics with its close neighbours Tonga and Samoa.
The birds of Fiji have been heavily impacted by the arrival of humans. Several species (and some genera) were lost in prehistory and are known only from fossil remains. Other have become extinct more recently, and some species remain very close to extinction. It is certain that the current knowledge of the previous ranges of many species is incomplete and further research is needed.
This is a list of the bird species recorded in Fiji. The avifauna of Fiji include a total of 149 species, of which 27 are endemic, 13 have been introduced by humans and 34 are rare or accidental. Numerous species listed have been extirpated from Fiji and are not included in the species count, although they are listed where known. Of these, 17 species are globally threatened.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 5th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Fiji.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories.
- (V) Vagrant - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Fiji
- (B) Breeder - a species that breeds in Fiji
- (M) Migrant - a species that regularly migrates to Fiji
- (P) Passage migrant - a species that neither breeds nor winters in Fiji but regularly passes through
- (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Fiji as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
- (X) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs here although populations may exist elsewhere
- (*) Endemic - a species that is endemic to Fiji
- (?) Uncertain - a species with uncertain records or current status
Table of contents |
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Non-passerines: Grebes • Albatrosses • Shearwaters and petrels • Storm petrels • Tropicbirds • Boobies and gannets • Frigatebirds • Pelicans • Bitterns, herons and egrets • Ibises and spoonbills • Ducks, geese and swans • Hawks, kites and eagles • Falcons • Megapodes • Turkeys • Pheasants and partridges • Rails, crakes, gallinules and coots • Plovers and lapwings • Sandpipers and allies • Skuas • Gulls • Terns • Pigeons and doves • Parrots and lorikeets • Cuckoos • Barn owls • Frogmouths • Swifts • Kingfishers |
Passerines: Swallows and martins • Cuckooshrikes • Bulbuls • Thrushes and allies • Cettid warblers • Locustellid warblers • Fantails • Monarch flycatchers • Australasian robins • Whistlers and allies • White-eyes • Honeyeaters • Woodswallows • Bellmagpies and allies • Starlings • Waxbills and allies • Sparrows |
Grebes
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australasian grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae |
X |
Albatrosses
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. There are 21 species worldwide and 1 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris |
V |
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern giant petrel Macronectes giganteus |
V | |||||||
Cape petrel Daption capense |
V | |||||||
Wedge-tailed shearwater Ardenna pacificus |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Buller's shearwater Ardenna bulleri |
V | |||||||
Sooty shearwater Ardenna griseus |
V | |||||||
Short-tailed shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris |
V | |||||||
Tropical shearwater Puffinus bailloni |
B | B | B | B | B | B | ||
Christmas shearwater Puffinus nativitatis |
V | |||||||
Fiji petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi* |
B | |||||||
Tahiti petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata |
B | B | ||||||
Collared petrel Pterodroma brevipes |
B | B | B | B | B | B | ||
Great-winged petrel Pterodroma macroptera |
V | |||||||
Phoenix petrel Pterodroma alba |
V | |||||||
Herald petrel Pterodroma heraldica |
V | |||||||
Mottled petrel Pterodroma inexpectata |
P | |||||||
White-necked petrel Pterodroma cervicalis |
V | |||||||
Black-winged petrel Pterodroma nigripennis |
V |
Storm petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
The storm petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilson's storm petrel Oceanites oceanicus |
P | |||||||
White-faced storm petrel Pelagodroma marina |
V | |||||||
Black-bellied storm petrel Fregetta tropica |
V | |||||||
Polynesian storm petrel Nesofregatta fuliginosa |
B | B | B | B | B |
Tropicbirds
Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red-tailed tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
White-tailed tropicbird Phaethon lepturus |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Boobies and gannets
Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masked booby Sula dactylatra |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Red-footed booby Sula sula |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Brown booby Sula leucogaster |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Frigatebirds
Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have coloured inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Great frigatebird Fregata minor |
R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Lesser frigatebird Fregata ariel |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Pelicans
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus |
V |
Bitterns, herons and egrets
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Great egret Ardea alba |
V | |||||||
Grey heron Ardea cinerea |
v[1] | |||||||
Green heron Butorides virescens |
B | B | B | B | B | B | ||
White-faced heron Egretta novaehollandiae |
B? | |||||||
Eastern reef egret Egretta sacra |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae
Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus |
V |
Ducks, geese and swans
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wandering whistling duck Dendrocygna arcuata |
X | |||||||
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos |
V | |||||||
Pacific black duck Anas superciliosa |
B | B | B | B | B |
Hawks, kites and eagles
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiji goshawk Accipiter rufitorques* | B | B | B | B | B | ||
Swamp harrier Circus approximans |
B | B | B | B | B | B |
Falcons
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. There are 62 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus |
B | B | B | B | B |
Megapodes
Order: Galliformes Family: Megapodidae
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Consumed scrubfowl Megapodius alimentum |
X | ||||||
Viti Levu scrubfowl Megapodius amissus * |
X | X |
Turkeys
Order: Galliformes Family: Meleagrididae
Turkeys are similar to large pheasants but have a distinctive fleshy wattle that hangs from the beak, called a snood. There are two species, both native to the Americas, and one species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo |
I |
Pheasants and partridges
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 156 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brown quail Coturnix ypsilophora |
I | I | |||||
Red junglefowl Gallus gallus |
IX | IX | I | I | I | I | I |
Rails, crakes, gallinules and coots
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. There are 143 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bar-winged rail Nesoclopeus poecilopterus* |
X | X | |||||
Buff-banded rail Gallirallus philippensis |
X | X | B | B | B | B | B |
Viti Levu rail Vitirallus watlingi* |
X | ||||||
Spotless crake Porzana tabuensis |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
White-browed crake Porzana cinerea |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Australasian swamphen Porphyrio melanotus |
X | X | B | B | B | B | B |
Plovers and lapwings
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. There are 66 species worldwide and 6 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masked lapwing Vanellus miles |
V | |||||||
Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva |
M | M | M | M | M | M | M | |
Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola |
V | |||||||
Double-banded plover Charadrius bicinctus |
V | |||||||
Lesser sandplover Charadrius mongolus |
V | |||||||
Caspian plover Charadrius asiaticus |
V |
Sandpipers and allies
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hudsonian godwit Limosa haemastica |
V | |||||||
Bar-tailed godwit Limosa limosa |
M | M | M | M | M | M | M | |
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus |
M | M | M | M | M | M | M | |
Bristle-thighed curlew Numenius tahitiensis |
M | M | M | M | M | M | M | |
Far Eastern curlew Numenius madagascariensis |
V | |||||||
Terek sandpiper Xenus cinereus |
V | |||||||
Common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos |
V | |||||||
Grey-tailed tattler Tringa brevipes |
M | M | M | M | M | M | M | |
Wandering tattler Tringa incana |
M | M | M | M | M | M | M | |
Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres |
M | M | M | M | M | M | M | |
Red knot Calidris canutus |
V | |||||||
Sanderling Calidris alba |
V | |||||||
Red-necked stint Calidris ruficollis |
V | |||||||
Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos |
V | |||||||
Sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata |
V | |||||||
Viti Levu snipe Coenocorypha miratropica* |
X |
Skuas
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 7 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South polar skua Stercorarius maccormicki |
V | |||||||
Pomarine skua Stercorarius pomarinus |
V | |||||||
Arctic skua Stercorarius parasiticus |
V | |||||||
Long-tailed skua Stercorarius longicaudus |
V |
Sylviornithids
Pangalliformes Family: Sylviornithidae
Sylviornithids are an extinct lineage of flightless birds related to modern Galliformes. They are represented by two species, one of them native to Fiji.
Noble megapode Megavitiornis altirostris |
X |
---|
Gulls
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls and kittiwakes. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silver gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae |
V | |||||||
Laughing gull Leucophaeus atricilla |
V |
Terns
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Sternidae
Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Great crested tern Thalasseus bergii |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Black-naped tern Sterna sumatrana |
B | B | B | B | B | B | ||
Common tern Sterna hirundo |
P | P | P | P | P | |||
Little tern Sternula albifrons |
V | |||||||
Fairy tern Sternula nereis |
V | |||||||
Sooty tern Onychoprion fuscatus |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Brown noddy Anous stolidus |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Black noddy Anous minutus |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Blue noddy Procelsterna cerulea |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B | |
White tern Gygis alba |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Pigeons and doves
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rock dove Columba livia |
I | I | I | ||||
White-throated pigeon Columba vitiensis |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Spotted dove Spilopelia chinensis |
I | I | I | I | |||
Friendly ground dove Gallicolumba stairi |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Pacific imperial pigeon Ducula pacifica |
B | B | B | ||||
Lau imperial pigeon Ducula lakeba |
X | X | |||||
Barking imperial pigeon Ducula latrans* |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Many-coloured fruit dove Ptilinopus perousii |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Crimson-crowned fruit dove Ptilinopus porphyraceus |
B | B | |||||
Orange fruit dove Ptilinopus victor* |
B | B | |||||
Golden fruit dove Ptilinopus luteovirens* |
B | B | |||||
Whistling fruit dove Ptilinopus layardi* |
B | ||||||
Viti Levu giant pigeon Natunaornis gigoura* |
X |
Parrots and lorikeets
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collared lory Phigys solitarius* |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Blue-crowned lorikeet Vini australis |
B | ||||||
Red-throated lorikeet Charmosyna amabilis* |
B? | B? | B? | X | |||
Crimson shining parrot Prosopeia splendens*[2] |
I | B | |||||
Red shining parrot Prosopeia personata*[3] |
B | B | |||||
Masked shining parrot Prosopeia tabuensis* |
B |
Cuckoos
Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites. There are 138 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fan-tailed cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis |
B | B | B | B | B | ||
Long-tailed koel Eudynamys taitensis |
M | M | M | M | M | M |
Barn owls
Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae
Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are 16 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern grass owl Tyto longimembris |
X? | ||||||
Barn owl Tyto alba |
B | B | B | B | B | B |
Frogmouths
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Podargidae
The frogmouths are a group of nocturnal birds related to the nightjars. They are named for their large flattened hooked bill and huge frog-like gape, which they use to take insects. There are 12 species worldwide and 1 species was introduced to Fiji but subsequently was expirated.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tawny frogmouth Podargus strigoides |
I X |
Swifts
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. There are 98 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White-rumped swiftlet Aerodramus spodiopygius |
B | B | B | B | B | B | ||
White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus |
V |
Kingfishers
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 93 species worldwide and 1 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific kingfisher Todirhamphus sacer[4] |
B | B | B | B | B | B |
Swallows and martins
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. There are 75 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Gau | Ovalau | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific swallow Hirundo tahitica |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Cuckooshrikes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Campephagidae
The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly greyish with white and black, although some species are brightly coloured. There are 82 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Polynesian triller Lalage maculosa |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Bulbuls
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pycnonotidae
Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colourful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests. There are 130 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red-vented bulbul Pycnonotus cafer |
I | I |
Thrushes and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. There are 335 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Island thrush Turdus poliocephalus |
B | B | B | B | B |
Cettid warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cettiidae
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiji bush warbler Horornis ruficapilla* |
B | B | B | B |
Locustellid warblers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Long-legged thicketbird Trichocichla rufa* |
B | B |
Fantails
Order: Passeriformes Family: Rhipiduridae
The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are 44 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Streaked fantail Rhipidura verreauxi |
B | B | B | B | |||
Kadavu fantail Rhipidura personata* |
B | ||||||
Silktail Lamprolia victoriae* |
B | B |
Monarch flycatchers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Monarchidae
The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching. There are 99 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Slaty monarch Mayrornis lessoni* |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Versicolour monarch Mayrornis versicolor* |
B | ||||||
Fiji shrikebill Clytorhynchus vitiensis |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Black-throated shrikebill Clytorhynchus nigrogularis |
B | B | B | B | B | ||
Blue-crested flycatcher Myiagra azureocapilla* |
B | B | B | ||||
Vanikoro flycatcher Myiagra vanikorensis |
B | B | B | B | B | B |
Australasian robins
Order: Passeriformes Family: Petroicidae
Most species of Petroicidae have a stocky build with a large rounded head, a short straight bill and rounded wingtips. They occupy a wide range of wooded habitats, from subalpine to tropical rainforest, and mangrove swamp to semi-arid scrubland. All are primarily insectivores, although a few supplement their diet with seeds. There are 43 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific robin Petroica pusilla |
B | B | B | B |
Whistlers and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pachycephalidae
The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrike-thrushes, shrike-tits, pitohuis and crested bellbird. There are 57 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiji whistler Pachycephala vitiensis |
B | B | B | B | B | B |
White-eyes
Order: Passeriformes Family: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull colour like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye. There are 96 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiji white-eye Zosterops explorator* |
B | B | B | B | B | ||
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis |
B | B | B | B | B |
Honeyeaters
Order: Passeriformes Family: Meliphagidae
The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea. They are nectar feeders and closely resemble other nectar-feeding passerines. There are 174 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rotuma myzomela Myzomela chermesina* |
B | ||||||
Orange-breasted honeyeater Myzomela jugularis* |
B | B | B | B | B | B | |
Wattled honeyeater Foulehaio carunculata |
B | B | B | B | B | ||
Kadavu honeyeater Xanthotis provocator* |
B | ||||||
Giant honeyeater Gymnomyza viridis* |
B | B | B |
Woodswallows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Artamidae
The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiji woodswallow Artamus mentalis* |
B | B | B | B |
Bellmagpies and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cracticidae
The cracticids: currawongs, bellmagpies and butcherbirds, are similar to the other corvids. They have large, straight bills and mostly black, white or grey plumage. All are omnivorous to some degree. There are 12 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian magpie Gymnorhina tibicen |
I |
Starlings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. There are 125 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Polynesian starling Aplonis tabuensis |
B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
European starling Sturnus vulgaris |
I | ||||||
Jungle myna Acridotheres fuscus |
I | ||||||
Common myna Acridotheres tristis |
I | I | I | I | I |
Waxbills and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae
The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colours and patterns. There are 141 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vana Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red munia Amandava amandava |
I | I | |||||
Fiji parrotfinch Erythrura pealii* |
B | B | B | B | |||
Pink-billed parrotfinch Erythrura kleinschmidti* |
B | ||||||
Java sparrow Padda oryzivora |
I | I | I |
Sparrows
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects. There are 35 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Fiji.
Species | Viti Levu | Vanua Levu | Taveuni | Kadavu | Lomaiviti | Lau | Rotuma | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
House sparrow Passer domesticus |
I |
See also
References
- Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of birds of Fiji". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
- Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: a Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.
- Pratt, H., Bruner, P & Berrett, D. (1987) The Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific Princeton University Press:Princeton ISBN 0-691-08402-5
- Steadman D, (2006). Extinction and Biogeography in Tropical Pacific Birds, University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-77142-7
Notes
- ↑ Pratt, Douglas; Masibalavu, Vilikesa; Abbott, Margaret (2008). "Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) sightings in Fiji". Notornis. 55 (1): 42–43.
- ↑ Steadman (2006) treats this species as a race of the red shining parrot.
- ↑ The red shining parrot is endemic to Fiji but was introduced in prehistoric times to Tonga (Steadman, 2006)
- ↑ Pratt et al. (1987) assigned most kingfishers in Fiji to the sacred kingfisher species, whereas most other authorities assign it to the collared kingfisher species.