Birding Factoids

Over 100 species

43 endemic species
3 speciality birds
19 endangered species

Polynesia
Hotspots
(including Tahiti, Bora Bora, and the other Society Islands, Pitcairn Island, the Cook Islands, Christmas Island (Kiritimati), the Marquesas, and the Tuamotu Archipelago)

Polynesia Specialities Red-vented Bulbul - Photo copyright Wilderness Explorers

Photo copyright Wilderness Explorers ....
Red-browed Firetail - Photo copyright Tetsu Sato

Photo copyright Tetsu Sato ..

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....The Birds of French Polynesia - The major points to keep in mind

about the present bird fauna is that most of the easily visible landbirds are introduced, and most of the seabirds can only be seen either at sea, or on remote islands where they are nesting. Given that, there are still some rewarding birdwatching opportunities on each island. Information is provided on birdwatching sites for each island.

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....Discover the Birds of French Polynesia - from the Ornithological

Society of Polynesia. Polynesia's terrestrial avifauna consists of some thirty species. This relatively low number, however, masks a high rate of endemism. Only Reef Heron, Spotless Crake and Grey Duck have a large distribution throughout the South Pacific. The rest are only found in French Polynesia. In contrast French Polynesia has 27 species of seabird, making it one of the richest tropical areas for marine species. The majority of bird species are widespread in the tropical area. Nine species only breed in the Pacific and one, Murphy's Petrel, is endemic to eastern Polynesia. Three subspecies are also endemic to French Polynesia.

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....Birding in the Marquesas - We had a chance to organise a bird

watching tour in the Marquesas Islands with a group of dedicated birders and it was a success even if the natural conditions of these wild Islands were sometimes a bit challenging. 8 of the 10 known endemic land birds were seen, some very easily even in the small villages, other after several hours of trekking or a couple of hours of 4WD.

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....Trip Report: French Polynesia and Cook Islands, June

26 - 29, 2000. By Sandra Eadie. This summer, I travelled to the Cook Islands for a family holiday. On the way, I had a three-day stop in French Polynesia. It is south of the equator and east of Hawaii. I didn't manage to do much birding as such, but I did keep my eyes open.

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....Trip Report: Rarotonga Trip - June 29 to July 14, 2000. By Sandra

Edie. I visited Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Atiu, which are all near each other. Flying around the southern islands is fairly cheap. I was with family (21 of us) but did get some opportunities to bird.

Factoids taken from Where to watch birds in Australiasia and Oceania - by Nigel Wheatley

Tours and Guides

See DISCLAIMER

Eco-Lodges

See DISCLAIMER

Endemics and Specialities

in Polynesia

Information on endemics and specialities is derived from Sibley & Monroe checklists and bird distribution lists in Thayer's Birder's Diary - Version 2.5, supplemented by material found in Where to watch birds in Australiasia and Oceania - by Nigel Wheatley. Oceania speciality birds, while not endemic, are those that can only be found in three or less countries of Oceania. Information on endangered birds is derived from the IUCN Red List, Birdlife International, and supporting data bases developed by Ian Patton, of Merlin Species Watcher. The endemic, endangered and speciality birds may be uncommon, extremely rare vagrants, may be extirpated in the country now or may only be present in migration. However, documented sightings of each species noted below have been made in Polynesia.

Endemics in Polynesia
___ Atoil Fruit-Dove ___ Atiu Swiftlet ___ Blue Lorikeet ___ Bokikokino ___ Chattering Kingfisher ___ Cook Islands Fruit-Dove ___ Cook Islands Reed-Warbler ___ Fatuhiva Monarch ___ Grey-green Fruit-Dove ___ Henderson Island Crake ___ Henderson Island Fruit-Dove ___ Henderson Island ___ Reed-Warbler ___ Iphis Monarch ___ Kuhl's Lorikeet	___ Little White-Tern ___ Mahatea Fruit-Dove ___ Mangaia Kingfisher ___ Marquesan Reed-Warbler ___ Marquesas Ground-Dove ___ Marquesas Imperial-Pigeon ___ Marquesas Kingfisher ___ Marquesas Monarch ___ Marquesas Swiftlet ___ Murphy's Petrel ___ Nauru Reed-Warbler ___ Pitcairn Reed-Warbler ___ Polynesian Ground-Dove ___ Polynesian Imperial-Pigeon	___ Rapa Fruit-Dove ___ Rarotonga Monarch ___ Rarotonga Starling ___ Rimatara Reed-Warbler ___ Stephen's Lorikeet ___ Tahiti Kingfisher ___ Tahiti Monarch ___ Tahiti Reed-Warbler ___ Tahiti Swiftlet ___ Tuamotu Kingfisher ___ Tuamotu Reed-Warbler ___ Tuamotu Sandpiper ___ Ultramarine Lorikeet ___ White-capped Fruit-Dove

Endangered Birds in Polynesia (endemics are printed in *bold italic*)
Breeding Birds		Non-Breeding Birds
___ *Blue Lorikeet* ___ *Fatuhiva Monarch* ___ *Iphis Monarch* ___ *Kulh's Lorikeet* ___ *Makatea Fruit-Dove* ___ *Marquesan Ground-Dove* ___ *Marquesan Imperial-Pigeon* ___ *Marquesan Kingfisher* ___ *Marquesan Monarch*	___ *Polynesian Ground-Dove* ___ *Polynesian Imperial-Pigeon* ___ *Rapa Fruit-Dove* ___ *Tahiti Monarch* ___ *Tahiti Reed-Warbler* ___ *Tahiti Swiftlet* ___ *Tuamotu Kingfisher* ___ *Tuamotu Sandpiper* ___ *Ultramarine Lorikeet*	___ Bristle-thighed Curlew

Other Speciality and Spectacular Birds in Polynesia (adapted from Where to watch birds in Australiasia and Oceania - by Nigel Wheatley.)
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