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List of birds of Fiji

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Taveuni silktail is an endemic species and genus of Fiji.
Map of Fiji showing major island groups

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 179 species, of which 31 are endemic, and 13 have been introduced by humans. Numerous species listed have been extirpated from Fiji.

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, 2022 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. There are also a few species listed that have been recorded in Fiji, but not known to what specific island they were recorded at.

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


Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

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Pacific black duck

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
Pacific black duck
Anas superciliosa
B B B B B
Eastern spot-billed duck
Anas zonorhyncha
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
V

Megapodes

[edit]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black colouring.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Consumed scrubfowl
Megapodius alimentum
X
Viti Levu scrubfowl
Megapodius amissus *
X X
Melanesian scrubfowl
Megapodius eremita

Sylviornithids

[edit]

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Noble megapode
Megavitiornis altirostris
X

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

[edit]
Brown quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Brown quail
Synoicus ypsilophorus
I I
Red junglefowl
Gallus gallus
IX IX I I I I I
Wild turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
I

Pigeons and doves

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Golden fruit dove
Orange fruit dove
Barking imperial pigeon

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
Metallic pigeon
Columba vitiensis
B B B B B B
Spotted dove
Spilopelia chinensis
I I I I
Shy ground dove
Alopecoenas stairi
B B B B B B
Many-colored fruit-dove
Ptilinopus perousii
B B B B B B
Crimson-crowned fruit dove
Ptilinopus porphyraceus
B B
Orange dove
Ptilinopus victor*
B B
Golden dove
Ptilinopus luteovirens*
B B
Velvet dove
Ptilinopus layardi*
B
Pacific imperial-pigeon
Ducula pacifica
B B B
Peale's imperial-pigeon
Ducula latrans*
B B B B B B
Lau imperial-pigeon
Ducula lakeba
X X
Viti Levu giant pigeon
Natunaornis gigoura*
X

Cuckoos

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Fan-tailed cuckoo

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Long-tailed koel
Urodynamis taitensis
M M M M M M
Fan-tailed cuckoo
Cacomantis flabelliformis
B B B B B

Frogmouths

[edit]

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Tawny frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
I

Swifts

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White-rumped swiftlet

Order: Caprimulgiformes   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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
White-throated needletail
Hirundapus caudacutus
V
White-rumped swiftlet
Aerodramus spodiopygius
B B B B B B
Australian swiftlet
Aerodramus terraereginae

Rails, gallinules, and coots

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Buff-banded rail

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Buff-banded rail
Gallirallus philippensis
X X B B B B B
Bar-winged rail
Gallirallus poecilopterus*
Black-backed swamphen
Porphyrio indicus
Australasian swamphen
Porphyrio melanotus
X X B B B B B
Viti Levu rail
Vitirallus watlingi*
X
White-browed crake
Poliolimnas cinereus
B B B B B B
Spotless crake
Zapornia tabuensis
B B B B B B

Plovers and lapwings

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Pacific golden plover

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Black-bellied plover
Pluvialis squatarola
V
Pacific golden-plover
Pluvialis fulva
M M M M M M M
Masked lapwing
Vanellus miles
V
Lesser sand-plover
Charadrius mongolus
V
Caspian plover
Charadrius asiaticus
V
Double-banded plover
Charadrius bicinctus
V

Sandpipers and allies

[edit]
The Far Eastern curlew, an occasional visitor

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
Bristle-thighed curlew
Numenius tahitiensis
M M M M M M M
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
M M M M M M M
Far Eastern curlew
Numenius madagascariensis
V
Bar-tailed godwit
Limosa lapponica
M M M M M M M
Hudsonian godwit
Limosa haemastica
V
Ruddy turnstone
Arenaria interpres
M M M M M M M
Red knot
Calidris canutus
V
Ruff
Calidris pugnax
V
Sharp-tailed sandpiper
Calidris acuminata
Curlew sandpiper
Calidris ferruginea
V
Red-necked stint
Calidris ruficollis
V
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Pectoral sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
V
Terek sandpiper
Xenus cinereus
V
Common sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
V
Solitary sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
V
Gray-tailed tattler
Tringa brevipes
M M M M M M M
Wandering tattler
Tringa incana
M M M M M M M
Lesser yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
V
Viti Levu snipe
Coenocorypha miratropica*
X

Skuas and jaegers

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Pomarine skua

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
South polar skua
Stercorarius maccormicki
V
Pomarine jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinus
V
Parasitic jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticus
V
Long-tailed jaeger
Stercorarius longicaudus
V

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

[edit]
White tern

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. 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
Silver gull
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
V
Laughing gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
V
Kelp gull
Larus dominicanus
V
Brown noddy
Anous stolidus
B B B B B B B
Black noddy
Anous minutus
B B B B B B B
Blue-gray noddy
Anous ceruleus
B B B B B B B
White tern
Gygis alba
B B B B B B B
Sooty tern
Onychoprion fuscatus
B B B B B B B
Gray-backed tern
Onychoprion lunatus
Bridled tern
Onychoprion anaethetus
Little tern
Sternula albifrons
V
White-winged tern
Chlidonias leucopterus
V
Black-naped tern
Sterna sumatrana
B B B B B B
Common tern
Sterna hirundo
P P P P P
Great crested tern
Thalasseus bergii
B B B B B B B

Tropicbirds

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Red-tailed tropicbird

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
White-tailed tropicbird
Phaethon lepturus
B B B B B B B
Red-tailed tropicbird
Phaethon rubricauda
B B B B B B B

Albatrosses

[edit]

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Black-browed albatross
Thalassarche melanophris
V
Wandering albatross
Diomedea exulans

Southern storm-petrels

[edit]
Wilson's storm petrel

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The southern 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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Wilson's storm-petrel
Oceanites oceanicus
P
White-faced storm-petrel
Pelagodroma marina
V
White-bellied storm-petrel
Fregetta grallaria
V
New Zealand storm-petrel
Fregetta maoriana
V
Black-bellied storm-petrel
Fregetta tropica
V
Polynesian storm-petrel
Nesofregatta fuliginosa
B B B B B

Northern storm-petrels

[edit]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Leach's storm-petrel
Hydrobates leucorhous
V
Matsudaira's storm-petrel
Hydrobates matsudairae
V

Shearwaters and petrels

[edit]

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.

Wedge-tailed shearwater
Tahiti petrel
Black-winged petrel near Vanua Levu
Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Southern giant-petrel
Macronectes giganteus
V
Cape petrel
Daption capense
V
Gray-faced petrel
Pterodroma gouldi
Kermadec petrel
Pterodroma neglecta
V
Herald petrel
Pterodroma heraldica
V
Murphy's petrel
Pterodroma ultima
V
Providence petrel
Pterodroma solandri
V
Mottled petrel
Pterodroma inexpectata
P
White-necked petrel
Pterodroma cervicalis
Black-winged petrel
Pterodroma nigripennis
Gould's petrel
Pterodroma leucoptera
V
Collared petrel
Pterodroma brevipes
B B B B B B
Phoenix petrel
Pterodroma alba
V
Fiji petrel
Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi*
B
Tahiti petrel
Pseudobulweria rostrata
B B
Parkinson's petrel
Procellaria parkinsoni
V
Flesh-footed shearwater
Ardenna carneipes
V
Wedge-tailed shearwater
Ardenna pacifica
B B B B B B B
Buller's shearwater
Ardenna bulleri
V
Sooty shearwater
Ardenna grisea
V
Short-tailed shearwater
Ardenna tenuirostris
V
Christmas shearwater
Puffinus nativitatis
V
Newell's shearwater
Puffinus newelli
Tropical shearwater
Puffinus bailloni
B B B B B B

Frigatebirds

[edit]
Great frigatebird

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
Lesser frigatebird
Fregata ariel
B B B B B B B
Great frigatebird
Fregata minor
R R R R R R R

Boobies and gannets

[edit]
Brown booby

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
Brown booby
Sula leucogaster
B B B B B B B
Red-footed booby
Sula sula
B B B B B B B

Pelicans

[edit]

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

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

[edit]
Eastern reef egret

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
White-faced heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
B?
Pacific reef-egret
Egretta sacra
B B B B B B B
Cattle egret
Bubulcus ibis
V
Striated heron
Butorides striata
B B B B B B

Ibises and spoonbills

[edit]

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

Hawks, eagles, and kites

[edit]
Fiji goshawk

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
Swamp harrier
Circus approximans
B B B B B B
Fiji goshawk
Accipiter rufitorques*
B B B B B

Barn-owls

[edit]
Barn owl

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.

Tytonidae
Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Australasian grass-owl
Tyto longimembris
X
Barn owl
Tyto alba
B B B B B B

Kingfishers

[edit]
Pacific kingfisher, Fijian race

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Pacific kingfisher
Todirhamphus sacer[1]
B B B B B B
Sacred kingfisher
Todirhamphus sanctus

Falcons

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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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
B B B B B

Old World parrots

[edit]
The collared lory is the national bird of Fiji.
Blue-crowned lorikeet

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to Australia and New Zealand.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Crimson shining-parrot
Prosopeia splendens*[2]
I B
Red shining-parrot
Prosopeia tabuensis*[3]
B B
Masked shining-parrot
Prosopeia personata*
B
Red-throated lorikeet
Vini amabilis*
B? B? B? X
Collared lory
Vini solitarius*
B B B B B B
Blue-crowned lorikeet
Vini australis
B

Honeyeaters

[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

Orange-breasted honeyeater
Yellow-billed honeyeater

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Rotuma myzomela
Myzomela chermesina*
B
Orange-breasted myzomela
Myzomela jugularis*
B B B B B B
Kadavu honeyeater
Meliphacator provocator*
B
Chattering giant-honeyeater
Gymnomyza viridis*
B B
Duetting giant-honeyeater
Gymnomyza brunneirostris*
B
Western wattled-honeyeater
Foulehaio procerior
B
Eastern wattled-honeyeater
Foulehaio carunculatus
B B B B
Northern wattled-honeyeater
Foulehaio taviunensis*
B B

Cuckooshrikes

[edit]
Polynesian triller

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Polynesian triller
Lalage maculosa
B B B B B B B

Whistlers and allies

[edit]
Fiji whistler ssp torquata

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and some of the pitohuis.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Fiji whistler
Pachycephala vitiensis*
B B B B B B

Woodswallows, bellmagpies, and allies

[edit]
Fiji woodswallow

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-coloured passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. 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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Fiji woodswallow
Artamus mentalis*
B B B B
Australian magpie
Gymnorhina tibicen
I

Fantails

[edit]
Streaked fantail

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Taveuni silktail
Lamprolia victoriae*
B
Natewa silktail
Lamprolia klinesmithi*
B
Streaked fantail
Rhipidura verreauxi
B B B B
Kadavu fantail
Rhipidura personata*
B

Monarch flycatchers

[edit]
Blue-crested flycatcher
Vanikoro flycatcher

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Ogea monarch
Mayrornis versicolor*
B
Slaty monarch
Mayrornis lessoni*
B B B B B B
Fiji shrikebill
Clytorhynchus vitiensis
B B B B B B B
Black-throated shrikebill
Clytorhynchus nigrogularis
B B B B B
Vanikoro flycatcher
Myiagra vanikorensis
B B B B B B
Azure-crested flycatcher
Myiagra azureocapilla*
B
Chestnut-throated flycatcher
Myiagra castaneigularis*
B B

Australasian robins

[edit]
Pacific robin

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Pacific robin
Petroica pusilla
B B B B

Grassbirds and allies

[edit]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Long-legged thicketbird
Trichocichla rufa*
B B

Swallows

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Pacific swallow

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Gau Ovalau Lau Rotuma
Pacific swallow
Hirundo tahitica
B B B B B B B

Bulbuls

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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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Red-vented bulbul
Pycnonotus cafer
I I

Bush warblers and allies

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.[4]

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Fiji bush warbler
Horornis ruficapilla*
B B B B

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies

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Fiji white-eye

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Layard's white-eye
Zosterops explorator*
B B B B B
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
B B B B B
Yellow-fronted white-eye
Zosterops flavifrons

Starlings

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Polynesian starling

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Polynesian starling
Aplonis tabuensis
B B B B B B B
European starling
Sturnus vulgaris
I
Common myna
Acridotheres tristis
I I I I I
Jungle myna
Acridotheres fuscus
I

Thrushes and allies

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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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Fiji island-thrush
Turdus ruficeps
B B B B B

Waxbills and allies

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Fiji parrotfinch

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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
Red avadavat
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

Old World sparrows

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Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World 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.

Species Viti Levu Vanua Levu Taveuni Kadavu Lomaiviti Lau Rotuma
House sparrow
Passer domesticus
I

See also

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References

[edit]
  • Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of Birds of Fiji". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  • 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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Steadman (2006) treats this species as a race of the red shining parrot.
  3. ^ The red shining parrot is endemic to Fiji but was introduced in prehistoric times to Tonga (Steadman, 2006)
  4. ^ Gill, F. and D. Donsker (Eds). 2019. IOC World Bird List (v 9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ retrieved 22 June 2019.