Below is an overview of the Fiji Islands and the Fiji Birding Hot Spots; as well as a list of Fiji Birds found on those islands. If you prefer to see images of Fiji birds, please click on the below link.
Fuji Birds Pictures – Birds found on Fiji Islands
Fiji, aka the Republic of the Fiji Islands, is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga, and south of Tuvalu.
The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Best Birding Locations in Fiji
Fiji has about 80 species of terrestrial and freshwater birds, 70 endemics, and about 10 introduced species.
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. This cigar-shaped island is situated 6.5 kilometers to the east of Vanua Levu, across the Somosomo Strait, and is part of the Northern Division.
Taveuni has abundant flora and is known as the ‘Garden Island of Fiji’. It has world-class birding opportunities.
Access to the mountainous area of Des Voeux Peak which is the second highest on the island, a prime birding habitat, is only minutes from the main town Waiyevo area.
On the northern end of the island is Qeleni – which also affords excellent bird watching. Both locales offer the chance to see Orange Breasted Doves, Silktails, Ferntails, and the Taveuni Musk Parrots.
Kadavu is the fourth largest island in Fiji. It is one of the best and easiest birding destinations in Fiji. Most of the native life can be enjoyed right from the resorts.
It’s easy bird watching. Kadavu has the additional attraction of the 4 endemic species found only on Kadavu and these species, like the Kadavu musk parrot, can all be seen on the grounds of most resorts.
Birds found in Fiji
Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)
Australian Pelican (Pelicanus conspicillatus) aka Goolayyalibee
Blue-crowned Lory (Vini australis) – Range: Samoa & Tonga Islands, Central Polynesia, Lau Archipelago, Fiji
Blue Noddy (Procelsterna cerulea)
Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis)
Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)
Brown Quail aka Swamp Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) – Introduced to Fiji
Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) – Vagrant
Collared Lories aka Solitary Lory or Ruffed Lory (Phigys solitarius) – Range: Larger Fiji islands, northern part of Lau Archipelago
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Collared Petrel (Pterodroma brevipes) – Range: Breed only in Fiji where it occurs on Gau and possibly other islands.
Common or European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – Rare/Accidental
Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus) – Range: American Samoa, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, and Wallis and Futuna Islands
Crimson Shining Parrots (Prosopeia splendens) – Range: Fiji Islands – Five distinct island races of this parrot species can be found in Fiji.
Double-banded Plovers (Charadrius bicinctus)
Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis)
Fiji Goshawk (Accipiter rufitorques) – Endemic to Fiji, where it occurs on the larger islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu, Gau, and Ovalau
Fiji Parrotfinch (Erythrura pealii or Erythrura cyaneovirens peali)
Fiji Shrikebill (Clytorhynchus vitiensis)
Fiji Whistler (Pachycephala graeffii)
Fiji White-eyes or Layard’s White-eyes (Zosterops exploratory) – Endemic to the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu, and Ovalau in Fiji
Fiji Woodswallow (Artamus mentalis) – Endemic to the major islands, namely Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni. It is absent from the fourth largest island, Kadavu, but is present on smaller Gau in the Lomaiviti Archipelago. There are even urban populations in Suva and Nadi. In Viti Levu, it is found in the highlands, but not in the highlands of Taveuni.
Golden Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus luteovirens), also known as the Lemon Dove or Yellow Dove – is Endemic to forests of Viti Levu, Ovalau, Gau, Beqa, and Waya group islands of Fiji
Island Thrush (Turdus poliocephalus)
Long-legged Warble or Long-legged Thicketbird (Trichocichla rufa) – Inhabits old-growth forest in mountainous areas on Viti Levu on the islands of Fiji
Many-colored Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus perousii) – Occurs on islands in the south-west Pacific Ocean: Fiji, the Samoan Islands, and Tonga
Masked Shining Parrots (Prosopeia personal) – Range: Fiji Islands – only on Viti Levu – the largest island in the Republic of Fiji
Metallic Pigeon (Columba vitiensis)
Orange Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus victor), also known as Flame Dove – Range: Endemic to forests of Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, Qamea, and Laucala islands of Fiji
Pacific Imperial-pigeon (Ducula pacifica) – Range: The smaller islands of eastern Fiji
Pacific Robin (Petroica multicolor)
Peale Parrot Finch or Fiji Parrotfinch (Erythrura cyaneovirens peali) – Range: Fiji
Polynesian Triller (Lalage maculosa)
Red-throated Lorikeet (Charmosyna amabilis) – Endemic to Fiji. Occurs on the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, and Ovalau
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) – Self-introduced in the wild in many Pacific islands including Fiji
Red-whiskered Bulbuls have been captured for the pet trade in great numbers and, have been widely introduced to tropical and subtropical areas, for example, southern Florida, Fiji
Ruffed Lories or Solitary Lories (Phigys solitarius) – Range: Larger Fiji islands, northern part of Lau Archipelago
Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) – Range: Found in the mangroves, forests, and river valleys of Fiji
Samoa Parrotfich or Pink-billed Parrotfinch (Erythrura cyaneovirens cyaneovirens) – Range: Found on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji
Shining Parrots (Prosopeia) – Range: Islands of Fiji
Silktails (Lamprolia victoriae) – Range: Endemic to forests of Taveuni and Vanua Levu islands of Fiji
Silvereye or Wax-eye (Zosterops lateralis)
Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis)
Streaked Fantail (Rhipidura verreauxi or Rhipidura spilodera)
Whistling Doves (Ptilinopus layardi) – Endemic to the islands of Kadavu and Ono in the Kadavu Group in the south of Fiji
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
White-browed Crakes (Porzana cinerea)
White-rumped Swiftlet (Aerodramus spodiopygia)
White-throated Whistler (Pachycephala vitiensis) (no photo)
