Originally, I planned to post separate articles with birds of Fiji images depending on their size and type. A few months back I posted the first article with images of small to medium-sized birds here in Fiji and followed a few weeks later with another one dedicated to the beautiful doves here. Instead of following with a post on the larger birds, I decided to compile all birds I managed (and will manage) to photograph so far in this post. And because everything sticks a little better in our heads with a catchy name, I am going to call this project “Project manumanu vuka“, which means “Bird” in Fijian.
As I wrote before, according to Wikipedia the avifauna of Fiji “includes a total of 178 species, of which 31 are endemic, and 13 have been introduced by humans”. This sounds a lot, and indeed it is but we have to start somewhere regardless.
Project manumanu vuka – photographing all birds of Fiji
As I am living and working in Fiji and generally love birding, I came up with the (probably impossible) plan to photograph each and every one of the birds found here in Fiji – whether just as occasional visitors or as resident breeding birds. I figured the easiest way to display them in alphabetic order. The expectations for myself are that the shown images must be of good quality, visually pleasing, and facilitate the identification of the respective bird(s).
This will be an ongoing project and I will update this as I am able to shoot new birds. Luckily, I do get to travel a fair bit throughout Fiji due to my work assignments and fingers crossed will be able to photograph birds that can only be found on a certain island or islands.
It is thought that back in time Fiji was entirely covered by forest – the reason why native birds here are either adapted to forests or are of coastal/oceanic nature. Some species have adapted though and others were introduced making the avifauna of Fiji a little more diverse.
Birds of Fiji
Alphabetical List of Birds
Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
An Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) photographed on Taveuni Island in Fiji.
Barking Imperial Pigeon (Ducula latrans)
A small group of Barking Imperial Pigeons (Ducula latrans) in Suva.
A Barking Imperial Pigeon rests in a tree on Beqa Island.
Bar-Tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
A Bar-Tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) at the Suva forefront.
Several dozen bar-tailed godwits rest on a jetty on Toberua island
Black-Naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana)
Two Black-naped Terns (Sterna sumatrana) rest on a limestone formation in Fulaga Lagoon, Lau Island Group, Fiji.
Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)
Two bridled terns rest on a limestone formation in the Fulaga atoll in Fiji’s Lau Group-
A bridled tern photographed at the Fulaga atoll in Fiji’s remote Lau Group.
A bridled tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) flies among the limestone rocks at Fulaga, Lau Group, Fiji.
Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
A Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) spotted around Namena Island just off Vanua Levu.
A juvenile Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) resting on a tree on Namena island in Fiji.
A Brown Booby flying in the warm evening light.
A relatively newborn Booby chick.
A Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) spotted around Namena Island just off Vanua Levu.
Buff-Banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
Two Buff-Banded Rails photographed on Namena island off Vanua Levu.
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
A Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) photographed on Wakaya Island.
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris).
Collared Lory (Phigys solitarius)
Collared Lory (Phigys solitarius).
Collared Lory (Phigys solitarius).
Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis)
A rare melanistic fan-tailed cuckoo photographed on the University of the South Pacific Campus in Suva.
Common Mynah (Acridotheres trisis)
Common Mynah (Acridotheres trisis).
A group of Common Mynahs (Acridotheres trisis) at the Suva waterfront.
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
A Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) photographed in Suva.
A flock of Feral Pigeons (Columba livia) in Suva.
Fiji Bush-Warbler (Cettia ruficapilla)
Fiji Bush Warbler (Horornis ruficapilla)
The Fiji Bush-Warbler (Cettia ruficapilla) is a very difficult bird to photograph as it moves quickly from branch to branch in dense bush like here in Colo-i-Suva just outside of Suva.
Fiji Goshawk (Accipiter rufitorques)
A Fiji Goshawk couple (Accipiter rufitorques) photographed around Sigatoka.
A juvenile Fiji Goshawk (Accipiter rufitorques) photographed just outside Ba.
Fiji Parrotfinch (Erythrura pealii)
A Fiji Parrotfinch (Erythrura pealii) encountered on Viti Levu.
A Fiji Parrotfinch (Erythrura pealii).
Fiji Shrikebill (Clytorhynchus vitiensis)
A Fiji Shrikebill (Clytorhynchus vitiensis) on Vuaqava Island in the Lau Group in Fiji.
Fiji Whistler (Pachycephala vitiensis)
Fiji whistler (Pachycephala vitiensis)
Fiji whistler (Pachycephala vitiensis).
Fiji White-Eye (Zosterops explorator)
Fiji White-Eye (Zosterops explorator) in Colo-i-Suva.
Fiji Woodswallow (Artamus mentalis)
Fiji Woodswallow (Artamus mentalis).
A Fiji Woodswallow (Artamus mentalis) resting on an electricity line.
Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)
A Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii).
A flying Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii).
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor)
A Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Leleluvia Island in Fiji.
Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in full flight.
Golden Dove (Chrysoena luteovirens)
Male Golden Dove (Chrysoena luteovirens).
Female Golden Dove (Chrysoena luteovirens) sighted in Colo-i-Suva.
A female Golden Dove (Chrysoena luteovirens) perfectly camouflaged in its environment. Can you spot it?
Male Golden Dove (Chrysoena luteovirens).
Jungle Mynah (Acridotheres fuscus)
a Jungle Mynah (Acridotheres fuscus) in Suva. Easy to spot here is the array of feathers at the base of its beak.
Blue-Crested Broadbill (Myiaggra azureocapilla)
A Blue-Crested Broadbill (Myiagra azureocapilla)
Blue-Crested Broadbill (Myiagra azureocapilla).
Many-Colored Fruitdove (Ptilinopus peroussi)
A female Many-Colored Fruitdove (Ptilinopus peroussi) on Wakaya Island.
A male Many-colored Fruitdove (Ptilinopus peroussi).
A female Many-Colored Fruitdove (Ptilinopus peroussi).
Masked Shining Parrot (Prosopeia personata)
A Masked Shining Parrot (Prosopeia personata) in Colo-i-Suva.
A Masked Shining Parrot (Prosopeia personata) couple photographed in Colo-i-Suva.
Orange-Breasted Myzomela (Myzomela jugularis)
Orange-Breasted Myzomela (Myzomela jugularis).
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An Orange-Breasted Myzomela (Myzomela jugularis).on Beqa Island.
Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
Two Pacific black ducks (Anas superciliosa) photographed near Nakelo Landing in Nausori.
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
A Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) on a sabndy beach near Beqa Island.
A Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) on a small island near Beqa.
[…] When it wasn’t pouring, we made our way through the thick cloud forest towards a ridge where teams of two positioned themselves for a few hours to document any birds and calls they could identify. Unfortunately, during much of the three-hour trek towards the ridge, it was raining and I had to keep my equipment in my waterproof bag. Jake, part of the NatureFiji permanent staff, called me back to show me the Taveuni Silktail! Beautiful bird to see but I was a little bit disappointed not being able to photograph it and add it to my “Birds of Fiji” collection. […]
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