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Project manumanu vuka | Photos of all birds of Fiji
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 than 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.
Alphabetical List of Birds:
- Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
- Barking Imperial Pigeon (Ducula latrans)
- Bar-Tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
- Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
- Buff-Banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
- Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
- Collared Lory (Phigys solitarius)
- Common Mynah (Acridotheres trisis)
- Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
- Fiji Bush-Warbler (Cettia ruficapilla)
- Fiji Goshawk (Accipiter rufitorques)
- Fiji Parrotfinch (Erythrura pealii)
- Fiji White-Eye (Zosterops explorator)
- Fiji Woodswallow (Artamus mentalis)
- Greater crested tern (Thalasseus bergii)
- Golden Dove (Chrysoena luteovirens)
- Jungle Mynah (Acridotheres fuscus)
- Male Blue-Crested Broadbill (Myiaggra azureocapilla)
- Many-Colored Fruitdove (Ptilinopus peroussi)
- Masked Shining Parrot (Prosopeia personata)
- Orange-Breasted Myzomela (Myzomela jugularis)
- Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
- Pacific Harrier (Circus approximans)
- Pacific Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pacifica)
- Pacific Reef Heron (Egretta sacra)
- Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla)
- Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)
- Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)
- Red-Footed Booby (Sula sula)
- Red-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
- Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
- Slaty Monarch (Mayrornis lesson)
- Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
- Streaked Fantail (Rhipidura spilodera)
- Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
- Wattled Honeyeater (Foulehaio procerior)
- White-Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
- White-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus)
- White-Throated Pigeon (Columba vitiensis)
- Vanikoro Broadbill/Flycatcher (Myiagra vanikorensis)
Birds of Fiji
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.
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).
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 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).
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.
Masked Shining Parrot (Prosopeia personata).
Orange-Breasted Myzomela (Myzomela jugularis)
Orange-Breasted Myzomela (Myzomela jugularis).
An Orange-Breasted Myzomela (Myzomela jugularis).on Beqa Island.
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.
Pacific Harrier / Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
A Pacific / Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans).
A Pacific / Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans).
Pacific Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pacifica)
A Pacific Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pacifica) photographed on Wakaya Island.
Pacific Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pacifica).
Pacific / Eastern Reef Heron (Egretta sacra)
A pair of Pacific/Eastern Reef Herons (Egretta sacra) rest on a palm tree on Beqa Island.
Pacific/Eastern Reef Heron (Egretta sacra) in its white phase.
Two Pacific/Eastern Reef Herons (Egretta sacra) in different color phases are fighting on Suva’s waterfront during low tide.
Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla)
A Male Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla)
A female Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla)
Very, very cool to have seen this little fella: a juvenile Pacific Robin (Petroica pusilla) in Colo-i-Suva.
Pacific swallow (Hirundo tahitica)
A Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) resting for a moment on a pole.
Red avadavat (Amandava amandava)
The beautiful male Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) photographed on Suva’s waterfront
Female Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)
Red-Footed Booby (Sula sula)
A Red-Footed Booby (Sula sula) building a nest in a tree on Namena Island
A Red-Footed Booby (Sula sula) with its chick in a nest on Namena Island in Fiji
A relatively newborn Booby chick.
Red-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
A Red-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) photographed in Suva.
A Red-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) on Viti Levu.
A Red-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer).
Silverye (Zosterops lateralis)
A Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) photographed on Namena Island.
Slaty Monarch (Mayrornis lesson)
A Slaty Monarch (Mayrornis lessoni) in Colo-i-Suva.
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
A couple of Spotted Doves (Streptopelia chinensis).
A Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) on Wakaya Island.
Streaked Fantail (Rhipidura spilodera)
Fiji Streaked Fantail (Rhipidura layardi).
A Streaked Fantail (Rhipidura spilodera) on a branch in Colo-i-Suva.
Vanikoro broadbill/flycatcher (Myiagra vanikorensis)
Male Vanikoro Broadbill/Flycatcher (Myiagra vanikorensis) photographed around Labasa on Vanua Levu.
A male Vanikoro Broadbill/Flycatcher (Myiagra vanikorensis) photographed in Suva.
A female Vanikoro Flycatcher (Myiagra vanikorensis) on an island near Beqa.
A female Vanikoro Broadbill/Flycatcher (Myiagra vanikorensis).
Wattled honeyeater (Foulehaio procerior)
A Wattled Honeyeater (Foulehaio procerior) in a Papaya tree in Suva.
A female Fiji Wattled Honeyeater (Foulehaio taviunensis) in her nest on the eastern side of Taveuni Island.
Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
White-Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
A White-Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) at the Suva waterfront.
A White-Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) just taking off at the waterfront in Suva.
White-tailed Tropicbird
A White-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) on Namena Island in Fiji.
A White-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) flying with its beautiful tail clearly visible.
A White-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) nesting in a hollow tree trunk on Namena island.
White-Throated Pigeon (Columba vitiensis)
White-Throated Pigeon (Columba vitiensis) encountered in the Colo-i-Suva area.
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Tags: Avifauna, Beqa, Bird, Bird Guide, Bird of Prey, Birding, Birds, Coastal Birds, Dick Watling, Doves, Endemic, Fiji, Finch, Forest Birds, Guide, list, manu, manumanu vuka, Namena, Nikon D850, Pacific, Pacific Media House, Parrots, Passerines, Photography, Project manumanu vuka, Taveuni, Vanua Levu, Viti Levu, Wakaya Island
4 Comments
sehr sehr schön! Geiles Projekt!
Wow your photos are so amazing….
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Diving in Fiji during COVID-Lockdown | NAI'A Liveaboard
When I saw an advert in the Fiji Times a few months back calling for expressions of interest fort a local diving liveaboard...About Tom Vierus
Tom Vierus is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist based in Suva, Fiji Islands.
This page is dedicated to his work, projects, and assignments and to share some behind-the-scenes footage.
Get in contact tom(at)vierus.deInstagram @tomvierus
Twitter @tomvierus
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