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French Polynesia

Atoll Fruit-dove Ptilinopus coralensis ©Sebastien Palud Website

French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory (Papeete). It is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 2,000 kilometres in the South Pacific Ocean. Its total land area is 4,167 km2.

French Polynesia is divided into five groups of islands: the Society Islands archipelago, composed of the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands; the Tuamotu Archipelago; the Gambier Islands; the Marquesas Islands; and the Austral Islands. Only 67 of the 118 islands and atolls are inhabited. Tahiti, which is located within the Society Islands, is the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the collectivity, Papeete. It has almost 70% of the population of the islands (2017).

The island groups are: Austral Islands Bass Islands (often considered part of the Austral Islands); Gambier Islands (often considered part of the Tuamotu Archipelago); Marquesas Islands; Society Islands (including Tahiti); Tuamotu Archipelago. Aside from Tahiti, some other important atolls, islands, and island groups in French Polynesia are: Ahe, Bora Bora, Hiva ‘Oa, Huahine, Maiao, Maupiti, Mehetia, Moorea, Nuku Hiva, Raiatea, Tahaa, Tetiaroa, Tubuai, and Tupai.

Mo’orea, Tahiti – ©Matthew Dillon CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

French Polynesia has a tropical climate with a warm rainy season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. The average annual temperature is 26°C in Papeete, but the Tubuai Islands are cooler.

Birding French Polynesia

French Polynesia is home to four terrestrial eco-regions: Marquesas tropical moist forests, Society Islands tropical moist forests, Tuamotu tropical moist forests, and Tubuai tropical moist forests. Its waters are home to many marine species, including whales, sharks, tuna, sea turtles, dolphins, rays, crabs, and tropical fish. The turtle, or Honu in Tahitian, is a symbol of French Polynesia and is considered holy by Polynesians.

There are relatively few bird species, the majority of which are seabirds with just 31 fully terrestrial species, most of which are endemic.

Fautaua Waterfall is a jewel in Tahiti’s crown, the area’s lush vegetation provides ample food and shelter, making it an ideal spot for bird watching. It is a vibrant habitat for a variety of bird species, such as Grey-green Fruit Dove, Tahiti Reed-warbler and Tahiti Monarch.

Elsewhere, the many gardens of Papeete also offer an environment suitable for birds and species range from the iridescent Tahitian Kingfisher to the less vibrant Java Sparrow. Introduced Red-vented Bulbuls are ever present.

Hatiheu Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas – ©Steve Berardi CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Some areras, such as the villages of Avatoru and Tiputa are crucial habitats for a variety of sea birds, including Red-footed Booby, Great Frigatebird and Brown Noddy.

The lack of species numbers is somewhat offset by high endemism, but the special birds are often confined to just one island so building an even moderate list means visiting many different islands. The Omoa Valley on Fatu Hiva, for example, is home to the Fatu Hiva Monarch, as is Hanavave Bay. Plan to at least visit Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Rangiroa, and Fatu Hiva.

General nature lovers will, however, be enthralled by the varied and abundant sea life.

Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 171

    (As at December 2024)
Endemics

  • Number of endemics: 25

    Polynesian Ground Dove Alopecoenas erythropterus
    Marquesan Ground Dove Alopecoenas rubescens
    Polynesian Imperial Pigeon Ducula aurorae
    Nuku Hiva Imperial Pigeon Ducula galeata
    Grey-green Fruit Dove Ptilinopus purpuratus
    Makatea Fruit Dove Ptilinopus chalcurus
    Atoll Fruit Dove Ptilinopus coralensis
    Rapa Fruit Dove Ptilinopus huttoni
    White-capped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus dupetithouarsii
    Marquesan Swiftlet Aerodramus ocistus
    Polynesian Swiftlet Aerodramus leucophaeus
    Tuamotu Sandpiper Prosobonia parvirostris
    Tahitian Kingfisher Todiramphus veneratus
    Tuamotu Kingfisher Todiramphus gambieri
    Marquesan Kingfisher Todiramphus godeffroyi
    Blue Lorikeet Vini peruviana
    Ultramarine Lorikeet Vini ultramarina
    Tahiti Monarch Pomarea nigra
    Iphis Monarch Pomarea iphis
    Fatu Hiva Monarch Pomarea whitneyi
    Rimatara Warbler Acrocephalus rimitarae
    Tahiti Warbler Acrocephalus caffer
    Northern Marquesan Warbler Acrocephalus percernis
    Tuamotu Warbler Acrocephalus atyphus
    Southern Marquesan Warbler Acrocephalus mendanae

    Breeding Endemic:

    Tahiti Petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata

Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in French Polynesia , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • Wikipedia

    Annotated List
    This is a list of the bird species recorded in French Polynesia. The avifauna of French Polynesia include a total of 175 species, of which 41 are endemic, 15 have been introduced. Of these, 35 species are globally threatened.

  • eBird

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
Useful Reading

  • Birds of Eastern Polynesia

    | A Biogeographic Atlas | By Jean-Claude Thibault & Alice Cibois | Lynx Edicions | 2017 | Hardback | 438 pages, ~200 colour photos and illustrations, ~70 b/w illustrations, 142 colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9788416728053 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Organisations

  • Polynesian Ornithological Society

    Information
    aka MANU - meaning 'bird' in the Tahitian language
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • Marquesan Nature Reserves

    InformationSatellite View
    The Marquesan Nature Reserves are a network of small nature reserves in the Marquesas Islands. The reserves were declared by the government of French Polynesia in 1992, as a first step toward preserving the native flora and fauna of some of the smaller islands of the group.
Guides & Tour Operators

  • BirdQuest

    Tour Operator
    PITCAIRN & FRENCH POLYNESIA – Islands at The End of the World

  • Tahiti.com

    Local Excursion
    Venture across the lagoon with your guide to the tiny islet known as Bird Island. This bird watcher`s paradise provides the opportunity to view many unique avian species in their natural island habitat. Tour requires at least four people to operate.
Trip Reports

  • 2018 [12 December] - Bill Simpson

    PDF Report
    Walked to the Avera valley and the trail near the Lodge where all the birds were seen easily. Raiatea was chosen as both the Fruit Dove and Kingfisher are commoner here than on Huahine.

  • 2018 [12 December] - Graham Talbot

    PDF Report
    ... return to Papahue Valley to try and get better views of the Monarch. I arrived just after 5.30am and walked up the trail this time taking my shoes and socks off before crossing the stream. I arrived at the same area as the previous day and very soon found two Tahiti Monarch Grey-crown Fruit Dove Tahiti Kingfisher Tahiti Reed Warbler Monarchs building a nest. Polynesia Swiftlets were flying overhead as were a few Grey-green Fruit Dove’s. At about 9am I headed back down to car and returned to the hotel where I picked up my bag and checked out...

  • 2019 [10 October] - Brian Gibbons

    PDF Report
    ...Crystalline waters, soaring volcanic peaks, windswept atolls blanketed in coconut palms, gorgeous corals and swarms of reef fishes, amazing seabirds, and a variety of rare endemic landbirds is the short summary of what we witnessed as we sailed across the South Pacific. We sampled the Society, Marquesas, and Tuamotu islands in French Polynesia...

  • 2019 [10 October] - Graham Talbot

    PDF Report
    Nuku Hiva – Marquesas Imperial Pigeon. White-capped Fruit Dove, Northern Marquesas Reed Warbler A large inhabited island with an airport. The airport is on the opposite site of the island to the main settlement and the connecting road rises to 1400m as it crosses the Island. The west of the Island consists of open grassland whilst the east has taller trees. We birded the tall trees adjacent to the road starting at the high point and at other locations as we headed down the eastern side. A stop at Hati Heu Archaeological site was productive with the Imperial Pigeon and Fruit Dove being easily located. We stayed in a hotel for one night at Taioha’e and spent time exploring the costal area which he...

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