French Polynesia

Birding French Polynesia

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 square kilometres. 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 IslandsBass Islands (often considered part of the Austral Islands)Gambier Islands (often considered part of the Tuamotu Archipelago)Marquesas IslandsSociety Islands (including Tahiti)Tuamotu ArchipelagoAside 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.There are relatively few bird species (122), the majority of which are seabirds with just 31 fully terrestrial species, most of which (27) are endemic.