Republic of Fiji

Fiji Parrotfinch Erythrura pealii ©Wiki Commons
Birding Fiji

Fiji, officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Fijian: Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti), is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. The country occupies an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited, and 522 islets. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, which together account for 87% of the population.

The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,300 metres (4,250 ft), and covered with tropical forests. Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva, and is home to nearly three quarters of the population. Other important towns include Nadi (the location of the international airport), and the second city – Lautoka (the location of a large sugar mill and a seaport). The main towns on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu, the Mamanuca Group (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Group. Rotuma, some 500 kilometres (310 mi) north of the archipelago, has a special administrative status in Fiji. Fiji’s nearest neighbour is Tonga. The climate in Fiji is tropical and warm most of the year round.

Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers. The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated 6.5 kilometers to the east of Vanua Levu, across the Somosomo Strait, and is part of the Northern Division. It had a population of around 9,000. Taveuni has abundant flora and is known as the ‘Garden Island of Fiji’. It is a popular tourist destination and 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 literally just minutes from the main town Waiyevo area. The best way is to take a 4-wheel drive vehicle nearly to the top of the 1195 meter peak, and then walk up from the locked gate. Likewise, Qeleni, on the northern end of the island also affords excellent bird watching. To get to Qeleni you have to take a 4-wheel drive about 5km up a rugged mountain road. Both locales offer the chance to see Orange Breasted Doves, Silktails, Ferntails and the Taveuni Musk Parrots.Kadavu with an area of 411 square kilometers, is the fourth largest island in Fiji, and the largest island in the Kadavu Group, a volcanic archipelago consisting of Kadavu, Ono, Galoa and a number of smaller islands in the Great Astrolabe Reef. It is a tropical bird watcher’s dream come true! No 3 day hike or drive into a jungle to catch a glimpse of a bird, most of the native life flyaround the island and the resorts all day and night! 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.

Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 133

Endemics
  • Number of endemics: 34

    Barking Imperial-pigeon Ducula latrans Orange Dove Chrysoena victor Golden Dove Chrysoena luteovirens Whistling Dove Chrysoena viridis Fiji Goshawk Accipiter rufitorques Crimson Shining-parrot Prosopeia splendens Masked Shining-parrot Prosopeia personata Maroon Shining-parrot Prosopeia tabuensis Red-throated Lorikeet Charmosyna amabilis Collared Lory Phigys solitarius Kadavu Honeyeater Meliphacator provocator Yellow-billed HoneyeaterGymnomyza viridis Giant Honeyeater Gymnomyza brunneirostris Kikau Foulehaio procerior Fiji Wattled Honeyeater Foulehaio taviunensis Rotuma Myzomela Myzomela chermesina Orange-breasted Myzomela Myzomela jugularis Fiji Whistler Pachycephala vitiensis Fiji Woodswallow Artamus mentalis Natewa Silktail Lamprolia klinesmithi Taveuni Silktail Lamprolia victoriae Fiji Streaked Fantail Rhipidura layardi Taveuni Streaked Fantail Rhipidura rufilateralis Kadavu Fantail Rhipidura personata Chestnut-throated Flycatcher Myiagra castaneigularis Azure-crested Flycatcher Myiagra azureocapilla Ogea Monarch Mayrornis versicolor Slaty Monarch Mayrornis lessoni Black-throated Shrikebill Clytorhynchus nigrogularis Long-legged Thicketbird Megalurulus rufus Fiji Bush-warbler Horornis ruficapilla Fiji White-eye Zosterops explorator Fiji Parrotfinch Erythrura pealii Pink-billed Parrotfinch Erythrura kleinschmidti

    Once species breeds nowhere else: Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi

Checklist
  • iGoTerra Checklist

    iGoTerra Checklist
    Fatbirder Associate iGoTerra offers the most comprehensive and up to date birds lists on the web
Useful Reading

  • A Guide to the Birds of Fiji and Western Polynesia

    | (including American Samoa, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Wallis and Futuna) | By Dick Watling | Self-Published | 2004 | Paperback | 272 pages, 16 col plates, figs, tabs, maps | ISBN: 9789829030047 Buy this book from NHBS.com
  • Important Bird Areas in Fiji

    | Edited by Vilikesa T Masibalavu & Guy Dutson | BirdLife International | 2006 | Paperback | 66 pages, 50 Col photos, 14 tabs, 17 maps | ISBN: 9789829101013 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Organisations
  • Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji

    Website
    To preserve the functional integrity and resilience of Fiji's priority ecoscapes by integrating community-based adaptive management with science-based solutions in order to protect iconic species, maintain habitat connectivity and preserve livelihoods with the informed, active and sustainable support of local and national stakeholders.
  • BirdLife

    Information
    Dr Dick Watling, c/o Environment Consultants Fiji, P0 Box 2041, Government Buildings, Suva. +679 383189 watling@connect.com.fj
  • NatureFiji-MareqetiViti

    Website
    NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is Fiji’s only domestic NGO working solely for the conservation and sustainable management of Fiji’s unique natural heritage. We aim to generate enthusiasm and local expertise in all matters associated with wildlife conservation and management through raising the level of conservation and environmental awareness and education…
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • FR Colo-I-Suva

    InformationSatellite View
    Colo-I-Suva Forest Park (pronounced Tholo-ee-Suva) was once a true tropical lowland rainforest, which has been interplanted with mahogany. It is in the upper drainage area of Waisila catchment, alongside Princes Road. The Department of Forestry manages the Forest Park.
  • Kula Eco Park

    WebsiteSatellite View
    Kula Eco Park, located on the southern Coral Coast Area Viti Levu, is an environmental showplace dedicated to the conservation of Fiji's indigenous Fauna and to the environmental education of Fiji's children…
  • NP Bouma National Heritage Park

    InformationSatellite View
    Bouma National Park is located on Taveuni Island, which is the third-largest island in Fiji. Fiji is located in the South Pacific Ocean northeast from Australia towards Hawaii. The national park area covers an area of 168 square miles (435 sq km).
  • NP Koroyanitu National Heritage Park

    InformationSatellite View
    round 10km southeast of Lautoka, Koroyanitu National Heritage Park has the most accessible walking trails of Fiji’s two National Heritage Parks. The park was created in 1992 to preserve the area’s natural forests and endemic birdlife from clearing for pine forest and encroaching grasslands.
  • NP Sigatoka Sand Dunes

    InformationSatellite View
    The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is located at the mouth of the Sigatoka River on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. They are located approximately 3 km west of the town of Sigatoka.
  • NP Waitabu Marine Park

    WebsiteSatellite View
    In 1998 the Waitabu Village of Taveuni declared its fishing grounds or "qoliqoli" to be "tabu" -- a no-take fishing zone. NZAID initially supported...
  • RR Waisali

    InformationSatellite View
    ...We were made very welcome by the attendant who explained a little about the Rainforest and then we set off. It is a strenuous hike but it gives you great insight in to the local endemic plants. It is just off the main road between....
Guides & Tour Operators
  • Birding Ecotours

    Tour Operator
    Fiji, a country in the South Pacific, is an archipelago of more than 300 islands. It is famed for its rugged landscape of blue lagoons and palm-lined beaches, and for eco-activities from mountain climbing and surfing to soft-coral diving and birdwatching. Its major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, contain the lion’s share of the population, meaning much of the country is uncrowded.
  • Daku Resort

    Tour Operator
    Birdwatching in Fiji offers the opportunity to see a number of tropical birds in their natural habitat. Our island, Vanua Levu, is home to a large number of birds, including the rare silktail which is found in the eastern end of the island.
  • Kiwi Wildlife Tours

    Tour Operator
    South Pacific Islands Birdwatching Tours - Fiji offers many birding delights (large musk parrots, frenetic flashing silktails, garrulous honeyeaters, exquisite golden and orange doves, Fijian goshawk, tropic-birds, frigatebirds, boobies and noddies). New Caledonia is also a must (kagu, cloven feathered dove, horned parakeet); with tropical, coral-fringed, rainforest-rich, mountainous islands or coral atolls throughout the region
Trip Reports
  • 2014 [04 April] - David Klauber

    Report
    I saw 53 species, and heard four more on the main three islands, with another 22 plus 1 heard on the Heritage trip for a total of 80 on my Fiji checklist. Best targets were the stunning Orange and Golden Doves and Pink-billed Parrotfinch, plus on the Heritage trip Fiji Petrel and Ogea Monarch. My biggest misses were Whistling/Velvet Dove and Long-legged Warbler, both heard only, and Friendly / Shy Ground-Dove, a regional endemic. Many islands have unique subspecies – refer to the Watling guide for detailed information...
  • 2016 [07 July] - David Hoddinott & Rich Lindie - Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu & New Caledonia

    Report PDF
    Along the way wefound not one but several Silktails, more obliging MaroonShining Parrots, Fiji Wattled Honeyeater, Yellow-billedHoneyeater, Polynesian Triller, Fiji Whistler, FijiShrikebill, dazzling Azure-crested Flycatchers, aconfiding but active Pacific Robin, Fiji White-eyes,Polynesian Starlings, a few shy Island Thrushes, Many-coloured Fruit Doves, Fiji Parrotfinches and severalspecies we had seen the day before - a list that includesmuch of the island's endemics!
  • 2016 [10 October] - Andrew Walker

    PDF Report
    Trip highlights were numerous and included most endemics, Kagu, New Caledonian Crow, Crow Honeyeater, (Natewa) Silktail, Horned Parakeet, Masked Shining Parrot, Maroon Shining Parrot, Crimson Shining Parrot, Collared Lory, Azure-crested Flycatcher, Samoan Whistler, Mao, and Flat-billed Kingfisher, but the many interesting and beautiful pigeons and doves really stood out as being exceptional, with Cloven-feathered Dove, Goliath Imperial Pigeon, Barking Imperial Pigeon, Golden Fruit Dove, Orange Fruit Dove, Whistling Fruit Dove, Many-colored Fruit Dove, and Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove all seen well.
  • 2017 [07 July] - Erik Forsyth

    PDF Report
    This year's tour to the south-west Pacific proved, yet again, that not only is the region a birding hotspot, but things are rapidly improving in the tourism and travel sector. Indeed, we experienced very little of the once notorious flight delays that plagued the region, dined in several fine restaurants, and lived it up in some truly wonderful accommodations. The birds, of course, were as spectacular as always, and our exploits secured us great sightings of no less than 78 of the region's endemics, including such megas as Kagu, Horned Parakeet, Orange Fruit Dove and Mao!
  • 2018 [08 August] - Mark Smiles

    PDF Report
    This was the second leg in a month-long trip to the South Pacific & Australia with my wife, Louise; visiting New Caledonia (1 week) and Fiji (2 weeks), before spending a week taking things slightly easier in the Blue Mountains, east of Sydney on our way home
  • 2018 [11 November] - Mark Van Beirs - New Caledonia & Fiji with Vanuatu & Samoa

    PDF Report
    The unique Orange Fruit Dove was the undisputed highlight of our very enjoyable foray to the Melanesian islands of Vanuatu and New Caledonia and the Polynesian islands of Fiji and Samoa. These little dots sprinkled about in the western Pacific Ocean hold an amazing variety of endemics and specialities and on our recent trip we managed to see the majority of these.
  • 2022 [02 February] - Peter Marsh

    PDF Report
    Our first Fijian bird was FIJI WOODSWALLOW. Apart from the ubiquitous Common and Jungle Mynas (never to be mentioned again!) nothing else was showing itself in the rain.
Places to Stay
  • Raintree Lodge

    Accommodation
    Raintree Lodge is the first fully designed ecotourism lodge in the Fiji Islands! Colo-I-Suva Forest Park is a delight and is only 5 minutes walk away. The early morning observer may well be the first to greet the unafraid scarlet robin and be scolded by the spotted fantail. The sounds of civilization fade as the bush deepens, and soon the twitter of the mixed flocks of golden whistlers, blue-crested broadbills, slaty flycatchers and spotted fantails take over, punctuated occasionally by the raucous screech of the sulphur-breasted musk parrot or the resounding woof of a barking pigeon.
Other Links
  • Bird Watching in Fiji

    Webpage
    Fiji, compared to other South Pacific nations such as New Guinea, lacks a diversity of avian life but there are enough interesting and sometimes spectacular looking birds to attract visitors from throughout the world.
  • Birds and bird-watching

    Website
    Overview of a number of other islands too
  • Endangered Wildlife of Fiji

    Webpage
    A resource paper for teachers and others…
  • Fiji Bird Watching

    Webpage
    Fiji's large variety of birds, including 27 species that are indigenous to Fiji and can be found nowhere else in the world, make the islands excellent for bird watching. Altogether there are approximately eighty species of freshwater and terrestrial birds, of which ten have been introduced. Areas that are most recommended for bird watching in Fiji are forests and far inland areas.

Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide... Wildlife Travellers see our sister site: WAND

Skip to content