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Republic of Vanuatu

Buff-bellied Monarch Neolalage banksiana   ©Dubi Shapiro Website

Vanuatu is an island country in Melanesia located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is 1,750 km (1,090 miles) east of northern Australia, 540 km (340 miles) northeast of New Caledonia, east of New Guinea, southeast of Solomon Islands, and west of Fiji. It is a Y-shaped archipelago consisting of about 83 relatively small, geologically newer islands of volcanic origin (65 of them inhabited), with about 1,300 kilometres between the most northern and southern islands. Two of these islands (Matthew and Hunter) are also claimed and controlled by France as part of the French collectivity of New Caledonia. The fourteen of Vanuatu’s islands that have surface areas of more than 100 square kilometres are, from largest to smallest: Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erromango, Ambrym, Tanna, Pentecost, Epi, Ambae or Aoba, Gaua, Vanua Lava, Maewo, Malo and Aneityum or Anatom. The nation’s largest towns are the capital Port Vila, on Efate, and Luganville on Espiritu Santo.  The highest point in the nation is Mount Tabwemasana, at 6,165 feet, on the island of Espiritu Santo.

Espiritu Santo – ©Graham Crumb CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Vanuatu’s total area is just under 12,300 square kilometres (c.4,700 square miles), of which its land surface is very limited – roughly 4,700 km2 (1,800 square miles). Most of the islands are steep, with unstable soils and little permanent freshwater. One estimate is that only 9% of land is used for agriculture (7% with permanent crops, plus 2% considered arable). The shoreline is mostly rocky with fringing reefs and no continental shelf, dropping rapidly into the ocean depths. There are several active volcanoes in Vanuatu, including Lopevi, Mount Yasur and several underwater volcanoes. Volcanic activity is common, with an ever-present danger of a major eruption. Vanuatu is recognised as a distinct terrestrial ecoregion, which is known as the Vanuatu rain forests. It is part of the Australasian realm, which includes New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand.

Vanuatu’s population is growing at about 2.4% annually, thus placing increasing pressure on land and resources for agriculture, grazing, hunting, and fishing. 90% of Vanuatu households fish and consume fish, which has caused intense fishing pressure near villages and the depletion of near-shore fish species. While well-vegetated, most islands show signs of deforestation. The islands have been logged, particularly of high-value timber, subjected to wide-scale slash-and-burn agriculture, and converted to coconut plantations and cattle ranches, and now show evidence of increased soil erosion and landslides. Many upland watersheds are being deforested and degraded, and fresh water is becoming ever more scarce. Proper waste disposal, as well as water and air pollution, are becoming troublesome issues around urban areas and large villages. Additionally, the lack of employment opportunities in industry and inaccessibility to markets have combined to lock rural families into a subsistence or self-reliance mode, putting tremendous pressure on local ecosystems.

Despite its tropical forests, Vanuatu has relatively few terrestrial plant and animal species. It has an indigenous flying fox, Pteropus anetianus, which are important rainforest and timber regenerators. They pollinate and disperse seed from a variety of native trees. The 19 species of native reptiles include the flowerpot snake, found only on Efate.

A stream on Efate – ©PhillipC CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Fiji banded iguana Brachylophus fasciatus was accidentally introduced in the 1960s. There are eleven species of bats (three unique to Vanuatu) and sixty-one species of land and water birds. While the small Polynesian rat is thought to be indigenous, the large species arrived with Europeans, as did domesticated hogs, dogs, and cattle.

The climate is tropical, with about nine months of warm to hot rainy weather and the possibility of cyclones and three to four months of cooler, drier weather characterised by winds from the southeast. The water temperature ranges from 22 °C in winter to 28 °C in the summer. Cool between April and September, the days become hotter and more humid starting in October. The daily temperature ranges from 20–32 °C. Southeasterly trade winds occur from May to October. There is a long rainy season, with significant rainfall almost every month. The wettest and hottest months are December through April, which also constitutes the cyclone season. The driest months are June through November. Rainfall averages about 93 inches per year but can be as high as 160 inches in the northern islands.

Birding Vanuatu

The avifauna of Vanuatu include a total of 189 species, of which nine are endemic, and 10 have been introduced by humans Vanuatu does not have a great number of birds, but it is a unique and little-known region. Vanuatu and the Santa Cruz islands are an Endemic Bird Area. Vanuatu has 21 Restricted Range Species and isolation has led to the development of 9 endemics. Vanuatu hosts 11 Globally Threatened Birds, 7 of these are resident and one, the Santa Cruz Ground-Dove Gallicolumba santaecrusis, is endangered. Vanuatu also has 4 near threatened birds. There is some upside potential in the Vanuatu list – seabirds and shorebirds have been mostly overlooked.

Vanuatu is situated on the western leading edge of the Pacific tectonic plate. Most of the islands are formed from the summits of volcanic mountain ranges rising from the ocean floor and many are less than three million years old. Volcanic activity and uplift continue to change the landscape. It is mostly covered by forest. Evergreen tropical forest is found in the lowlands and hills on the windward sides of the islands.

Vanuatu Rainforest – ©Phillip Capper, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Semi-deciduous forests, fire induced savannahs and grasslands may be found on the drier leeward slopes. Evergreen cloud forests grow on the high mountains. Vanuatu’s coasts are mostly rocky and exposed and there are only a few sheltered estuaries. Its flora and terrestrial fauna have fewer species than neighbouring countries which indicates the isolation and young age of the islands. On the other hand, the coral reefs and inshore waters support a very rich marine fauna.

There’s very little bird watching going on in Vanuatu today and no specialist tour operators in the country. In Vanuatu you have to find you own birds and there are many unknown sites and other discoveries waiting. Birding on oceanic islands is different to continental birding. Populations of terrestrial birds on different islands are isolated to some extent which results in irregular distributions and changes in habitat preferences between islands. The central islands are more bird rich and several species do not occur south of Efate. Smaller islands have less habitat diversity and support fewer number of bird species.

Top Sites

  • Loru Rainforest Protected Area - Santo

    InformationSatellite View
    The project (also known as Ser-Thiac), as part of the Nakau Programme, protects over 200ha of tropical rainforest on eastern Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. It combines coastal rainforest protection with agroforestry, with a special focus on producing the agricultural commodity Melanesian Chestnut (Canarium indium) for participating community members.

  • Nagha mo Pineia Protected Area - Northwest Malekula

    InformationSatellite View
    Nagha mo Pineia Protected Area conserves the natural resources of more than 1000 hectares of lowland and hill forest and coastline on northwest Malekula. The diverse range of habitats in this conservation area include savannah, thickets, semi-deciduous forests and, at higher elevations, rainforests. The diverse range of habitats supports many different bird species.

  • Vatthe Conservation Area, Big Bay - Santo

    InformationSatellite View
    The Vatthe Conservation Area protects 2,276 hectares of lowland alluvial rainforest located at the southern end of Big Bay on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. Vatthe is a good habitat for lowland rainforest birds and Vanuatu's largest river, the Jordan River, runs through it. It's said that something like 80% (around 60) of Vanuatu's land and freshwater bird species have been recorded at Vatthe.
Contributors

  • Stephen Totterman

Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 189

    (As at January 2025)
Endemics

  • Number of endemics: 9

    Vanuatu Scrubfowl Megapodius layardi 
    Vanuatu Imperial-pigeon Ducula bakeri  
    Tanna Fruit-dove Ptilinopus tannensis  
    Vanuatu Kingfisher Todiramphus farquhari  
    Vanuatu Honeyeater Gliciphila notabilis  
    Vanuatu Streaked Fantail Rhipidura spilodera  
    Buff-bellied Monarch Neolalage banksiana  
    Santo Thicketbird Megalurulus whitneyi  
    Vanuatu White-eye Zosterops flavifrons  
    Mountain Starling Aplonis santovestris 

    Breeding Endemic:
    Vanuatu Petrel  Pterodroma occulta  

    Possible Split:
    Royal Parrotfinch  Erythrura regia 

Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Vanuatu , 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 Vanuatu. The avifauna of Vanuatu include a total of 189 species

  • 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 Melanesia: Bismarcks, Solomons, Vanuatu and New Caledonia

    | By Guy Dutson | Christopher Helm | 2011 | Paperback | 447 pages | 75 colour plates | colour photos | colour maps | black & white illustrations | Tables | ISBN: 9780713665406 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of Vanuatu

    | By HL Bregulla | Anthony Nelson | 1992 | Hardback | 294 pages, Colour and b/w photos | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780904614343 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of the Solomons, Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

    | By Chris Doughty, Nicholas Day & Andrew Plant | Christopher Helm | 1999 | Paperback | 206 pages, 91 colour plates, 340 colour distribution maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780713646900 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Organisations

  • Vanuatu Birding & Bird Photography

    Facebook Page
    Group created on 9 October 2016. Name last changed on 23 October 2020.
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • CA Loru Forest Project

    WebsiteSatellite View
    The Loru Forest Project, managed by the Nakau Programme, protects 166 ha of tropical rainforest on eastern Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu.

  • CA Vatthe

    InformationSatellite View
    The Vatthe Conservation Area is located at the southern end of Big Bay, on the island of Santo in Vanuatu. It is a 2,276 hectare area of lowland alluvial rainforest owned by the villages of Sara and Matantas and managed by the Vanuatu Environment Unit. The Vatthe Conservation Area Project (CAP) was initiated in 1994…
Guides & Tour Operators

  • Bellbird Birding Tours

    Tour Operator
    Fiji, Vanuatu & New Caledonia Birding Tour

  • BirdQuest

    Tour Operator
    NEW CALEDONIA, FIJI & SAMOA WITH VANUATU & COOK ISLANDS – an extraordinary tour for a multitude of endemics including Kagu

  • Birding Ecotours

    Tour Operator
    Our bird watching tours to the Republic of Vanuatu (Vanuatu hereafter) offer visiting birdwatchers the opportunity to see threatened and beautiful species rarely seen by international birdwatchers. On our Vanuatu birding tours we seek birds endemic to Vanuatu, and others endemic to the Melanesian region, within a comfortable and relaxing setting. Vanuatu is a relatively untouched paradise, with its volcanic mountains, lush rainforests, pristine beaches, impressive waterfalls and diverse reefs, little visited by tourists.

  • Ornis Birding Expeditions

    Tour Operator
    Buff-bellied Monarch (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Kingfisher (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Megapode (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu White-eye (Chris Venetz) Buff-bellied Monarch (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Kingfisher (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Megapode (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu White-eye (Chris Venetz) Buff-bellied Monarch (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Kingfisher (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Megapode (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu White-eye (Chris Venetz) Buff-bellied Monarch (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Kingfisher (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Megapode (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu White-eye (Chris Venetz) Buff-bellied Monarch (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Kingfisher (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Megapode (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu White-eye (Chris Venetz) Buff-bellied Monarch (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Kingfisher (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu Megapode (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu White-eye (Chris Venetz) Vanuatu: Highland Expedition Climb through pristine forest flanking a newly-accessible mountain in search of all the rarely-seen endemics and specialties of Vanuatu...

  • Rockjumper

    Tour Operator
    We currently have no scheduled tours running in Vanuatu.

  • Tropical Birding Tours

    Tour Operator
    Pacific Islands: Birding New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu & Samoa

  • Vanuatu Ecotours

    Local Tour Operator
    Did you know? Vanuatu Ecotours also offers private bird watching tours!
Trip Reports

  • 2016 [07 July] - David Hoddinott & Rich Lindie - Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu & New Caledonia

    PDF Report
    ...we were warmly welcomed and after whiling away time by enjoying fine views of our first Collared Kingfisher, a very confiding Red-bellied Fruit Dove and our first Vanuatu White-eye, we discovered the girls had prepared a very respectable luncheon on the clubhouse verandah.

  • 2017 [07 July] - Erik Forsyth & Rich Lindie

    PDF Report
    ...With only one glaring exception to our Vanuatu endemics tally, and with one extra day than needed,we set off the next morning for adventure, to a site not even visited by a Rockjumper group yet. Ourefforts paid off handsomely, as we were rewarded with a total of three sightings of Vanuatu Megapode– the third of which involved each and every person in the group; even if it did require a little bushwhackingto achieve...

  • 2018 [08 August] - Adam Walleyn - South West Pacific Islands

    PDF Report
    ...our first endemic, the Vanuatu White-eye, just outside the airport. Grey-eared Honeyeater, Long-tailed Triller, Uniform Swiftlet, Coconut Lorikeet, White-breasted Woodswallow, Grey Fantail, and Pacific Swallow rounded out the list of native birds for the layover...

  • 2018 [11 November] - 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.

  • 2020 [03 March] - Mike Hunter

    PDF Report
    The Western Pacific Odyssey was conceived some 15 or so years’ ago by Chris Collins, a renowned pelagic birder, who was the expedition leader for the WPO for the first time in 2020. It is operated by Heritage Expeditions (HE) and is in effect a repositioning cruise between their Subantarctic and Russian Far East offerings.
Other Links

  • Vanuatu Birds and Where to Find Them

    Information
    Vanuatu is home to some rare, amazing and beautiful birdlife, thanks to its diversity of habitats ranging from coastal swamps and lowland forests to incredible mountain cloud forests.

  • Vanuatu Scrubfowl

    Information
    Vanuatu Scrubfowl Megapodius layardi

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