20 AUGUST – 01 SEPTEMBER 2025
By Fraser Bell
The vivid Crimson Shining Parrot is endemic to the tiny southern Fijian island of Kadavu and is one of many spectacular endemic birds seen on this Fiji and Samoa birding tour.
Overview
This birding tour of Fiji and Samoa began in Nadi, Fiji on the 20th August 2025, and concluded in Apia, Samoa on 1st September 2025. The tour aimed to see all of the extant and currently recognized endemic bird species on Taveuni, Kadavu, and Viti Levu in Fiji, and Upolu, Samoa. Alongside these star species, we targeted a range of Melanesian and Polynesian specialties, and operated a pelagic to see the region’s seabirds.
The tour began in Nadi, Fiji’s travel hub, where we boarded a flight for Taveuni in northern Fiji. We had two nights at a brilliant dive resort and from there explored several areas in Mount Manaka National Park, such as Des Veoux Peak, plus some lowland and coastal birding. After our short but successful stay, we returned to Nadi to await our flight to the remote Kadavu in southeastern Fiji. On Kadavu most of our time was spent within the brilliant grounds and forest trails at our secluded resort, but we also birded at the small airport on transit. After two truly unforgettable nights on Kadavu where we saw all of our targets well, we flew to Suva, Fiji’s capital city for a four-night stay at an ecolodge near the Colo-I-Suva National Park. We explored the Namosi Road, Suvi Basin, Suva reef, and had a full day pelagic towards Gau island. On our tenth day of the tour, we caught an early flight to Samoa, where we checked in for a three-night stay at a plush resort along the seafront in peaceful Apia, Samoa’s capital. Most of our birding was at the fantastic Malolo’lelei Forest Reserve, but we also visited the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum gardens, and the Vaisagno Watertank.
The beautiful Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove is common on Samoa.
We recorded 90 bird species on this Fiji and Samoa birdwatching tour, with all species seen (and most seen well). While overall diversity on these islands is relatively low, the quality more than makes up for it, as many birds are restricted to just a handful of islands in this part of the South Pacific. The birding was very rewarding, with many species both vibrantly colorful and rarely seen by global birders. The many highlights included seeing the brilliant trio of Golden Dove, Orange Dove and Whistling Dove, along with Collared Lory, Blue-crowned Lorikeet, all three shining parrots (Crimson Shining Parrot, Maroon Shining Parrot, and Masked Shining Parrot), three wattled honeyeater species, including Kadavu Honeyeater, the giant honeyeater trio (Yellow-billed Giant Honeyeater, Duetting Giant Honeyeater,and Mao), Taveuni Silktail, seven species of monarch flycatcher including the stunning Azure-crested Flycatcher, Long-legged Thicketbird, Fiji Parrotfinch, and Royal Parrotfinch. For most of these species, we had prolonged, repeated views and excellent opportunities for photography. A full-day pelagic trip out of Suva produced many of the region’s seabirds, including the impressive Tahiti Petrel and two Wilson’s Storm Petrels, a rare species in Fijian waters at this time of year.
In addition to the exceptional birding, we also encountered an exciting range of other wildlife, including a colony of several thousand Samoan Flying Foxes at one of the resorts we stayed at, along with endemic reptiles such as Samoa Skink and Viti Slender Treeskink. During our afternoons on the Fijian islands of Taveuni and Kadavu we had time to explore the reefs just offshore, and those who did, enjoyed vibrant coral communities alive with hundreds of fish and other marine species creating a kaleidoscope of color. To top it off, we stayed in comfortable accommodation throughout the tour, where the Fijian and Samoan people made us feel very welcome and shared their culture and delicious food with us.
Kadavu Honeyeater is only found on the southern Fijian island of Kadavu.
Bird and animal lists for this Fiji and Samoa birding tour follow the report and you can also view the eBird trip report here, where you can see more bird photos.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 20th August 2025. Meeting in Nadi, and transfer to Taveuni
Our group met at Nadi International Airport on Viti Levu island, Fiji’s travel hub, where we boarded a small propeller plane for the short flight to the beautiful island of Taveuni. The journey offered stunning views of turquoise atolls, volcanic peaks, and the lush coastline of northern Fiji, giving us our first sense of the country’s dramatic scenery and unique biodiversity. After a short drive south we arrived at our resort on the western side of Taveuni. Here, we had a nice introduction to some of the more common bird species found in Fiji. Pairs of Polynesian Triller and Vanikoro Flycatcher were our first native species seen, the latter gave repeat looks while they were nest building within the garden, and a lone male Sulphur-breasted Myzomela, a tiny yet stunning honeyeater, was our first Fijian endemic. Of course the nonnative species such as Spotted Dove, Jungle Myna, and Common Myna were conspicuous, as was the lively colony of a couple thousand Samoan Flying Foxes outside our rooms! Greater Crested Tern perched on the small dock outside the resort, and out at sea we saw Lesser Frigatebird and Brown Booby. We ended the night with the first of many tasty Pacific-style meals and watched an authentic Fiji dance (with haka-like dancing) provided by the local villagers. It was a great way to be welcomed to Fiji!
The localized Pacific Kingfisher is a common sight in Fiji.
Day 2, 21st August 2025. Birding Des Veoux Peak
We started pre-dawn to make the most of our time on Taveuni, heading into the heights of Des Voeux Peak on Mount Manuka, one of Fiji’s highest mountains. This is one of the key birding sites we visit on the tour, as the rain and cloud forests holds nearly all of Taveuni’s specialties. The forest near the peak lived up to its name and we spent the first few hours birding under poor conditions, with showers and heavy cloud slowing activity, so we made do with brief sightings of the Taveuni subspecies of Fiji Island Thrush. Yet, after a slow start we found all six of our major targets throughout the rest of the morning. The stand-out birds were the two Taveuni endemics, Taveuni Silktail, which showed brilliantly, and Azure-crested Flycatcher. The silktail was a big tour target given its interesting taxonomic history (it has previously been considered a monotypic family but is currently within the fantails) and it was amazing to watch a pair of these birds flicking through leaf litter, clinging to the side of tree trunks, and darting around while flashing their dazzling white rumps. Several stunning male Orange Doves were superb to see, as were groups of Maroon Shining Parrots, impressive Yellow-billed Giant Honeyeater, and many Fiji Wattled Honeyeaters, all of these four species endemic to northern Fiji. These were backed up by a supporting cast of Barking Imperial Pigeon, Pacific Kingfisher, and Fiji White-eye among others.
Connecting with a pair of the iconic Taveuni Silktail on our second day made for a brilliant start to the tour!
Our afternoon was more relaxed, with half the group choosing to have some time off to enjoy the resort, some snorkeled over the reef just off the shore, while the others birded a mix of farmbush and open woodland. Those that went birdwatching enjoyed excellent views of a group of spectacularly beautiful Many-colored Fruit Doves, raucous bands of Maroon Shining Parrots, brilliantly vibrant Collared Lory, several Fiji Goshawks, and Polynesian Starling. It was a very memorable first full day of the tour of birding in Fiji!
Day 3, 22nd August 2025. Birding Taveuni, and transfer to Nadi
After our early start the previous morning we began a little later, arriving at a more open area of forest-scrub in the northern part of Mount Manaka National Park. Almost immediately we saw several stunningly beautiful Orange Doves, the males’ glow a strikingly vivid orange. It was fun listening to their popping calls and searching for them in the canopy, as for such a bright bird they can be surprisingly tricky to spot! The more open forest gave us excellent views of Barking Imperial Pigeon, the aptly named Many-colored Fruit Dove, and Polynesian Starling. Fiji Wattled Honeyeater and Maroon Shining Parrot were seen often throughout the morning, along with both Fiji White-eye and Silvereye. A highlight was finding a lively mixed flock that included four endemic songbirds – Azure-crested Flycatcher, Fiji Streaked Fantail, Slaty Monarch, and Fiji Shrikebill, which were all eventually seen well. Our afternoon was more relaxed as we said goodbye to the garden island of Taveuni and flew back to Nadi. We checked into a comfortable beachfront hotel for the night, and discussed upcoming targets on the remote island of Kadavu over dinner.
We had good views of a pair of Azure-crested Flycatchers while birding on Des Veoux Peak. This photo shows the male, with his namesake bright crest.
Day 4, 23rd August 2025. Flight to and birding Kadavu
We started our day watching the sun rise across Nadi Bay, followed by some birding around the beach and hotel grounds. We quickly had brilliant views of our main target for the morning, the endemic Fiji Parrotfinch, which is common in grassland across the main island of Viti Levu. These were mixing with flocks of nonnative Red Avadavats, introduced from India, the males just beginning to molt into their bright adult red plumage. We left Nadi mid-morning, bound for the peaceful island of Kadavu. The journey was an adventure in itself – first a short flight on a propeller plane, followed by a short beach walk from the airport to board a boat, and then a ride to the remote Papageno Resort. On the runway we found a Masked Lapwing, a common bird in Australia but scarce in Fiji.
Parrotfinches are beautiful but often secretive birds. The Fiji Parrotfinch is refreshingly common across much of Fiji and can even be found in suburbs and parks.
After lunch we explored the gardens and trails around this intimate resort, which turned out to be some of the best birding of the tour. We were targeting the five species endemic to southern Fiji and managed to see them all. Vivid Crimson Shining Parrot and inquisitive Kadavu Honeyeater were common around the gardens. Venturing into the forest we found a mixed flock containing a pair of busy Kadavu Fantails and White-throated Fiji Whistler, along with Slaty Monarch and Vanikoro Flycatcher. The highlight, though, was two sightings of the shy yet stunning male Whistling Dove, with one singing its distinctive “WheEEE-chit!” call that guided us to it in the dense canopy, where it was very well camouflaged. Straight after our second and longer view of the Whistling Dove we enjoyed close views of Collared Lory feeding in a flowering coconut, a species so brilliantly colored it needs to be seen to be believed. After a very successful afternoon we headed to the beach bar and watched a Pacific Reef Heron fishing against the sunset, the perfect close to an unforgettable first day on Kadavu.
This male Whistling Dove was the highlight of our time birding on the brilliant Kadavu island.
Day 5, 24th August 2025. Birding the peaceful island of Kadavu
We met at first light to bird the Papageno Resort grounds, seeing many Crimson Shining Parrots and Kadavu Honeyeaters feeding in the gardens, and another male Whistling Dove quietly eating fruits high in a tree. After breakfast we hiked into the forested hills behind the property. Over the morning we encountered several mixed flocks with vocal Slaty Monarch, along with endemic White-throated Fiji Whistler and Kadavu Fantail.
Many-colored Fruit Dove are appropriately named! We saw this spectacular species on more than ten occasions during the tour.
We enjoyed watching the fantail, which fans its tail, flicks its wings, and flies in arcs while catching insects. Other highlights included a flock of Many-colored Fruit Doves and a few secretive Fiji Bush Warblers deep in vine tangles. Since we had found all our targets, most of the group snorkeled after a local lunch of cold coconut fish stew served inside a green coconut. The snorkeling was excellent, with many colorful fish and corals. This evening we joined the resort staff for Fijian customs, including a Cava Ceremony and a traditional Lovo feast.
Noisy and inquisitive Kadavu Fantail were another localized endemic we saw during the tour.
Day 6, 25th August 2025. Travel to Suva and birding the Colo-I-Suva Reserve area
We started the morning with our final birding on Kadavu, seeing many of the species we had become familiar with over the past days. After a farewell song from the resort staff, we boarded our boat back to the tiny Vunisea Airport, landing next to the terminal. While waiting for our plane we found two Masked Lapwings, White-faced Heron, Crimson Shining Parrot, and added Black-naped Tern to the trip list. We then flew into Fiji’s capital, Suva, enjoying beautiful aerial views of the coastline, before transferring north to the Rainforest Ecolodge beside the Colo-I-Suva Forest Park. After lunch we met our local guide, and began birding around the lodge grounds.
Being our first time birding forest on Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island, we quickly added several new species. We saw both Kikau (named for its loud “Kik-Auu!” call) and Duetting Giant Honeyeater, plus the impressive Masked Shining Parrot. With this we had seen all three of Fiji’s endemic shining parrot species, this one being larger and differently colored than the others. Alongside the more regular Collared Lory, Fiji Woodswallow, Vanikoro Flycatcher, and others, we briefly saw a female Golden Dove in a fruiting tree. Sadly, this small green dove was displaced by a noisy flock of Barking Imperial Pigeons, so only a few of the group saw it. Still, a fine evening meal rounded off the day, and we prepared for the next morning to target some of Fiji’s rarest birds.
We saw all of Fiji’s three shining parrot species during the tour, this Masked Shining Parrot was perhaps the most impressive.
Day 7, 26th August 2025. The quest for Long-legged Thicketbird in the Suvi Basin
We left the resort pre-dawn, heading northwest in a convoy of off-road vehicles into Fiji’s remote forested highlands. It was a day of adventure and, at times demanding, birding. Along the journey we added Pacific Black Duck, then arrived at the famous Long-legged Thicketbird site. We spent the morning focused on this elusive and rarely seen species, once thought possibly extinct until rediscovered in 2003. We heard at least five birds calling from their dark forest territories, and most of the group succeeded in seeing this mega skulker, before the birds melted back into tangles. It was a privilege to connect with such a difficult and legendary bird.
Kikau, also known as Western Wattled-Honeyeater, are bold, loud and a major component of the bird communities in western Fiji.
The other highlight were two pairs of the endemic Black-throated Shrikebill, a unique member of the monarch flycatchers, with all five shrikebill species restricted to islands in the southwest Pacific. The male has a striking black face, and we all enjoyed listening to their dinosaur-like chatter and ghostly whistles as they investigated our group. We also saw a brilliantly colored male Yellow-throated Fiji Whistler, and many Fiji Island Thrushes throughout the morning.
In the afternoon we birded locally, where we found a nesting pair of Fiji Goshawks, and had good views of Swamp Harrier and Collared Lory, followed by another excellent meal at the ecolodge restaurant.
The localized Polynesian Starling is polymorphic, and we saw two morphs during our tour. This one belongs to the vitiensis subspecies of Fiji.
Day 8, 27th August 2025. Birding along the Namosi Road and Suva’s reef
We traveled south and west of our ecolodge before first light, heading to Namosi Road, renowned for excellent birding. The weather was not on our side today, but despite rain and dense fog, we managed to see two pairs of the beautiful Chestnut-throated Flycatcher well, this bird a Viti Levu endemic and recent split from the Azure-crested Flycatcher we saw on Taveuni. We finally found a Fan-tailed Cuckoo, made even better against a stunning backdrop of lush, forested mountains with fluffy cloud clinging around them. Other highlights included our best views of Metallic Pigeon, Fiji Bush Warbler, and at last, the extraordinary male Golden Dove, its plumage a brilliant, regal gold that glowed in the canopy.
Barking Imperial Pigeon is one of Fiji’s most common endemics.
With the rain unrelenting we opted to spend the afternoon looking for shorebirds (waders) off the reef around Suva, seeing Pacific Golden Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, and many Wandering Tattlers, before returning to the ecolodge. The rain finally stopped midafternoon, so some of the group decided to go back out to a local road through good forest, and here, among other species, we finally saw Pacific Robin. This stunning localized species had evaded us until now, so it was very satisfying to catch up with it on our final land-based Fijian birding session.
Day 9, 28th August 2025. Pelagic birding towards Gau Island
Early morning had us driving south into Suva to board a private boat charter bound for Gau Island. The island is thought to be the nesting site of the endemic and Critically Endangered (BirdLife International/IUCN) Fiji Petrel, our much-anticipated target of the day. Dawn broke as we made good progress, and we enjoyed a beautiful sunrise over Suva. Soon we were joined by groups of Greater Crested Tern, and as we ventured further out, we encountered busy mixed feeding flocks of Black Noddy and plunge-diving Red-footed Booby, occasionally joined by Brown Noddy, Bridled Tern, Sooty Tern, and Brown Booby. Once Gau Island loomed, we started chumming for tubenoses. While we did not encounter the near-mythical Fiji Petrel, it was thrilling being in these rarely visited waters. We did see multiple Tahiti Petrels, several Wilson’s Storm Petrels, and a fleeting Collared Petrel. Another bonus of the chum was Lesser Frigatebird and Great Frigatebird arcing down to pluck pieces off the water surface right around our boat, which turned out to be a spectacular display. After a long day at sea, we had a good rest before our early morning transfer to Samoa.
We had great views of two Tahiti Petrel which came close to our boat while chumming off the coast of Gau Island.
Day 10, 29th August 2025. Transfer to Samoa
Our transfer took most of the day, first flying from Fiji’s capital Suva back to Nadi, then boarding an international flight to Samoa. Everything went smoothly, and on arrival we quickly began enjoying the local birdlife.
One of the first birds we saw was a Buff-banded Rail, a species usually secretive but wonderfully bold on Samoa, casually feeding along the roadside. After checking in at our plush coastal hotel, we had a few hours’ birding in the midafternoon. Along the sea wall we had excellent views of dainty Black-naped Tern, acrobatic White-tailed Tropicbird, and the mesmerizing White Tern, an iconic tropical species we had been looking forward to seeing. Among the common nonnative species, we encountered our first native Samoan landbirds, including gorgeous Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove, hulking Samoan Starling, and nectar-feeding Samoan Myzomela. After this brief introduction, we enjoyed live music over dinner and settled in for a well-earned rest.
Bright Samoan Myzomela was one of the first landbirds we saw in this tiny island country.
Day 11, 30th August 2025. Malolo’lelei Forest Reserve and Robert Louis Stevenson Museum gardens
Given our long day to get to Samoa, we had a more leisurely start today. After breakfast we headed up to Malolo’lelei Forest Reserve, one of Samoa’s best birding sites, where we quickly started seeing many endemic species. First up were a small flock of Samoan Fantails, which busily fanned their tails and called often to each other while foraging. We also saw the brilliant golden Samoan Whistler, and the highlight of the morning, a Samoan Triller which flew into the canopy of the closest tree. This triller is atypically plumaged for a triller, being drab brown and off-white, but with a striking pale eye and bright orange bill. Other top birds were a group of three Flat-billed Kingfishers, and good numbers of stunning Crimson-crowned Fruit Doves, and Many-colored Fruit Doves. We had great close views of Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater, which completed our trio of wattled honeyeaters, this one the brightest olive, with the largest yellow wattle. Throughout the morning while birding in the forest, we were accompanied overhead by seabirds, mainly White-tailed Tropicbirds, but also Brown Noddy and White Tern. With no diurnal birds of prey and being a small island, many coastal seabird species can be seen inland – birding in Samoa is so unique!
After a midday break we headed to the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum gardens. Here we enjoyed having close views of many Buff-banded Rails (some feeding fluffy juveniles), Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove, and Pacific Imperial Pigeon, among others. Keen to see Samoan Flycatcher better than earlier in the day, we tried another location in a farmed landscape but did not connect with them. The highlights here were Australasian Swamphen, Samoan Fantail, and a pair of White Tern which perched and briefly allowed us to appreciate them.
Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater, also known as Eastern Wattled-Honeyeater, is the most colorful of the wattled honeyeater trio.
Day 12, 31st August 2025. Birding in Samoa
Given we still hadn’t connected with Mao, a giant honeyeater and one of Samoa’s most iconic birds, we returned to the brilliant Malolo’lelei Forest Reserve. Here we reconnected with several of the species from the previous day, and improved our views of Samoan Whistler with a male feeding in some low branches of a massive strangler fig. The highlight though was connecting with a female Mao, which flew in overhead while we were in a clearing, giving us great views. The other top sighting was a pair of Pacific Robin, of the Samoan subspecies, with the stunning male coming in low and allowing us to appreciate his dapper plumage while flycatching in the midstory.
After a nice midday break we headed back out for our final group birding at Vaisagno Watertank. This was another great Samoan birding location, with two Mao, one of which was seen well, among the other species we had become accustomed to. Although we had seen them briefly the previous morning, we worked hard for Samoan Flycatcher and it paid off, we found a pair at the roadside while leaving the site, which we were able to watch for some time. We enjoyed being able to watch these flat billed, bristled flycatchers up close properly, after only brief views previously. Our main target at the site was Royal Parrotfinch, which we heard on and off throughout the afternoon but only had in-flight views as two birds chased each other around. We returned to have our last feast of the tour, enjoyed talking through our highlights, and decided on the “bird of the trip”.
This is the male Samoan Flycatcher. We had excellent views of a pair as they sallied and flycaught around us, even hearing the snaps of their bills.
Day 13, 1st September 2025. Tour conclusion
We decided to return to the Vaisagno Watertank for a few hours of final birding before the tour ended. This area was very busy and we arrived at a flowering tree alive with birds. Many Samoan Myzomela, Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater, and Red-vented Bulbul busily jostled for space at the flowers. Although we heard Royal Parrotfinch from the high canopy, we only had brief views, so our sighting from the previous day remained the best.
Roadside birding on our way out of the site proved productive, with close views of a Mao feeding in a flowering Sago Palm, but the highlight was extended views of a pair of perched Blue-crowned Lorikeet. These small, brilliantly colored birds were a stunning final highlight! After a last breakfast together we said our goodbyes, made easier as half the group were headed onwards for our Birding Tour in New Caledonia, to see Kagu and many other endemics.
Overall, we recorded 90 species over 13 days of birding in Fiji and Samoa, placing our group in the eBird top 100 all-time birders for both countries (and ranked 10–20th in Fiji!). While there were many contenders for bird of the trip (16!), the vibrant Orange Dove and Fiji Goshawk were named the top Fijian birds, and the unique Mao and Samoan Flycatcher received the Samoan honors, with an honorable mention to the acrobatic White-rumped Swiftlet, ever-present throughout our birding and a delight to watch. Fiji and Samoa were a joy to explore with such an amazing group of birders and photographers, and I cannot wait to bird with you all again.
Bird List – Following IOC (Version 15.1 March 2025)
All species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable. (Endemic) = endemic to Fiji or Samoa. (Introduced) = nonnative
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) | |
| Pacific Black Duck | Anas superciliosa |
| Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae) | |
| Red Junglefowl (Introduced) | Gallus gallus |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| White-rumped Swiftlet | Aerodramus spodiopygius |
| Cuckoos (Cuculidae) | |
| Fan-tailed Cuckoo | Cacomantis flabelliformis |
| Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) | |
| Rock Dove (Introduced) | Columba livia |
| Metallic Pigeon | Columba vitiensis |
| Spotted Dove (Introduced) | Spilopelia chinensis |
| Many-colored Fruit Dove | Ptilinopus perousii |
| Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove | Ptilinopus porphyraceus |
| Orange Dove (Endemic) | Ptilinopus victor |
| Golden Dove (Endemic) | Ptilinopus luteovirens |
| Whistling Dove (Endemic) | Ptilinopus layardi |
| Pacific Imperial Pigeon | Ducula pacifica |
| Barking Imperial Pigeon (Endemic) | Ducula latrans |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| Buff-banded Rail | Hypotaenidia philippensis |
| Australasian Swamphen | Porphyrio melanotus |
| Plovers (Charadriidae) | |
| Pacific Golden Plover | Pluvialis fulva |
| Masked Lapwing | Vanellus miles |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Eurasian Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica |
| Wandering Tattler | Tringa incana |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| White Tern | Gygis alba |
| Brown Noddy | Anous stolidus |
| Black Noddy | Anous minutus |
| Sooty Tern | Onychoprion fuscatus |
| Bridled Tern | Onychoprion anaethetus |
| Black-naped Tern | Sterna sumatrana |
| Greater Crested Tern | Thalasseus bergii |
| Tropicbirds (Phaethontidae) | |
| White-tailed Tropicbird | Phaethon lepturus |
| Austral Storm Petrels (Oceanitidae) | |
| Wilson’s Storm Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus |
| Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels (Procellariidae) | |
| Collared Petrel – VU | Pterodroma brevipes |
| Tahiti Petrel | Pseudobulweria rostrata |
| Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) | |
| Lesser Frigatebird | Fregata ariel |
| Great Frigatebird | Fregata minor |
| Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae) | |
| Red-footed Booby | Sula sula |
| Brown Booby | Sula leucogaster |
| Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Pacific Reef Heron | Egretta sacra |
| White-faced Heron | Egretta novaehollandiae |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Fiji Goshawk (Endemic) | Tachyspiza rufitorques |
| Swamp Harrier | Circus approximans |
| Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) | |
| Pacific Kingfisher | Todiramphus sacer |
| Flat-billed Kingfisher (Endemic) | Todiramphus recurvirostris |
| Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae) | |
| Crimson Shining Parrot (Endemic) | Prosopeia splendens |
| Masked Shining Parrot (Endemic) | Prosopeia personata |
| Maroon Shining Parrot (Endemic) | Prosopeia tabuensis |
| Collared Lory (Endemic) | Vini solitaria |
| Blue-crowned Lorikeet | Vini australis |
| Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) | |
| Cardinal Myzomela | Myzomela cardinalis |
| Sulphur-breasted Myzomela (Endemic) | Myzomela jugularis |
| Yellow-billed Giant Honeyeater (Endemic) | Gymnomyza viridis |
| Duetting Giant Honeyeater (Endemic) | Gymnomyza brunneirostris |
| Mao (Endemic) – EN | Gymnomyza samoensis |
| Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater | Foulehaio carunculatus |
| Fiji Wattled Honeyeater (Endemic) | Foulehaio taviunensis |
| Kikau (Endemic) | Foulehaio procerior |
| Kadavu Honeyeater (Endemic) | Meliphacator provocator |
| Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies (Artamidae) | |
| Fiji Woodswallow (Endemic) | Artamus mentalis |
| Australian Magpie (Introduced) | Gymnorhina tibicen |
| Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae) | |
| Polynesian Triller | Lalage maculosa |
| Samoan Triller (Endemic) | Lalage sharpei |
| Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae) | |
| White-throated Fiji Whistler (Endemic) | Pachycephala vitiensis |
| Yellow-throated Fiji Whistler (Endemic) | Pachycephala graeffii |
| Samoan Whistler (Endemic) | Pachycephala flavifrons |
| Fantails (Rhipiduridae) | |
| Fiji Streaked Fantail (Endemic) | Rhipidura layardi |
| Kadavu Fantail (Endemic) | Rhipidura personata |
| Samoan Fantail (Endemic) | Rhipidura nebulosa |
| Taveuni Silktail (Endemic) | Lamprolia victoriae |
| Monarchs (Monarchidae) | |
| Slaty Monarch (Endemic) | Mayrornis lessoni |
| Fiji Shrikebill | Clytorhynchus vitiensis |
| Black-throated Shrikebill (Endemic) | Clytorhynchus nigrogularis |
| Vanikoro Flycatcher | Myiagra vanikorensis |
| Samoan Flycatcher (Endemic) | Myiagra albiventris |
| Azure-crested Flycatcher (Endemic) | Myiagra azureocapilla |
| Chestnut-throated Flycatcher (Endemic) | Myiagra castaneigularis |
| Australasian Robins (Petroicidae) | |
| Pacific Robin | Petroica pusilla |
| Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) | |
| Red-vented Bulbul (Introduced) | Pycnonotus cafer |
| Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) | |
| Pacific Swallow | Hirundo javanica |
| Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies (Cettiidae) | |
| Fiji Bush Warbler (Endemic) | Horornis ruficapilla |
| Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae) | |
| Long-legged Thicketbird (Endemic) – EN | Cincloramphus rufus |
| White-eyes (Zosteropidae) | |
| Silvereye | Zosterops lateralis |
| Fiji White-eye (Endemic) | Zosterops explorator |
| Starlings, Rhabdornises (Sturnidae) | |
| Polynesian Starling | Aplonis tabuensis |
| Samoan Starling | Aplonis atrifusca |
| Jungle Myna (Introduced) | Acridotheres fuscus |
| Common Myna (Introduced) | Acridotheres tristis |
| Thrushes (Turdidae) | |
| Fiji Island Thrush (Endemic) | Turdus ruficeps |
| Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae) | |
| Fiji Parrotfinch (Endemic) | Erythrura pealii |
| Red-headed Parrotfinch (Endemic) | Erythrura cyaneovirens |
| Red Avadavat (Introduced) | Amandava amandava |
| Total seen | 91 |
| Total recorded | 91 |
Mammal List – Following Mammalwatching.com (November 2024)
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Flying Foxes (Pteropodidae) | |
| Samoan Flying Fox | Pteropus samoensis |
| Mongooses (Herpestidae) | |
| Indian Brown Mongoose | Urva fusca |
| Total seen | 2 |
Reptile List – Following Reptiles of World (October 2023)
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Geckos (Gekkonidae) | |
| Common House Gecko | Hemidactylus frenatus |
| Skinks (Scincidae) | |
| Viti Slender Treeskink | Emoia concolor |
| Dark-bellied Copperstriped Skink | Emoia cyanura |
| Black Emo Skink | Emoia nigra |
| Samoa Skink | Emoia samoensis |
| Total seen | 5 |
We did not only enjoy the birds on this Fiji and Samoa tour; the iridescence of this Black Emo Skink was beautiful.
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
