Bird Species Found In New Caledonia

Chronic deforestation because of many years of nickel mining are evident in the Southern hills and mountains. This has caused a decline of birds in New Caledonia as well as other animal species.

However, endemic birds and other animals can still be found in the protected forest patches at Rivière Bleue and Mount Koghi.

Visitors also enjoy the lovely scenery and beautiful beaches. Isle of Pines (Ile de Pins) – in the south – is also popular with birders.

Tasmania


Photos of Birds found in New Caledonia


Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus), also known as the Brown Bittern

Barred Honeyeater (Phylidonyris undulata): Fairly common in the drier heath areas at Rivière Bleu and Mt. Koghi

Beach Stone-curlews (Esacus giganteus) – Uncommon

Black-winged Petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis) – Seabird

Blue Noddy (Procelsterna cerulea)

Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)

Cloven-feathered Dove (Drepanoptila holosericea) – A rare find – said to be found at Rivière-Bleue and Mt. Koghi

Coenocorypha also known as the New Zealand snipes

Crow Honeyeaters (Gymnomyza aubryana)

Dark Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera incana)

Double-banded Plovers (Charadrius bicinctus), known as the Banded Dotterel in New Zealand – Range: Winters in New Caledonia

Fan-tailed Cuckoos (Cacomantis flabelliformis)

Fan-tailed Gerygone (Gerygone flavolateralis)

Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta)

Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera) – Seabird

Green-naped LoryRange: Inhabit rainforests, open forests, woodlands and mangroves.

Grey-eared Honeyeater or Dark-brown Honeyeater (Lichmera incana)

Grey Fantails (Rhipidura fuliginosa)

Great Frigatebirds (Fregata minor) – Seabirds

Green-backed White-eye (Zosterops xanthrochrous): Common on the main island and the Isle of Pines (part of New Caledonia)

Horned Parakeets (Eunymphicus cornutus)

Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus): An almost flightless bird that may be found in the Rivière Bleue National Park, New Caledonia and in the forest by the Grand Kaori

Long-tailed Trillers (Lalage leucopyga)

Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina caledonica)

Metallic Pigeon (Columba vitiensis)

New Caledonian Cuckooshrike (Coracina analis) – Endemic

New Caledonian Crow (Corvus moneduloides)

New Caledonian Cuckoo-shrikes (Coracina analis) – Have a very distinct loud shrill call

New Caledonian Friarbird (Philemon diemenensis): Fairly common in forest patches at Rivière-Bleue, and common on Isle of Pines

New Caledonian Grassbird or New Caledonian Thicket-birds (Megalurulus mariei)

New Caledonian Imperial-pigeon (Ducula goliath) aka Notou Imperial-Pigeon – May be found at Rivière-Bleue in New Caledonia

New Caledonian Fairy Tern (Sterna nereis exsul)

New Caledonia Lories or Deplanche’s Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus deplanchii)

New Caledonian Myzomela (Myzomela caledonica): Sparse in open forest and heath at Riviere Bleue and Mt. Koghi, also seen in the fig at Kou-Bougny, Isle of Pines

New Caledonian Parakeet (Cyanoramphus saisetti) – Endemic

New Caledonian Rail (Gallirallus lafresnayanus)

New Caledonian Red-fronted Parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae saisseti)

New Caledonian Whistler (Pachycephala caledonica)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – Global occurrence. – ID: Black/brown – white Bird of Prey feeding on fish

Red-bellied Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus greyii)

Red-headed Parrot-finches (Erythrura psittacea)

Red-throated Parrotfinches (Erythrura Psittacea) also known as the red-throated or red-faced parrot finch – Range: New Caledonia grasslands or open country bordering forested areas – Fairly common at Rivière Bleue in the heath, and also along forest edge on Mt. Koghi and along the Pic Nga track on the Isle of Pines

Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) – Range: The long-billed and short-winged form (S. d. gracilis) breeds in New Caledonia

Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) – Range: Found in the mangroves, forests, and river valleys of New Caledonia

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus / Chalcites lucidus)

Silvereye or Wax-eye (Zosterops lateralis)

Small Lifou White-eye (Zosterops minutus): These bright yellow, small birds are very common on Lifou

Southern Shrikebill (Clytorhynchus pachycephaloides)

Streaked Fantail (Rhipidura verreauxi or Rhipidura spilodera)

Striated Starling (Aplonis striata) – Fairly common

Swamp Harriers or Australasian Harrier (C. approximans)

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

White-bellied Goshawk (Accipiter haplochrous): A scarce endemic in the protected areas of New Caledonia

White-browed Crakes (Porzana cinerea)

White-necked Petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis)

White-rumped Swiftlet (Aerodramus spodiopygia)

Yellow-bellied Robin (Eopsaltria flaviventris) – Common in the forest at Rivière Bleue; on the Isle of Pines along the track to Pic Nga

Zebra Doves (Geopelia striata, also called Barred Ground Dove) – Introduced Species.


Below are photos of birds found in New Caledonia (endemics, vagrants and wintering populations). Each image is linked to the respective species page with additional information about them and more photos.

Beach Stone-curlew, Esacus giganteus also known as Beach Thick-knee
Brown Goshawk
Melanesian Flycatcher (Myiagra caledonica)
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Buff-banded Rail
Green-naped / Rainbow Lorikeet
Grey-eared Honeyeater
Greater Frigatebird
Black-winged Petrel
Horned Parakeet
Kagu
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor)
Osprey
New Caledonian Crow
Royal Spoonbills
Green-backed White-eye (Zosterops xanthochroa)
Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta)
Long-tailed Triller
Sacred Kingfisher
Red-bellied Fruit Dove
White-rumped Swiftlet (Aerodramus spodiopygia)
Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike
Whistling Kite
White-browed Crake
Parrot Finch
Blue Noddy
Southern Shrike Bill
Streaked Fantail (Rhipidura spilodera) Abaca, Viti Levu, Fiji Isles
Red-headed Parrotfinch Erythrura cyaneovirens
Metallic Pigeon
Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina caledonica)
Silvereye or Wax-eye (Zosterops lateralis)
Red-throated Parrotfinch, Erythrura psittacea
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Gordon Ramel

Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.

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