From ornithological prospect, what makes Lifou Island so special is that, despite its small size, it hosts many
of New Caledonia’s endemics, and above all it has its own two endemic species, the Small and the Large
Lifou White-eyes. It also has its own endemic races, including the race lifuensis of Cardinal Myzomela (that
could well be another distinct species).
As a matter of fact, the latter cannot be found elsewhere in New Caledonia (other races can be found e.g. in Vanuatu).
As a matter of fact, the latter cannot be found elsewhere in New Caledonia (other races can be found e.g. in Vanuatu).
Small Lifou White-eye
Red-bellied Fruit-Dove
Sacred Kingfisher
Emerald Dove
Silvereye
Large Lifou White-eye
In a short visit, even of just a day or two, you will encounter both species diversity and generally a large number of birds, which are living in a very well preserved natural tropical forest: at least 70 % of the primary forest is untouched!
The motel Au Grand Banian is located in one of the best and easily accessed forest area in Lifou Island and has a forest belt that hosts all land-birds of the island, including relatively dense population of the enigmatic Large Lifou White-eyes. There is short forest trail from which most birds can be view without disturbance; Actually, from your room you may hear and see most birds.
Au Grand Banian is protecting the forest around the lodge in order to preserve the bird’s habitat and is educating local communities to respect the forest and its wildlife, which are great values of the melanesian people.
You may reach Lifou Island by air, but using the ferry will guarantee you with the most attractive petrel species of the tropical pacific, the Gould's Petrel, as well as most of the New Caledonia’s seabird species.
Selected list of the breeding birds of Lifou Island:
- Brown Goshawk, Accipiter fasciatus
- Buff-banded Rail, Gallirallus philippensis
- Metallic Pigeon, Columba vitiensis
- Red-bellied Fruit-Dove, Ptilinopus greyii
- Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica
- Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus
- White-rumped Swiftlet, Aerodramus spodiopygius
- Glossy Swiftlet, Collocalia esculenta
- Sacred Kingfisher, Todirhamphus sanctus
- Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina caledonica
- Long-tailed Triller, Lalage leucopyga
- Fan-tailed Gerygone, Gerygone flavolateralis
- Southern Shrikebill, Clytorhynchus pachycephaloides
- Streaked Fantail, Rhipidura spilodera
- Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis
- Silver-eye, Zosterops lateralis melanops (endemic and distinctive race)
- Small Lifou White-eye, Zosterops minutus (endemic species)
- Large Lifou White-eye, Zosterops inornatus (endemic species)
- Dark-brown Honeyeater, Lichmera incana
- Cardinal Myzomela, Myzomela cardinalis (distinctive race)
- New Caledonian Friarbird, Philemon diemenensis
- Striated Starling, Aplonis striata
- White-breasted Woodswallow, Artamus leucorynchus
Information and photographs contributed by the Birds of the World, A & C Black, Jornvall & Shirihai
© copyright images.
--- We support conservation and birding in local communities of remote areas. ---
--- We support conservation and birding in local communities of remote areas. ---