Endemic birds of New Caledonia
Encyclopedia
This article is one of a series providing information about endemism
among birds in the World's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds
.
.
has defined the whole of New Caledonia
- the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands
(Ouvéa
, Lifou
and Maré
), the Île des Pins and other smaller surrounding islands as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA).
The following restricted-range species are also found in this EBA:
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
among birds in the World's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds
Endemism in birds
An endemic bird area is a region of the world that contains two or more restricted-range species, while a "secondary area" contains one or more restricted-range species. Both terms were devised by Birdlife International....
.
Patterns of endemism
New Caledonia has a single endemic family, the KaguKagu
The Kagu or Cagou is a crested, long-legged, and bluish-grey bird endemic to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. It is the only surviving member of the genus Rhynochetos and the family Rhynochetidae, although a second species has been described from the fossil record...
.
Endemic Bird Areas
Birdlife InternationalBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
has defined the whole of New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
- the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands
Loyalty Islands
The Loyalty Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific. They are part of the French territory of New Caledonia, whose mainland is away. They form the Loyalty Islands Province , one of the three provinces of New Caledonia...
(Ouvéa
Ouvéa
Ouvéa is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The settlement of Fayaoué , on Ouvéa Island, is the administrative centre of the commune of Ouvéa. -Geography:...
, Lifou
Lifou
Lifou is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean.-Geography:Lifou is made up of Lifou Island, the largest and most heavily populated of the Loyalty Islands, its smaller neighbour Tiga Island, and several uninhabited islets in between these two...
and Maré
Maré
Maré is a commune in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.The commune of Maré is made up of Maré Island and the much smaller Dudun Island, which lie among the Loyalty Islands, to the northeast of New Caledonia's mainland. The settlement...
), the Île des Pins and other smaller surrounding islands as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA).
List of species
The following is a list of species endemic to New Caledonia. Except where indicated the species is only found on Grande Terre- White-bellied GoshawkWhite-bellied GoshawkThe White-bellied Goshawk is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family.It is endemic to New Caledonia...
- New Caledonian RailNew Caledonian RailThe New Caledonian Rail is a large and drab flightless rail that is found on the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific. It is a dull brown above, with grey underparts, and has a yellowish, downward-curving bill...
- KaguKaguThe Kagu or Cagou is a crested, long-legged, and bluish-grey bird endemic to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. It is the only surviving member of the genus Rhynochetos and the family Rhynochetidae, although a second species has been described from the fossil record...
- Cloven-feathered DoveCloven-feathered DoveThe Cloven-feathered Dove is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Drepanoptila.It is endemic to New Caledonia....
- New Caledonian Imperial-pigeonNew Caledonian Imperial-pigeonThe Goliath Imperial Pigeon is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. It is endemic to New Caledonia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
- New Caledonian LorikeetNew Caledonian LorikeetThe New Caledonian Lorikeet Charmosyna diadema is a potentially extinct lorikeet endemic to the Melanesian island of New Caledonia.-Description:...
- Horned ParakeetHorned ParakeetThe Horned Parakeet , is a species of parrot in the genus Eunymphicus, in the Psittacidae family. Eunymphicus cornutus is a largely green parakeet endemic to New Caledonia. It is called Horned because it has two black feathers that protrude from the head and have red tips...
- found on Grande Terre and Ouvéa - New Caledonian Owlet-nightjarNew Caledonian Owlet-nightjarThe New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles savesi, also known as the Enigmatic Owlet-nightjar, is a large owlet-nightjar with vermiculated grey-brown and black plumage. It has a long, slightly rounded tail, short, rounded wings, and long, stout legs. Its voice is unknown but similar birds make...
- New Caledonian Cuckoo-shrikeNew Caledonian Cuckoo-shrikeThe New Caledonian Cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.It is endemic to New Caledonia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
- New Caledonian Grassbird
- Yellow-bellied RobinYellow-bellied RobinThe Yellow-bellied Flyrobin is a species of bird in the Australasian robin family Petroicidae. It is endemic to New Caledonia, where it occurs on the island of Grande Terre...
- New Caledonian WhistlerNew Caledonian WhistlerThe Melanesian Whistler is a species of passerine bird in the whistler family Pachycephalidae. It is found in New Caledonia , Vanuatu, and Vanikoro in far southeastern Solomons. Alternatively, all except the nominate subspecies are treated as subspecies of the Golden Whistler...
- Large Lifou White-eye - found only on Lifou
- Green-backed White-eyeGreen-backed White-eyeThe Green-backed White-eye is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family. It is also known as the New Caledonian White-eye.It is endemic to New Caledonia.-Taxonomy :...
- found on Grande Terre and Maré - Small Lifou White-eye - found only on Lifou
- New Caledonian MyzomelaNew Caledonian MyzomelaThe New Caledonian Myzomela is a species of bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. The species is sometimes considered to be conspecific with the Scarlet Myzomela of Australia....
- New Caledonian FriarbirdNew Caledonian FriarbirdThe New Caledonian Friarbird is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to New Caledonia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 26 July 2007....
- found on Grande Terre, Lifou and Maré - Crow HoneyeaterCrow HoneyeaterThe Crow Honeyeater is a very large honeyeater with orange facial wattles. It superficially resembles a crow with its glossy black plumage. Crow Honeyeaters have long rounded wings and a long tail and neck. Their bill is long and bicolored- yellow below, black above...
- Barred HoneyeaterBarred HoneyeaterThe Barred Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to New Caledonia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 26 July 2007....
- Red-throated ParrotfinchRed-throated ParrotfinchThe Red-throated Parrotfinch, Erythrura psittacea, is a species of estrildid finch found in New Caledonia. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 20,000 to 50,000 km²....
- Striated StarlingStriated StarlingThe Striated Starling is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family.It is endemic to New Caledonia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
- found on Grande Terre, Ouvéa, Lifou and Maré - New Caledonian CrowNew Caledonian CrowThe New Caledonian Crow is a tool-using species of crow endemic to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. These crows are some of the only non-primate animals known to invent new tools by modifying existing ones, and then passing these innovations on to other individuals in the cultural group...
- native only on Grande Terre, but introduced on Maré
The following restricted-range species are also found in this EBA:
- Red-bellied Fruit-doveRed-bellied Fruit-doveThe Red-bellied Fruit Dove is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. It is found in lowland forest in New Caledonia, Santa Cruz Islands , and Vanuatu, and it is common in most of its range....
- Melanesian Cuckoo-shrikeMelanesian Cuckoo-shrikeThe South Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike is an uncommon species of bird in the cuckoo-shrike family.It is found in New Caledonia, Bougainville Island, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The species is a large cuckoo-shrike with a long square tail and all over dark grey plumage...
- Long-tailed TrillerLong-tailed TrillerThe Long-tailed Triller is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.It is found in New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu...
- Fan-tailed GerygoneFan-tailed GerygoneThe Fan-tailed Gerygone is a species of bird in the Acanthizidae family.It is found in New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 26 July 2007....
- Southern ShrikebillSouthern ShrikebillThe Southern Shrikebill is a songbird species in the family Monarchidae.It is found in New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
- Melanesian FlycatcherMelanesian FlycatcherThe Melanesian Flycatcher is a species of bird in the monarch-flycatcher family Monarchidae. The species is sometimes known as the New Caledonian Flycatcher. The species is found in New Caledonia,, Vanuatu and Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands. The species is closely related to a number of...
- Streaked FantailStreaked FantailThe Streaked Fantail is a species of bird in the Rhipiduridae family. Rhipidura verreauxi has precedence over Rhipidura spilodera . It is found in Fiji, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu...
- Cardinal MyzomelaCardinal MyzomelaThe Cardinal Myzomela is a species of bird in the Honeyeater family. It is named for the scarlet color of the male. It is found in American Samoa, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove...
- Dark-brown HoneyeaterDark-brown HoneyeaterThe Grey-eared Honeyeater or Dark-brown Honeyeater is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family which is found in Vanuatu and New Caledonia in the south-west Pacific...