This is a list of the bird species recorded in Vanuatu. The avifauna of Vanuatu include a total of 189 species, of which nine are endemic, and 10 have been introduced by humans.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Vanuatu.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Vanuatu (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Vanuatu (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Vanuatu as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extinct - a species or subspecies that no longer exists.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Wandering whistling-duck, Dendrocygna arcuata (A) Australian shoveler, Spatula rhynchotis (A) Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (I) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Gray teal, Anas gracilis Hardhead, Aythya australis
Megapodes Order: GalliformesFamily: Megapodiidae
The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. Distinguishing feature is the large mound that is built by these birds for nesting. Most have brown or black colouring.
Melanesian scrubfowl, Megapodius eremita Vanuatu scrubfowl, Megapodius layardi (E)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (I)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Australasian grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis Mackinlay's cuckoo-dove, Macropygia mackinlayi Pacific emerald dove, Chalcophaps longirostris Santa Cruz ground dove, Alopecoenas sanctaecrucis Tanna ground dove, Alopecoenas ferrugineus (Ex) Tanna fruit-dove, Ptilinopus tannensis (E) Rose-crowned fruit-dove, Ptilinopus regina Red-bellied fruit-dove, Ptilinopus greyi Claret-breasted fruit-dove, Ptilinopus viridis Pacific imperial-pigeon, Ducula pacifica Baker's imperial-pigeon, Ducula bakeri (E)
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Long-tailed koel, Eudynamys taitensis Shining bronze-cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus Fan-tailed cuckoo, Cacomantis flabelliformis
Swifts
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Glossy swiftlet, Collocalia esculenta Satin swiftlet, Collocalia uropygialis White-rumped swiftlet, Aerodramus spodiopygius Australian swiftlet, Aerodramus terraereginae Uniform swiftlet, Aerodramus vanikorensis
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis Black-backed swamphen, Porphyrio indicus Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus Spotless crake, Zapornia tabuensis Ocellated crake, Micropygia schomburgkii (A)
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Beach thick-knee, Esacus magnirostris
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
South Island oystercatcher, Haematopus finschi (A) Variable oystercatcher, Haematopus unicolor (A)
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola (A) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Masked lapwing, Vanellus miles (A) Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Double-banded plover, Charadrius bicinctus (A) Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus (A)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A) Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A) Sanderling, Calidris alba Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A) Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Gray-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes Wandering tattler, Tringa incana Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia (A) Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (A)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A) Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)
Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.
Silver gull, Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae (A) Brown noddy, Anous stolidus Black noddy, Anous minutus Gray noddy, Anous albivitta Blue-gray noddy, Anous ceruleus White tern, Gygis alba Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus Gray-backed tern, Onychoprion lunatus (A) Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus (A) Little tern, Sternula albifrons (A) Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida (A) Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii (A) Black-naped tern, Sterna sumatrana Common tern, Sterna hirundo Great crested tern, Thalasseus bergii
Tropicbirds Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.
White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda
Albatrosses Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.
Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A) Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans (A)
Southern storm-petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Oceanitidae
The southern storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels and are the smallest seabirds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A) Black-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta tropica (A) White-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta grallaria (A) Polynesian storm-petrel, Nesofregetta fuliginosa
Northern storm-petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family.
Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A) Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (A)
Shearwaters and petrels Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Southern giant petrel, Macronectes giganteus (A) Cape petrel, Daption capense Kermadec petrel, Pterodroma neglecta (A) Herald petrel, Pterodroma heraldica (A) Providence petrel, Pterodroma solandri (A) Mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata White-necked petrel, Pterodroma cervicalis Black-winged petrel, Pterodroma nigripennis (A) Cook's petrel, Pterodroma cookii (A) Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera Collared petrel, Pterodroma brevipes Pycroft's petrel, Pterodroma pycrofti (A) Vanuatu petrel, Pterodroma occulta Fairy prion, Pachyptila turtur Antarctic prion, Pachyptila desolata (A) Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii (A) Tahiti petrel, Pseudobulweria rostrata (A) Beck's petrel, Pseudobulweria becki (A) Gray petrel, Procellaria cinerea Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes (A) Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacifica Sooty shearwater, Ardenna grisea Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris Christmas shearwater, Puffinus nativitatis (A) Fluttering shearwater, Puffinus gavia Tropical shearwater, Puffinus bailloni
Frigatebirds Order: SuliformesFamily: Fregatidae