Birds on the French polynesian atolls

André Intès

The birds which can be seen on and around the French Polynesian atolls (they can also be watched from the coast) belong to two main groups, the land-birds and the sea-birds. These can be sub-divided into those which reproduce on the atolls and those which reproduce elsewhere and visit the atolls either regularly or occasionally, outside the reproductive period.

Approximately twenty species of land-birds (including limicoline birds) have been recorded, 14 of which reproduce on these islands.

Two dozen species of sea-birds have been recorded, 16 of which actually nest on the atolls.