Papua New Guinea

Checklist of Endemic Bird Species

This list of bird species found exclusively in Papua New Guinea is based on the taxonomy used in del Hoyo & Collar (2014 & 2016). The source list based on the December 2017 update is available online here. For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.

del Hoyo, J. & N.J. Collar HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. 2014 Vol. 1: Non-passerines & 2016 Vol. 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Additional species recognized after the HBW-BirdLife December 2017 update or considered valid by other major checklists are listed at the bottom of the page.

Reinwardtoena browni  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Pied Cuckoo-dove

Henicophaps foersteri  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  New Britain Bronzewing

Otidiphaps cervicalis  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Gray-naped Pheasant-pigeon

Otidiphaps insularis  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon

Goura scheepmakeri  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Scheepmaker's Crowned-pigeon

Ducula finschii  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Finsch's Imperial-pigeon

Ducula salvadorii  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Louisiade Imperial-pigeon

Ducula melanochroa  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Bismarck Imperial-pigeon

Ducula subflavescens  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Yellowish Imperial-pigeon

Ptilinopus insolitus  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Knob-billed Fruit-dove

Centropus ateralbus  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Pied Coucal

Centropus violaceus  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Violaceous Coucal

Hypotaenidia insignis  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  New Britain Rail

Hypotaenidia tertia  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  Bougainville Rail

Tyto aurantia  (Strigiformes Tytonidae)  Golden Masked-owl

Ninox meeki  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Manus Boobook

Ninox odiosa  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  New Britain Boobook

Ninox variegata  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Bismarck Boobook

Henicopernis infuscatus  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Black Honey-buzzard

Accipiter princeps  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  New Britain Goshawk

Accipiter luteoschistaceus  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Slaty-backed Goshawk

Accipiter brachyurus  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  New Britain Sparrowhawk

Ceyx dispar  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  Manus Dwarf-kingfisher

Ceyx mulcatus  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  New Ireland Dwarf-kingfisher

Ceyx sacerdotis  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  New Britain Dwarf-kingfisher

Ceyx websteri  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  Bismarck Kingfisher

Actenoides bougainvillei  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  Bougainville Moustached Kingfisher

Todiramphus albonotatus  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  New Britain Kingfisher

Tanysiptera nigriceps  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  Black-headed Paradise-kingfisher

Tanysiptera danae  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  Brown-headed Paradise-kingfisher

Cacatua ophthalmica  (Psittaciformes Cacatuidae)  Blue-eyed Cockatoo

Charmosyna rubrigularis  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Red-chinned Lorikeet

Lorius hypoinochrous  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Purple-bellied Lory

Lorius albidinucha  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  White-naped Lory

Cyclopsitta amabilis  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Creamy-breasted Fig-parrot

Loriculus tener  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Bismarck Hanging-parrot

Micropsitta meeki  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Yellow-breasted Pygmy-parrot

Erythropitta meeki  (Passeriformes Pittidae)  Louisiade Pitta

Erythropitta gazellae  (Passeriformes Pittidae)  New Britain Pitta

Erythropitta splendida  (Passeriformes Pittidae)  Tabar Pitta

Erythropitta novaehibernicae  (Passeriformes Pittidae)  New Ireland Pitta

Pitta superba  (Passeriformes Pittidae)  Superb Pitta

Amblyornis subalaris  (Passeriformes Ptilonorhynchidae)  Streaked Bowerbird

Sericulus bakeri  (Passeriformes Ptilonorhynchidae)  Fire-maned Bowerbird

Philemon cockerelli  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  New Britain Friarbird

Philemon eichhorni  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  New Ireland Friarbird

Philemon albitorques  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  White-naped Friarbird

Vosea whitemanensis  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Bismarck Honeyeater

Myzomela albigula  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  White-chinned Myzomela

Myzomela cineracea  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Ashy Myzomela

Myzomela erythrina  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Reddish Myzomela

Myzomela pulchella  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  New Ireland Myzomela

Myzomela sclateri  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Sclater's Myzomela

Myzomela pammelaena  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Bismarck Black Myzomela

Myzomela erythromelas  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Black-bellied Myzomela

Myzomela longirostris  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Long-billed Myzomela

Ptiloprora guisei  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Rufous-backed Honeyeater

Stresemannia bougainvillei  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Bougainville Honeyeater

Melipotes ater  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Spangled Honeyeater

Microptilotis cinereifrons  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Elegant Honeyeater

Microptilotis vicina  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Tagula Honeyeater

Melidectes princeps  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Long-bearded Honeyeater

Melidectes foersteri  (Passeriformes Meliphagidae)  Huon Honeyeater

Ptilorrhoa geislerorum  (Passeriformes Cinclosomatidae)  Dimorphic Jewel-babbler

Pachycephala richardsi  (Passeriformes Pachycephalidae)  Bougainville Hooded Whistler

Pachycephala modesta  (Passeriformes Pachycephalidae)  Brown-backed Whistler

Pachycephala leucogastra  (Passeriformes Pachycephalidae)  White-bellied Whistler

Edolisoma rostratum  (Passeriformes Campephagidae)  Rossel Cicadabird

Lalage conjuncta  (Passeriformes Campephagidae)  Mussau Triller

Cracticus louisiadensis  (Passeriformes Artamidae)  Tagula Butcherbird

Artamus insignis  (Passeriformes Artamidae)  White-backed Woodswallow

Rhipidura dahli  (Passeriformes Rhipiduridae)  Bismarck Fantail

Rhipidura matthiae  (Passeriformes Rhipiduridae)  Mussau Fantail

Rhipidura semirubra  (Passeriformes Rhipiduridae)  Manus Fantail

Rhipidura drownei  (Passeriformes Rhipiduridae)  Bougainville Fantail

Dicrurus megarhynchus  (Passeriformes Dicruridae)  Ribbon-tailed Drongo

Myiagra hebetior  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  Mussau Flycatcher

Myiagra eichhorni  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  Velvet Flycatcher

Myiagra cervinicolor  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  Djaul Flycatcher

Symposiachrus infelix  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  Manus Monarch

Symposiachrus menckei  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  White-breasted Monarch

Symposiachrus verticalis  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  Black-tailed Monarch

Symposiachrus ateralbus  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  Djaul Monarch

Corvus insularis  (Passeriformes Corvidae)  Bismarck Crow

Manucodia comrii  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Curl-crested Manucode

Parotia wahnesi  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Wahnes's Parotia

Parotia lawesii  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Lawes's Parotia

Lophorina intercedens  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Growling Riflebird

Astrapia rothschildi  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Huon Astrapia

Astrapia stephaniae  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Stephanie's Astrapia

Astrapia mayeri  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Ribbon-tailed Astrapia

Paradisornis rudolphi  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Blue Bird-of-paradise

Paradisaea guilielmi  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Emperor Bird-of-paradise

Paradisaea decora  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Goldie's Bird-of-paradise

Paradisaea raggiana  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

Rhamphocharis piperata  (Passeriformes Melanocharitidae)  Spotted Berrypecker

Cnemophilus macgregorii  (Passeriformes Cnemophilidae)  Yellow Satinbird

Monachella coultasi  (Passeriformes Petroicidae)  New Britain Flyrobin

Megalurulus grosvenori  (Passeriformes Locustellidae)  New Britain Thicketbird

Megalurulus llaneae  (Passeriformes Locustellidae)  Bougainville Thicketbird

Megalurulus rubiginosus  (Passeriformes Locustellidae)  Rusty Thicketbird

Horornis haddeni  (Passeriformes Scotocercidae)  Odedi

Zosterops meeki  (Passeriformes Zosteropidae)  Tagula White-eye

Zosterops hypoxanthus  (Passeriformes Zosteropidae)  Bismarck White-eye

Zosterops crookshanki  (Passeriformes Zosteropidae)  Oya Tabu White-eye

Zosterops hamlini  (Passeriformes Zosteropidae)  Bougainville White-eye

Zosterops griseotinctus  (Passeriformes Zosteropidae)  Louisiade White-eye

Zoothera talaseae  (Passeriformes Turdidae)  New Britain Thrush

Zoothera atrigena  (Passeriformes Turdidae)  Bougainville Thrush

Dicaeum eximium  (Passeriformes Dicaeidae)  Red-banded Flowerpecker

Dicaeum nitidum  (Passeriformes Dicaeidae)  Louisiade Flowerpecker

Lonchura caniceps  (Passeriformes Estrildidae)  Gray-headed Mannikin

Lonchura forbesi  (Passeriformes Estrildidae)  New Ireland Mannikin

Lonchura monticola  (Passeriformes Estrildidae)  Alpine Mannikin

The following additional species were recognized after the HBW-BirdLife December 2017 update. This single species added to the 114 listed above total 115 endemic bird species for Papua New Guinea.

Lophorina minor  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Eastern Superb Bird-of-Paradise

The following additional endemic species are not recognized as distinct by HBW-BirdLife but are considered valid by one or more of the following checklists: eBird/Clements v2019 (Cornell) = 1, IOC 10.1 (IOC) = 2, and Howard & Moore 4.1 (TAS) = 3.

Tyto manusi  (Strigiformes Tytonidae)  Manus Masked-owl  123

Ceyx pallidus  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  Bougainville Dwarf-kingfisher  1

Todiramphus colonus  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  Colonist Kingfisher  12

Coracina ingens  (Passeriformes Campephagidae)  Manus Cuckooshrike  123

Edolisoma admiralatis  (Passeriformes Campephagidae)  Admiralty Cicadabird  123

Lonchura nigerrima  (Passeriformes Estrildidae)  New Hanover Mannikin  1

Chenorhamphus campbelli  (Passeriformes Maluridae)  Campbell's Fairy-wren  123

Monarcha erythrostictus  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  Bougainville Monarch  12

Colluricincla discolor  (Passeriformes Pachycephalidae)  Tagula Shrike-thrush  2

Colluricincla fortis  (Passeriformes Pachycephalidae)  Variable Shrike-thrush  2

Pachycephala citreogaster  (Passeriformes Pachycephalidae)  Bismarck Whistler  123

Pachycephala collaris  (Passeriformes Pachycephalidae)  Louisiade Whistler  12

Parotia helenae  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Eastern Parotia  23

Ailuroedus astigmaticus  (Passeriformes Ptilonorhynchidae)  Huon Catbird  12

Ailuroedus melanocephalus  (Passeriformes Ptilonorhynchidae)  Black-capped Catbird  12 

The following additional endemic species were recognized as distinct by the IOC since the IOC 10.1 checklist (IOC) and were also not recognized in any of the other checklists listed above.

Aegotheles terborghi  (Caprimulgiformes Aegothelidae)  Karimau Owlet-nightjar

Cacomantis blandus  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Manus Brush Cuckoo

Symposiachrus melanopterus  (Passeriformes Monarchidae)  Louisiade Monarch

Edolisoma rostratum  (Passeriformes Pachycephalidae)  Rossel Cicadabird

Manucodia alter  (Passeriformes Paradisaeidae)  Tagula Manucode

Amblyornis germanus  (Passeriformes Ptilonorhynchidae)  Huon Bowerbird

Rhipidura louisiadensis  (Passeriformes Rhipiduridae)  Louisiade Fantail

Turdus bougainvillei  (Passeriformes Turdidae)  Bougainville Island Thrush

Turdus heinrothi  (Passeriformes Turdidae)  Bismarck Island Thrush