Close to 200 birds are living in the Micronesian island nation of Palau today. As the country has a strong conservation history, the avifauna here have been able to thrive.
The national bird of Palau is the endemic species – the Palau Fruit-dove. There are a lot of endemic species on the island, including the Palau Bush Warbler, the Palau Ground Dove, and the Palau Flycatcher.
List of Common Birds Found in Palau
Endemic Birds
- Dusky White-eye
- Giant White-eye
- Morningbird
- Palau Bush Warbler
- Palau Cicadabird
- Palau Fantail
- Palau Flycatcher
- Palau Fruit-dove
- Palau Ground Dove
- Palau Kingfisher
- Palau Nightjar
- Palau Owl
- Palau Swiftlet
Other Native Birds
- Australasian Swamphen
- Brown Booby
- Brown Noddy
- Common Greenshank
- Common Ringed Plover
- Common Sandpiper
- Eurasian Moorhen
- Far Eastern Curlew
- Gray Nightjar
- Great Crested Tern
- Great Egret
- Great Frigatebird
- Intermediate Egret
- Kentish Plover
- Lesser Frigatebird
- Little Egret
- Little Pied Cormorant
- Little Ringed Plover
- Masked Booby
- Micronesian Imperial Pigeon
- Micronesian Scrubfowl
- Nicobar Pigeon
- Oriental Cuckoo
- Oriental Pratincole
- Pacific Black Duck
- Pacific Golden Plover
- Pacific Reef Heron
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Streaked Shearwater
- Yellow Bittern
Non-native Birds
- Asian Dowitcher
- Australian Pelican
- Brahminy Kite
- Brown Shrike
- Brush Cuckoo
- Chestnut Munia
- Common Cuckoo
- Common Kingfisher
- Common Pochard
- Common Snipe
- Eclectus Parrot
- Eurasian Coot
- Eurasian Curlew
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow
- Glossy Ibis
- Gray Heron
- Great Cormorant
- Green Sandpiper
- Little Black Cormorant
- Little Curlew
- Little Stint
- Oriental Plover
- Oriental Reed Warbler
- Pacific Swift
- Pied Stilt
- Pomarine Jaeger
- Red Junglefowl
- Schrenck’s Bittern
- Sulfur-crested Cockatoo
Several excellent birding sites in Palau would enthrall enthusiasts like birdwatchers and photographers. These include Ngardok Nature Reserve, Ngerbeched Reef, and Palau International Coral Reef Center. The peak birding season in Palau typically coincides with the migratory periods. The best time for birdwatching is during the winter when many migratory bird species from the Northern Hemisphere visit Palau to escape the colder climates. The peak birding season in Palau is generally from November to March.
It’s worth noting that Palau has a tropical climate, and even during the peak birding season, you may encounter some rain and humidity. However, the birdwatching opportunities and the chance to see both resident and migratory species make it a rewarding time to visit for bird enthusiasts.
