Birds of Eastern PolynesiaA biogeographic Atlas

Description

Birds of Eastern Polynesia – A biogeographic Atlas

Birds of Eastern Polynesia – A Biogeographic Atlas is the first comprehensive work to document all the bird species of this vast and ecologically significant region of the Pacific. Covering 241 species—extinct and extant—across more than 150 islands, this book brings together decades of field research, museum records, and the latest advances in genetics and biogeography.

The region spans the Cook, Austral, Society, Marquesas, Tuamotu, and Gambier archipelagos, as well as the Pitcairn Group and Line Islands. All bird species recorded in these island groups are described, including many that are endemic or known only from bone remains. The book features 142 detailed distribution maps showing both historical and current distributions, and every species is illustrated in colour (with the exception of those known only from subfossil remains).

Each species account includes information on taxonomy, distribution, status, and ecology, as well as notes on habitat use, population trends, and breeding biology. When available, morphometric or genetic analyses provide further detail and context. This level of detail makes the book both a vital reference for researchers and a practical tool for field biologists working in Polynesia or on oceanic island biodiversity.

As a biogeographic atlas, this volume goes well beyond species identification to explore the evolutionary history and ecological relationships that have shaped the birdlife of Eastern Polynesia. The region’s extreme isolation, combined with its complex array of habitats—from atolls and volcanic high islands to forested uplands and coastal wetlands—has led to striking patterns of endemism, speciation, and extinction. Many landbird species documented in the atlas have vanished since human colonization, and others persist only in fragmented or declining populations, often under intense threat from invasive species, habitat degradation, and climate change.

The authors—Jean-Claude Thibault, Corresponding Member of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, and Alice Cibois, Research Officer at the Natural History Museum of Geneva—combine extensive first-hand fieldwork with a broad synthesis of published and unpublished data. Their expeditions included visits to 49 islands, during which they conducted original observations, collaborated with local experts, and gathered material that now forms the backbone of this publication. This groundwork was supplemented by research in numerous museum collections, as well as collaborations with geneticists, palaeontologists, and island ecologists.

This is more than a regional bird guide; it is a major scientific contribution to our understanding of Pacific Island biogeography, and a crucial tool for ongoing and future conservation efforts in one of the world’s most threatened biodiversity hotspots.

Key Features

• Complete coverage of the 241 bird species recorded in Eastern Polynesia.
• Includes extinct taxa and species known only from archaeological remains.
• 142 colour maps showing historical and current distributions.
• Comprehensive species accounts with systematics, habitat, breeding, and status.
• Integrates morphometric and genetic data when available.
• Based on fieldwork across 49 islands and research in major museum collections.
• Authored by leading ornithologists Jean-Claude Thibault and Alice Cibois.
• A vital reference for ornithologists, conservationists, and island ecologists.

Birds of Eastern Polynesia is the most authoritative resource on the avifauna of this vast oceanic region. Whether you’re studying evolutionary biology, planning conservation strategies, or simply exploring one of the most fascinating bird communities in the world, this atlas is an essential addition to your library.

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