Southeast Polynesia is the avifauna area for the Cook Islands.

There are 52 bird species mentioned in the 1987 checklist:
• 27 Resident species (6 endemic)
• 20 Visiting species
• 4 Wintering species
• 1 Migrant

Although there are not a vast number of bird species to be found on the Cook Islands, the 6 endemic species can’t be found anywhere else in the world. If you want to see these endemic bird species in their natural habitat then you’ll have to visit the Cook Islands.

Of course vagrant bird species can appear anywhere in the world, these species are not mentioned in the checklist.

A few of the 27 resident bird species have been introduced to the Islands, for example the Java Sparrow & Common Myna.

Endemic Species:

• 1. Cook Islands Fruit Dove: (other: Rarotonga Fruit Dove) only found on the Islands of Rarotonga & Atiu, probably fewer than a 100 individuals. ( see the $10 currency note)

• 2. Atiu Swiftlet: a small, apparently stable population can be found on the island of Atiu. Kopeka is a local name for the Atiu Swiftlet. See the Atiu page for more information.

• 3. Mangia Kingfisher: (other: Cook Island Kingfisher) fairly common on the Island of Mangia (see the $20 currency note)

• 4. Rarotonga Monarch: (other: Rarotonga Flycatcher, Cook Islands Flycatcher) very rare, a population of about 25 birds.

• 5. Cook Islands Reed Warbler: the species is quite common with two distinct subspecies on the islands of Mangaia & Mitiaro

• 6. Rarotonga Starling: Only on the island of Rarotonga, rare, fewer than 100 individuals.

Most of the endemic bird species are depicted on postage stamps or banknotes of the Cook Islands, view the webpages where there are pictures of banknotes or postage stamps.