Birdlife of the South-west Pacific Islands – 2023

These photographs were taken during an epic trip to several islands in the Southwest Pacific in 2023, a remote region renowned for its isolation and remarkable avifauna. While the total number of bird species is relatively limited due to the islands’ geographical isolation, the diversity in form, behavior, and especially plumage is truly striking.

Pigeons and doves were the main focus of this journey. These fruit doves are certainly some of the most colorful and unique members of the Columbidae family on Earth, and they were, of course, a key reason for planning this trip..