No matter where you travel across this far-flung archipelago – from the cloud-draped mountains of Guadalcanal to volcanic Savo Island, the lush jungles of Makira-Ulawa or the remote atolls of the outer provinces – the sheer abundance and diversity of birdlife make the islands an irresistible magnet for international birdwatchers and wildlife photographers alike.
The line-up of rare and sought-after species is truly breathtaking. Highlights include the iconic Black-Faced Pitta, the becoming increasingly rare Fearful Owl, the elusive Solomon Frogmouth, the little-seen Roviana Rail and the striking Guadalcanal Moustached Kingfisher.
One of the most sought-after sightings, and truly remarkable in its own right, is the Megapode, a chicken-like bird found mainly on Savo Island in Central Province and Santa Isabel. These extraordinary birds dig nesting burrows in volcanic sand, incubating their eggs using the natural geothermal heat rising from the island’s volcanic activity.
The main island of two inhabited islands that make up Rennell and Bellona Province, Rennell Island, the largest raised atoll in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to 43 distinctive species, six of them endemic. Closer to the capital Honiara, Mount Austin in Guadalcanal Province and the Betikama Wetlands are hotspots for the Ultramarine Kingfisher, Duchess Lorikeet and White-billed Crow, along with the very rare Woodford’s Rail, Boobooks, Drongos, Thrushes, Honeyeaters and Hooded Whistlers.
To the south-west, Santa Isabel Province features the Black-Faced Pitta, Fearful Owl and Solomon Frogmouth. Across Makira-Ulawa, Malaita, Kolombangara, New Georgia, Temotu and the Santa Cruz Islands, visitors can expect vibrant encounters with Rail Warblers, Flycatchers, Fantails, Myzomelas, Monarchs, Starlings, White-eyes and Flowerpeckers.
One area that has been attracting a great deal of interest in recent times is volcanic Kolombangara Island in the Western province. Just a short hop from Munda International Airport by boat, the island’s above cloud line Imbu Rano Lodge regularly host groups of birders keen to see some of the rarest birds in the Solomon islands including Leaf Warblers, White-eyes, Monarchs and Island Thrushes. visitsolomons.com.sb