Cook Islands

May

2026

Confusing the Törea and Kuriri.

Gerald McCormack, CINHT

Non-breeding vs Breeding Plumage – Cook Islands, Rarotonga – Gerald McCormack

On the airport, golf courses, sports fields and larger lawns of the Cook Islands the Common Mynah (Manu Kavamani, Acridotheres tristis) is busy feeding throughout the year. During the summer months they are joined by the Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), which is dark brown with pale spots, has long dark grey legs, and a short straight beak (24mm). The plover has an erect alert posture, giving it a height of about 25cm. For convenience we can combine its name and where it is found, to call it the “plover-of-the-grass”, although it is also seen along the shoreline. When alarmed the plover-of-the-grass gives two or three short “TUUU-REE” calls as it takes to the air. Continue reading →

May

2026

The Mournful Ladies

Gerald McCormack, CINHT

Mournful Gecko and Parent species – J. Newsome

The Mournful Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris), about 80mm from nose to tail-tip, is the most common household lizard in the Cook Islands and throughout the Pacific. Like other gecko lizards, it hides during the day and hunts insects at night, especially on walls near lights. It has wide toes with minute hairs underneath, which enable it to climb seemingly smooth vertical surfaces and to walk upside-down on ceilings.

Although Mournful Geckos usually congregate together, they give noisy “CHIK-CHIK-CHIK-CHIK-CHIK-CHIK” calls to warn each other to keep a suitable distance, and they follow up with a vigorous physical attack when the warning is ignored. Continue reading →

May

2026

Red-tailed Tropicbird, Tavake

Adult in flight – Cook Islands, Takūtea – Gerald McCormack

Gerald McCormack, CINHT

The Red-tailed Tropicbird (Tavake Phaethon rubricauda) is a snow-white seabird with a red bill and slender red tail. It nests during the winter months in moderate numbers on the cliffs behind Avarua and is often seen flying over the island. It has a raucous call and performs dramatic loop-the-loop courtship displays. The largest Cook Islands colonies are on Takutea (near Atiu), Suwarrow, and Palmerston and a small population on Mā’ina-iti, Aitutaki.

It is a rare nester on most peopled-atolls because it is a favourite traditional food and domestic dogs often disturb the nests. Palmerston is an interesting exception because the tropicbird remains common despite more than a hundred years of harvesting. The secret of its survival has been that Palmerston islanders harvest the “mature” nestlings only every 28^th day, and enough fledge between harvests to maintain the colony.

Continue reading →

May

2026

Moa Kirikiri – the Pacific Fruit-bat

Gerald McCormack, CINHT,

Pacific Fruit-bat, Adult in flight 1 – Tonga, Tongatapu – Gerald McCormack

The Moa Kirikiri lives on Mangaia and Rarotonga and is often called a flying-fox, although it is not closely related to the fox. It is really a bat, a fruit-eating bat.

Our Pacific Fruit-bat (Pteropus tonganus), which lives on many islands from the Cook Islands westward to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, is the most widespread species in the South Pacific. This situation is reflected in the name South Pacific Fruit-bat, although it is also known as the Tonga Fruit-bat, White-necked Fruit-bat and Insular Fruit-bat. Continue reading →

May

2026

The Half-flower’s Many Names

Gerald McCormak, CINHT,

Map depicting the names of the Half-flower different islands of the Cook Islands

One of the most widespread and conspicuous coastal shrubs in the Cook Islands has bright green, fleshy, hand-sized leaves; small white flowers, and grape-sized white fruit. The English name Half-flower (Scaevola taccada), although not widely used, refers to the fact that the petals are restricted to one half of the flower. Continue reading →

Cook Islands

Confusing the Törea and Kuriri.

The Mournful Ladies

Red-tailed Tropicbird, Tavake

Moa Kirikiri – the Pacific Fruit-bat

The Half-flower’s Many Names

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