The national animal of Fiji is the collared lory. This is a species of colored parrot endemic to the Fiji islands, instantly recognizable by its bright red plumage. They are among the island’s most iconic birds and are the only Fijian rainforest bird that have also adapted to urban environments, making them very conspicuous.
The allure of a tropical bird like this is hard to ignore.
They are beautiful and so strikingly colorful that you could hardly miss it from a mile away.
Such birds like this are often seen as important national symbols on island nations and they have very much secured their place in the hearts of the Fijian people too.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Fiji?
The national animal of Fiji is the collared lory.
This is an endemic parrot that is only found in the Fiji islands but is found in great numbers on the islands.
They, like many parrot species, are very striking visually: they sport bright red plumage on most of their bodies as well as s red stripe across their back and wings.
Their wing plumage is bright green as well as a strip of green at the base of their neck.
The top half of their head is then dark purple and they have a bright yellow beak.
All of this makes for a very striking contrast between the different parts of the plumage.
They are visually stunning to look at.
They stand around 8 inches tall only exhibiting very slight sexual dimorphism.
The male has brighter scarlet cheeks with a dark purple crown.
The female has a paler crown.
They are fast, straight flyers with quick, shallow wingbeats, usually found in pairs though they do also live in small groups.
They have a shrieking call, very high pitched which again is instantly recognizable once you know it.
They mostly eat fruit, seeds, and nectar blossoms.
They favor the drala tree and the coconut palm, though they have also come to enjoy the invasive African tulip tree which was introduced by people.
They typically nest in hollow trees, though sometimes they are known to live in the cavity of a rotting coconut when it is still attached to the tree.
They generally lay two eggs, and incubate for about 30 days.
The nestling stage is then around 9 weeks.
They have been prized throughout Polynesia for their vibrant plumage and unsurprisingly have been exhibited at zoos around the world since the 1940s.
Why is the collared lory the national animal of Fiji?
The collared lory is the national animal of Fiji for a few important reasons.
On the one hand, they are seen as symbols of freedom and liberty, embodying a national spirit of emancipation and the ability to live one’s life in the way they please.
Birds of many kinds are often seen this way in many cultures around the world, and the collared lory is no different even despite its relatively small native range in the Fiji islands.
But, of course, the fact that it is endemic to the Fiji islands is another important reason they are the national animal.
They are seen as uniquely Fijian symbols, not to be found anywhere else and thus one of the most important and recognizable images of the country.
They are distributed widely across the islands of Fiji and are a common sight in many different environments on the islands—but more on that later.
So, there are many reasons the collared lory is the national animal of Fiji, but ultimately the simplest answer is that they are not found anywhere else.
On a more symbolic level, different Fijians may feel there’s a different answer depending on their point of view.
How endangered is the collared lory?
The collared lory is not considered endangered at all, and is in fact listed as of least concern by the IUCN Red List.
This means that their population is stable and that they are not under any immediate threat of extinction or endangerment.
Of course, though, human activity can put a strain on the population of just about any animal, but it is quite clear that the collared lory is in a very strong position.
Part of the reason for this is how well it has adapted to different environments and can thrive in many different parts of Fiji.
What is the collared lory’s habitat?
The collared lory lives in many different kinds of habitat.
Their natural habitat is tropical or subtropical lowland forests, where there is abundant food for them.
This is where they are still most commonly found throughout the islands.
On the other hand, part of their success has been in their ability to adapt to urban landscapes; indeed they are the only rainforest bird of Fiji that has been able to do so.
They are a common sight in Suva, Fiji’s capital and largest city, where they feed on a variety of things.
So, ultimately, you might see a collared lory just about anywhere in Fiji.
So, again, it’s easy to see why such a beautiful animal should be chosen as the country’s national animal.
They are almost unnaturally brightly colored and many of us outside the tropics just aren’t used to seeing animals with such stark colors.
The collared lory is a common sight throughout the Fiji islands today and thus virtually everyone there is aware of them to some degree.