Map by Wintibird
Overview
The Moluccas are a group of islands in Indonesia.
They are situated west of New Guinea, northwest of Australia, east of Sulawesi and the Lesser Sundas.
Politically they form two Indonesian provinces:
- Maluku
- Ambon
- Aru
- Babar
- Banda
- Buru
- Kai
- Kisar
- Leti
- Seram
- Tanimbar
- Wetar
- North Maluku
- Ternate
- Bacan
- Halmahera
- Morotai
- Obi
- Sula
- Tidore
They lie in Wallacea, the biogeographical area between Asia and Australia. Where communities rely on fishing the forest may remain relatively untouched. In general, the logging of rainforest for timber and the growing populations of the islands are a big threat to the future of many species.
Birds
The avifauna is more Australasian than Asian and families like Birds-of-paradise, Honeyeaters or Whistlers are represented by many endemic species.
Endemics
Regional endemics
See Sulawesi for a list of species shared with that Province
