Mauritius is renowned for its vibrant culture, history, sugar and textile industries, and stunning beaches and lagoons. Beyond the dazzling shores lies a treasure trove of natural wonders, particularly for those who appreciate unique flora and fauna. While the beaches and waters draw many, the island's jungle interiors and national parks offer so much more to discover. This guide will help you identify some of the most remarkable birds of Mauritius.
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Endemic and Endangered Species
Several bird species in Mauritius are not only endemic but also endangered. Conservation efforts are crucial to preserving these unique creatures.
Mauritius Kestrel
Feeding time for the Mauritius kestrel
The amazing Mauritius kestrel, one of the world’s rarest birds, came very close to extinction at one point (in 1974 when there were only four individual birds of this species left in the world, it was actually deemed the rarest bird in the world). This bird of prey forms part of the Falconidae family and is found in the southwestern plateau of Mauritius where they can be seen in forests, along the cliffs or in ravines. Considered to be the most distinct of the Indian Ocean kestrels, this gorgeous bird is a relatively small species that generally reaches between 26cm-30.5cm and weighs up to 250g, with the males being slightly smaller than the females. Interestingly, both the female and the male are very similar in appearance (except for the aforementioned difference) and they have characteristically short wings, long tails and legs with short talons. The upper body is a deep chestnut with black markings while the underside is a creamy white with dark sports.
Mauritius Kestrel
Read also: Birds of the Savanna
Pink Pigeon
The wonderfully exotic and incredibly rare pink pigeon is a type of pigeon found in the Columbidae family endemic to Mauritius. Much like the Mauritius kestrels, these wonderfully unique birds flirted with extinction in the 1990s (there were only 10 individuals of this species left in 1991) and remain incredibly rare today. This fantastic bird is an attractive medium-sized pigeon with light pink colored feathers on the head, neck and underparts. The forehead of the bird is a white while the back is a deep brown which melts into a copper colored tail. The females tend to be slightly duller than the males but they are both extraordinary and wonderful sights for eager birdwatchers hoping to sight a rare bird. The tip of the bill is white while the eyes are yellow and the legs a pinkish red. Said to once be prolific the island over, these birds are now found largely in the upland forests around Black River Gorges, their decline around the island being due to deforestation and the introduction of predators such as rats, feral cats, monkeys, mongooses as well as alien plant species.
Pink Pigeon
Echo Parakeet
The echo parakeet, or Mauritius parakeet (Psittacula eques), is a vibrant, endemic parrot to Mauritius and is the last remaining species of Mascarene island parrots. These birds are sadly also endangered. This emerald green parrot is close both physically and in DNA to the rose-ringed parakeet, but boasts a lower-pitched call, shorter tail and deeper green colored feathers than the latter, and are much rarer as well, only being found in the Black River Gorges area of Mauritius. The females and males differ in that the males have a marking that looks like a neck collar that the females don’t possess and red upper beaks, where the beak of the female bird is pitch black.
Echo Parakeet
Mauritius Olive White-Eye
The absolutely stunning Mauritius olive white-eye joins the lists of both birds that are endemic to Mauritius and those that are endangered, and in the Mauritius olive white-eye’s case, critically so. The smallest of the Mauritian songbirds (and the least well known of them), the Mauritius olive white-eye is easily identified by the bright white circles around their eyes, a dull olive-green upper body with lighter underparts. Males and females look very similar and are small in build, reaching an average size of 10cm.
Read also: A Guide to African Lovebirds
Tropicbird (Paille-en-queue)
The remarkable bird that inspired the logo for Air Mauritius, the Tropicbird, or Paille-en-queue, is a gorgeous seabird found along the shores of many tropical islands and in Mauritius, you stand a chance to see both the beautiful red-tailed and the white-tailed tropicbird. These wonderful creatures are easily identified by their long, trailing tail feathers and distinctive bills (red tail feathers and red bill, and white tail feathers and yellow bills respectively). While both the red-tailed and white-tailed tropicbirds are solitary by nature, the red-tailed species is quite a bit larger with their average weight being around 800g compared to the white-tailed tropicbirds 350g.
Mauritius Fody
The Mauritius Fody is a small endemic songbird that at one time was extremely common in the jungle-like interiors of Mauritius and is now sadly, also endangered. It can still be sighted, if you are lucky, in the forests of the Black River Gorges National Park where the population is closely monitored. The male Mauritius Fody has brilliant red plumage from its head to its chest, with an orange patch on his rump during the breeding season. The female, in contrast, is far duller than her male counterpart, with olive-brown plumage and slightly darker wings. Both the male and the female have thin bills used to probe for insects and to feast on fruit and nectar. This wonderful bird is endemic, as the name implies, to the Mascarene islands of Mauritius and Reunion, each with their own subspecies, with those in Mauritius being incredibly rare and those in Reunion on the other end of the spectrum, being quite common.
Mauritius Fody
Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher
The paradise flycatcher found in Mauritius is overall larger and darker than the Reunion species, and has a stunning purple gloss on its head. These flycatchers don’t have the long tail usual of many other paradise flycatchers, but it’s still a wonderfully attractive bird. Measuring approximately 15cm to 20cm, the male has a blackish head with a grey band around its neck, throat, breast and belly. The upper parts are a deep chestnut and the tips of the wing are black. The bill has a bluish hue and the legs are grey.
Common Bird Species
Mauritius is also home to several common bird species, each with its unique characteristics and ecological roles.
Read also: Learn about Lovebirds
| Species | Description |
|---|---|
| Red-whiskered Bulbul | An invasive species that thrives on fruits and insects in lightly wooded areas. |
| Common Myna | A large, stocky starling that prefers to live near humans and forages for grasshoppers. |
| Zebra Dove | A small dove found in dense forests and suburban areas, foraging alone or in pairs. |
| Village Weaver | A stocky bird with a strong conical bill, with breeding males having black heads edged by chestnut. |
| Red Fody | The male is bright red with black markings around the eyes, while the female is olive-brown with greyish-brown underparts. |
| House Sparrow | A highly adaptable species found across the globe, often socializing with humans. |
| Malagasy Turtle Dove | Found in British Indian Ocean Territory, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, and the Seychelles. |
| Spotted Dove | A medium-sized bird that prefers warm climates in suburban areas, dining on insects and seeds. |
| Striated Heron | Adults have a blue-grey back and wings, white underparts, and a black cap, often found at the water's edge. |
| Rose-ringed Parakeet | A common sight in tropical climates, known for its vibrant colors and loud vocalizations. |
| Whimbrel | A shorebird often found in coastal areas, distinguishable by its short, high-pitched whistles. |
| Common Moorhen | Found in slow-moving aquatic ecosystems with dense vegetation, feeding opportunistically. |
| Rock Pigeon | The wild ancestor of domestic pigeons, known for its ability to fly long distances. |
| Common Waxbill | A small and brightly colored bird, native to Africa, often seen in flocks foraging for seeds and insects. |
| Yellow-fronted Canary | A small passerine bird in the finch family, with a green back, brown wings and tail, and yellow underparts. |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Small waders with a longer down-curved beak, longer neck and legs and a white rump. |
| Greater Sand Plover | A chunky plover, long-legged and thick-billed, breeding males have grey backs and white underparts. |
| Ruddy Turnstone | A small shorebird that flips over shells and rocks to search for invertebrates. |
| Helmeted Guineafowl | Large birds with featherless blue heads, often kept to control ticks. |
Birding Locations in Mauritius
Several locations in Mauritius offer excellent opportunities for birdwatching:
- Black River Gorges National Park: One of the few remnants of true Mauritian forest, offering superb views and sightings of Mauritius Bulbul and Echo Parakeet.
- Ile Aux Aigrettes: A preserved island with key Mauritian endemic wildlife, including Pink Pigeon, Mauritius Olive White-Eye, and Mauritius Fody.
- Sublime Ebony Forest: Located within Chamarel Park, this forest features a canopy walkway where you can spot Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher.
- Vallée de Ferney: A reliable site for spotting the Mauritius Kestrel.
- Bras D'Eau National Park: Another location where the Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher can be found.
Birding App
Birds of Mauritius is a field guide birding App which covers all the species recorded on the islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues. For each species, there is a wealth of detail including photos, calls, text and maps to help you enjoy and identify the special birds of these islands. The App is primarily a field guide but includes the capability to record and upload sightings to a central database, as well as allowing a user to maintain personal checklists.
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