Birds of Mauritius

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Birds constitute, in number of species, the most important group of vertebrates. With more than 10,000 species listed to date, they are twice the number of species of mammals.

They are characterized by their feathers type remige allowing flight. However, some birds, specialized in running like ostriches or swimming like penguins have lost the ability to fly. Other characteristics of birds are the first toe turned backwards and a backward rotation of the forelimbs that allows them to fold them along the body. They are also (for modern birds) toothless.

Birds are everywhere, occupy all environments, under all latitudes. They can be found in the sea as well as on the continents, from the coasts to the mountain tops. They are the animals that venture farthest inside the Antarctic ice cap. They are most often carnivorous, predators of insects or vertebrates, or granivorous.

In the middle of the cane fields, the birds are part of my daily life, they chirp from morning to evening, go from one tree to another, land on the colored flowers, avoid each other or gather!

Everywhere we go, we immortalize these moments when they land near us! Go fly away and listen to them! A few amazing nature parks are awaiting for you in Mauritius!

A nice place to admire birds on this island is Rivulet Terre Rouge Bird Sanctuary which is located between the Mauritius Freeport Development and the public beach of Baie du Tombeau. Birdwatching at Rivulet might be one of the Mauritian Activities which the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority might consider to promote to tourists and to the local people in Mauritius.

The dove or turtle dove Streptopelia chinensis

It is resident and native to southern Asia, from India and Sri Lanka, eastward to southern China and southwestern Asia.

The Cardinal

It is commonly called "Cardinal" in Mauritius. In fact, it is a Madagascar Cardinal (Foudi de Madagascar) The male is very recognizable between September and May when it becomes entirely red and the female looks like a sparrow. The rest of the year, it is streaked brown and beige with greenish reflections on the top, beige on the bottom. It is then confused with the female sparrow.

The Condé, Bulbul Orpheus or Mauritius Blackbird

This bird with black skirt is native to India. It is adorned with a black crest on the head with some small red feathers that highlight its black eye. The male and the female both wear the same plumage. The Conde is essentially a fruit eater and does a lot of damage to plantations and fruit crops. As a result, it is not very popular with farmers and is even considered a pest.

The Striated Heron

It is very present in the Garden of Pamplemousses. On this picture, the heron waits for the small fish to come near to eat the breadcrumbs and then seize them very quickly.

Like anywhere in the world, deforestation is causing major harm to our local Mauritian bird species however some eco-friendly hotels are more and more integrating sustainable green spaces in order to reduce the progressive extinction of our birds.

birds Photos

Striated Heron bird closeup

26

Common waxbill with red mask

109

The Turtle Dove or Tourterelle in Mauritius

177

Pic Pic

119

Mauritius Fody at Ile aux Aigrettes

119

Red tail Paille en queue in Rodrigues

110

The Paille en Queue hiding in its nest

202

Closeup of bright red Cardinal on plant

184

Bulbul bird over fruit tree branch

155

Small parrots aligned at Casela

150

Zebra dove a common bird in Mauritius

222

Striated Heron in Mauritius

234

Pink flamingos closeup at Casela Park

276

Grey Mauritian sparrow birds in nature

175

Pigeon captured during its flight

195

Black beak falcon - Cousin of the Mauritius Kestrel

313

Striated heron aquatic bird perching near a pond

307

Ostrich at Casela nature parks

283

Portrait of Ostrich posing for photographer

225

Funny Sad Kingfisher bird aka Martin of Mauritius

413

Blue parakeet at Casela Park

175

Black beak falcon bird in Mauritius

273

Black bird laid next to sugarcane flower

272

Red-Whiskered Bulbul birdies

182

Newly hatched red-whiskered Bulbul

179

Close-up of eggs of red-whiskered Bulbul

163

Eggs of red whiskered Bulbul in nest

159

Rare endemic bird Mauritius Bulbul on a branch

371

Wildlife photography of white duck flying freely over trunk

184

Close up of a small Mauritius Sparrow

446

Red cardinal bird in Rodrigues perched on a branch

415

Rodrigues Fody grey bird in nature

485

Rare Albino Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Condé Albinos)

589

White flamingo preparing to jump in lake at Casela

500

Red-whiskered Bulbul bird flying in the sky

436

Grey crowned crane walking at Casela Nature Park

491

Pigeons on water lilies at Pamplemousses botanical garden

242

Bulbul bird with white background perched on a branch

502

Bottom view of Village Weaver aka Serin du Cap

291

Eurasian Whimbrel walking on sand at Rivière des Galets beach

558

Silhouette of bat under threatening clouds at sunset

228

Grey heron resting on lotus leaf at Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

537

Close-up of white Peking duck swimming in water

497

Flock of Serin du Cap & red Fody feeding

478

Mauritius Martin Bird with yellow mask

611

Bird nest with 2 white eggs in nature

521

Heron on rock at Mont Choisy lagoon waiting for prey

387

Pigeons flying at Khadafi Square in Plaine Verte

648

Three little birds next to each other while it's raining

330

Mauritius martin myna bird

723

Cute red Fody on a phone line

404

Flying Birds Silhouette early during Sunset

349

Red Fody on electric lines

301

Pink Pigeon flying in nature

383

Closeup of Bulbul bird in garden

707

Green turaco bird with black crown

337

Green parakeet bird flying and feeding

559

White duck family closeup

389

Pigeons flying over a roof

371

Red-whiskered Bulbul Conde Bird

914

Grey goose at Grand-Bassin lake

327

Brown Eurasian tree sparrow bird

303

Close up of pink pigeon of Mauritius

521

Serin du cap bird of Mauritius

563

Blue parrot birds cuddling

810

Mauritius famous cardinal bird perched

505

Yellow weaver birds feeding

511

Yellow Village Serin du cap bird

599

Jetty at Mahebourg waterfront at Sunrise

424

Blue and gold Macaw bird

380

Pink flamingo fishing in water

382

Serin jaune bird in the wild

649

Black crowned Grey Heron bird

385

Green parrots flying in Nature

654

Birds watching wilderness at Andrea Lodges

493

Reflection of a dove bird near water

428

Mauritius Grey White-eye Pic-Pic bird

975

Village Weaver Serin du cap bird

855

Red Whiskered Bulbul feeding papaya

785

Male house sparrow bird of Mauritius

801

Yellow Canari building a nest

644

Red Cardinal bird feeding in the field

703

Pink Pigeon endemic bird of Mauritius

490

Mascarene Martin bird of Rodrigues

485

Grey Zebra-dove Mauritian bird tourterelle on branch

841

Fishing seagulls sea birds in open water

569

Mauritius famous Red Cardinal bird

780