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! Casela Nature Parks which is found in Cascavelle is one of them.

Another 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 locals 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 island. 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

Bulbul bird over fruit tree branch

392

Small parrots aligned at Casela

366

Zebra dove a common bird in Mauritius

396

Striated Heron in Mauritius

371

Pink flamingos closeup at Casela Park

538

Grey Mauritian sparrow birds in nature

460

Pigeon captured during its flight

322

Black beak falcon - Cousin of the Mauritius Kestrel

492

Striated heron aquatic bird perching near a pond

453

Ostrich at Casela nature parks

464

Portrait of Ostrich posing for photographer

453

Funny Sad Kingfisher bird aka Martin of Mauritius

775

Blue parakeet at Casela Park

352

Black beak falcon bird in Mauritius

487

Black bird laid next to sugarcane flower

444

Red-Whiskered Bulbul birdies

313

Newly hatched red-whiskered Bulbul

297

Close-up of eggs of red-whiskered Bulbul

332

Eggs of red whiskered Bulbul in nest

291

Rare endemic bird Mauritius Bulbul on a branch

544

Wildlife photography of white duck flying freely over trunk

292

Close up of a small Mauritius Sparrow

831

Red cardinal bird in Rodrigues perched on a branch

607

Rodrigues Fody grey bird in nature

663

Rare Albino Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Condé Albinos)

874

White flamingo preparing to jump in lake at Casela

652

Red-whiskered Bulbul bird flying in the sky

598

Grey crowned crane walking at Casela Nature Park

691

Pigeons on water lilies at Pamplemousses botanical garden

374

Bulbul bird with white background perched on a branch

680

Bottom view of Village Weaver aka Serin du Cap

582

Eurasian Whimbrel walking on sand at Rivière des Galets beach

733

Silhouette of bat under threatening clouds at sunset

337

Grey heron resting on lotus leaf at Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

685

Close-up of white Peking duck swimming in water

659

Flock of Serin du Cap & red Fody feeding

657

Mauritius Martin Bird with yellow mask

1020

Bird nest with 2 white eggs in nature

789

Heron on rock at Mont Choisy lagoon waiting for prey

590

Pigeons flying at Khadafi Square in Plaine Verte

868

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

448

Mauritius martin myna bird

929

Cute red Fody on a phone line

535

Flying Birds Silhouette early during Sunset

473

Red Fody on electric lines

413

Pink Pigeon flying in nature

512

Closeup of Bulbul bird in garden

890

Green turaco bird with black crown

470

Green parakeet bird flying and feeding

819

White duck family closeup

516

Pigeons flying over a roof

487

Red-whiskered Bulbul Conde Bird

1334

Grey goose at Grand-Bassin lake

446

Brown Eurasian tree sparrow bird

399

Close up of pink pigeon of Mauritius

826

Serin du cap bird of Mauritius

776

Blue parrot birds cuddling

1034

Mauritius famous cardinal bird perched

627

Yellow weaver birds feeding

617

Yellow Village Serin du cap bird

724

Jetty at Mahebourg waterfront at Sunrise

580

Blue and gold Macaw bird

512

Pink flamingo fishing in water

537

Serin jaune bird in the wild

807

Black crowned Grey Heron bird

532

Green parrots flying in Nature

825

Birds watching wilderness at Andrea Lodges

590

Reflection of a dove bird near water

533

Mauritius Grey White-eye Pic-Pic bird

1695

Village Weaver Serin du cap bird

1105

Red Whiskered Bulbul feeding papaya

966

Male house sparrow bird of Mauritius

1118

Yellow Canari building a nest

768

Red Cardinal bird feeding in the field

842

Pink Pigeon endemic bird of Mauritius

712

Mascarene Martin bird of Rodrigues

638

Grey Zebra-dove Mauritian bird tourterelle on branch

1062

Fishing seagulls sea birds in open water

711

Mauritius famous Red Cardinal bird

1002