Birds of Mauritius

Birds constitute, in number of species, the most important group of vertebrates. With more than 11,197 species listed to date in the world (source : World Animal Foundation), 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

The Farm's Bossy Honker – African Goose in Charge

Chinese Goose – The Watchful Guardian

Embden Goose – The Majestic White Guardian

Chinese Goose – The Elegant Guardian of the Farm

Majestic White Geese of Casela Parks

The Elegant African Geese of Casela Nature Parks

Chinese Goose – A Majestic Farmyard Resident

Chinese Goose – The Elegant Guardian

Egyptian Goose – A Graceful Waterfowl

Bulbul bird over fruit tree branch

1122

Small parrots aligned at Casela

1003

Zebra dove a common bird in Mauritius

1125

Striated Heron in Mauritius

939

Pink flamingos closeup at Casela Park

1354

Grey Mauritian sparrow birds in nature

1176

Pigeon captured during its flight

818

Black beak falcon - Cousin of the Mauritius Kestrel

1044

Striated heron aquatic bird perching near a pond

1067

Ostrich at Casela nature parks

1052

Portrait of Ostrich posing for photographer

1031

Funny Sad Kingfisher bird aka Martin of Mauritius

1631

Blue parakeet at Casela Park

997

Black beak falcon bird in Mauritius

1012

Black bird laid next to sugarcane flower

973

Red-Whiskered Bulbul birdies

804

Newly hatched red-whiskered Bulbul

808

Close-up of eggs of red-whiskered Bulbul

923

Eggs of red whiskered Bulbul in nest

800

Rare endemic bird Mauritius Bulbul on a branch

1195

Wildlife photography of white duck flying freely over trunk

758

Close up of a small Mauritius Sparrow

1726

Red cardinal bird in Rodrigues perched on a branch

1161

Rodrigues Fody grey bird in nature

1126

Rare Albino Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Condé Albinos)

1720

White flamingo preparing to jump in lake at Casela

1200

Red-whiskered Bulbul bird flying in the sky

1186

Grey crowned crane walking at Casela Nature Park

1310

Pigeons on water lilies at Pamplemousses botanical garden

905

Bulbul bird with white background perched on a branch

1225

Bottom view of Village Weaver aka Serin du Cap

1708

Eurasian Whimbrel walking on sand at Rivière des Galets beach

1501

Silhouette of bat under threatening clouds at sunset

850

Grey heron resting on lotus leaf at Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

1187

Close-up of white Peking duck swimming in water

1287

Flock of Serin du Cap & red Fody feeding

1314

Mauritius Martin Bird with yellow mask

2240

Bird nest with 2 white eggs in nature

1548

Heron on rock at Mont Choisy lagoon waiting for prey

1176

Pigeons flying at Khadafi Square in Plaine Verte

1450

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

907

Mauritius martin myna bird

1503

Cute red Fody on a phone line

1051

Flying Birds Silhouette early during Sunset

1039

Red Fody on electric lines

877

Pink Pigeon flying in nature

985

Closeup of Bulbul bird in garden

1600

Green turaco bird with black crown

989

Green parakeet bird flying and feeding

1394

White duck family closeup

993

Pigeons flying over a roof

934

Red-whiskered Bulbul Conde Bird

2380

Grey goose at Grand-Bassin lake

918

Brown Eurasian tree sparrow bird

878

Close up of pink pigeon of Mauritius

1514

Serin du cap bird of Mauritius

1506

Blue parrot birds cuddling

1729

Mauritius famous cardinal bird perched

1078

Yellow weaver birds feeding

1041

Yellow Village Serin du cap bird

1218

Jetty at Mahebourg waterfront at Sunrise

1166

Blue and gold Macaw bird

958

Pink flamingo fishing in water

1071

Serin jaune bird in the wild

1273

Black crowned Grey Heron bird

1053

Green parrots flying in Nature

1463

Birds watching wilderness at Andrea Lodges