Mauritius fody

The Mauritius fody is a rare species of bird in the weaver family. It is endemic to the island of Mauritius. It is classified by BirdLife International as being endangered. It is also on the United States' Endangered Species List with an endangered status.

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Distribution

Region

Mascarene Islands (Mauritius)

Typical Environment

Endemic to Mauritius, it occurs in remnants of native evergreen forest, regenerating shrubland, and well-managed reserves. The core natural stronghold is in upland forest around Black River Gorges, with additional managed populations on small offshore islets such as Île aux Aigrettes. It favors areas with dense vegetation for nesting and nearby open or semi-open patches for foraging. Conservation sites provide predator control and supplemental resources that enhance breeding success.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 800 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size12–14 cm

Wing Span18–22 cm

Male Weight0.02 kg

Female Weight0.018 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Mauritius fody is a small weaver notable for the male’s striking scarlet plumage and black facial mask during the breeding season. Once reduced to very low numbers, it has benefited from intensive conservation, including predator control and translocations to offshore islets like Île aux Aigrettes. It weaves intricate, ball-shaped nests and is highly sensitive to invasive predators such as rats. Ongoing habitat restoration and nest protection are key to its survival.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial during breeding; small, loose groups otherwise

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Pairs form territories in the breeding season, with the male weaving several nests from grasses and leaves; the female selects and lines the chosen nest. Clutches are typically small, and both parents contribute to care. Outside the breeding season, individuals may forage in small parties and tolerate conspecifics at rich food sources.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A soft, scratchy warble interspersed with thin, high-pitched notes. Calls include sharp chips and chatters used for contact and alarm.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Mauritius grey white-eye

The Mauritius grey white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is one of two white-eye species endemic to the island of Mauritius, the other being the rare and localized Mauritius olive white-eye. It inhabits woodlands, forests, and gardens. The Réunion grey white-eye is very closely related. They were formerly considered conspecific and together called Mascarene white-eye.

Mauritius kestrel

The Mauritius kestrel is a bird of prey from the family Falconidae endemic to the forests of Mauritius, where it is restricted to the southwestern plateau's forests, cliffs, and ravines. It is the most distinct of the Indian Ocean kestrels. It colonized its island home to evolve into a distinct species probably during the Gelasian. It is the most distant living species among the western Indian Ocean kestrels.

Mauritius night heron

The Mauritius night heron is an extinct night heron species from Mauritius. It is only known by seven subfossil bone remains consisted of cranium, pelvis, coracoid, ulna, radius, and tarsometatarsus found in Mare aux Songes. Only the coracoid and the tarsometatarsus are left today. It was scientifically described in 1893 by Edward Newton and Hans Gadow from the University of Cambridge. Newton and Gadow measured the tarsometatarsus with 81 to 87 mm. It became presumedly extinct shortly after it was first mentioned by François Leguat in 1693 who described them as a "great flight of bitterns".

Mauritius scops owl

The Mauritius scops owl is an extinct species of scops owl that was endemic to the Mascarene island of Mauritius. It is known from a collection of subfossil bones from the Mare aux Songes swamp, a detailed sketch made by de Jossigny in 1770, a no less detailed description by Desjardins of a bird shot in 1836, and a number of brief reports about owls, the first being those of Van Westzanen in 1602 and Matelief in 1606. Other names for the species include Mauritius owl, Mauritius lizard owl, Commerson's owl, Sauzier's owl, or Newton's owl.

Mauritius sheldgoose

The Mauritius sheldgoose, also known as the Mauritius shelduck, is an extinct species of sheldgoose that was endemic to the island of Mauritius. While geese were mentioned by visitors to Mauritius in the 17th century, few details were provided by these accounts. In 1893, a carpometacarpus wing-bone and a pelvis from the Mare aux Songes swamp were used to name a new species of comb duck, Sarcidiornis mauritianus. These bones were connected to the contemporary accounts of geese and later determined to belong to a species related to the Egyptian goose and placed in the sheldgoose genus Alopochen. The Mauritius and Réunion sheldgoose may have descended from Egyptian geese that colonised the Mascarene Islands.