Country checklist and status
iGoTerra
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The avifauna of La Réunion is poor in species but has a high proportion of threatened and endemic taxa. 78 species have been recorded comprising 9 native landbirds, 8 breeding native waterbirds and seabirds, 32 regular migrants, 9 accidentals and 20 introduced species.
Endemic species
Mascarene Black Petrel | Pterodroma aterrima |
Réunion Cuckoo-Shrike |
Coracina newtoni |
Réunion Stonechat | Saxicola tectes |
Olivaceous Bulbul | Hypsipetes borbonicus |
Réunion White-eye | Zosterops olivaceus |
A possible new species of Scops Owl Otus sp on Réunion is an account of an unseen owl species calling. There are no known owls on Réunion. A second paper gives further evidence from different sources - RENMAN, E. (1995) and BRETAGNOLLE, V. & ATTIE, C. (1996).
Near endemic species (found in 3 countries at most)
Barau’s Petrel | Pterodroma baraui | Ro |
Madagascar Marsh Harrier | Circus maillardi | Ma, Co |
Mascarene Swiftlet | Aerodramus francicus | M |
Mascarene Grey White-eye | Zosterops borbonicus | M |
Mascarene Paradise-Flycatcher | Terpsiphone bourbonnensis | M, Ro |
Species also found on Co=Comores, M=Mauritius, Ma=Madagascar, Ro=Rodrigues.
Little-known African Birds - Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone bourbonnensis SAFFORD, R. (1997).
Threatened species
Barau’s Petrel | Pterodroma baraui | Endangered |
Mascarene Black Petrel | Pterodroma aterrima | Critical |
Madagascar Pond Heron | Ardeola idae | Vulnerable |
Madagascar Marsh Harrier | Circus maillardi | Endangered |
Madagascar Pratincole | Glareola ocularis | Vulnerable |
Réunion Cuckoo-Shrike | Coracina newtoni | Endangered |
The lists of endemic, near endemic and threatened species have been compiled from a number of sources including the African Bird Club, BirdLife International, and Birds of the World Version 2.0 ® 1994-1996, Dr. Charles Sibley and Thayer Birding Software, Ltd.