Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mauritius Fody
Foudia rubra
Mauritius Fody (Foudia rubra) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Oceans & Seabirds.
The Mauritius Fody (Foudia rubra) is a member of the Ploceidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 17.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds
- Genus Foudia
- Species rubra
Where it lives
Mauritius; introduced Ile aux Aigrettes (just southwest of Mauritius; central Mascarenes)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mauritius Fody is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Mauritius Fody is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mauritius Fody (Foudia rubra) belongs to the Ploceidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers IO Mauritius; introduced Ile aux Aigrettes (just sw of Mauritius; c Mascarenes).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17.7 g, with a wing length of about 6.7 cm and a tail of around 4.1 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 12 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mauritius Fody?
The Mauritius Fody is a small bird that weighs around 17.7 g.
Where does the Mauritius Fody live?
The Mauritius Fody is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering IO Mauritius; introduced Ile aux Aigrettes (just sw of Mauritius; c Mascarenes), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mauritius Fody belong to?
The Mauritius Fody (Foudia rubra) belongs to the Ploceidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Mauritius Fody eat?
The Mauritius Fody is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mauritius Fody migrate?
The Mauritius Fody is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mauritius Fody endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Mauritius Fody make?
1 real field recording of the Mauritius Fody — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mauritius Fody's range?
The Mauritius Fody has a mapped global range of about 12 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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