Passerine conservation

Mauritius is home to six forest-living native passerines, five of which depend heavily on remaining fragments of native forest.

Four of these species—the Mauritius Olive White-eye, Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher, Mauritius Grey White-eye and the Mauritius Bulbul—persist at our conservation sites. These charismatic birds play a vital role as pollinators and seed dispersers, helping to regenerate and maintain healthy forest ecosystems. By protecting their habitats and closely monitoring their populations, we gain essential insights into ecosystem health and the effectiveness of our conservation actions.

Species background

Common name:
Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher

Latin name:
Tersiphone desolata

Endemic to:
Mauritius

IUCN status:
Vulnerable (Genetic studies show that the species is separate from the Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher, however this has not been published. In this case the species would be listed as Vulnerable)

Distribution:
• Forested areas around Mauritius

Threats:
• Habitat degradation and fragmentation
• Predation by rats, feral cats and mynah birds

Conservation opportunities:
• Expand population range to areas with high-quality native forest and predator control

Ecology:
Insectivores

Common name:
Grey white-eye

Latin name:
Zosterops mauritianus

Endemic to:
Mauritius

IUCN status:
Least Concern

Distribution:
• Throughout Mauritius

Threats:
• Habitat degradation and fragmentation
• Predation by rats, feral cats, red-whiskered bulbul, and mynah birds

Ecology:
Feeds on insect, nectar, pollen, and fruits

Common name:
Mauritius bulbul

Latin name:
Hypsipetes olivaceus

Endemic to:
Mauritius

IUCN status:
Vulnerable

Distribution:
• Forested areas in the central plateau, east, south and west

Threats:
• Habitat degradation and fragmentation
• Predation by rats, monkeys, feral cats and mynah birds
• Competition for food from introduced red-whiskered bulbul

Conservation opportunities:
• Increase population range

Ecology:
Feeds on fruits and some insects and geckos

For more information on what we are doing to conserve the Critically Endangered Mauritius Olive White-eye, check out this page.

Project aim

To monitor the populations of each of these passerine species and learn more about their ecology.

Project impacts

By monitoring passerine populations at our restoration sites, we gain critical insights that allow us to:

• Establish baseline data for long-term monitoring and evaluating the success of other conservation actions
• Early detection of threats
• Better understanding of species’ ecological needs
• Builds local conservation capacity
• Strengthens pollination and seed dispersal interactions, aiding forest restoration and climate adaptation
• Raise public awareness of Mauritius’ unique but threatened reptile fauna

This project supports the Government’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Since 2020, Ebony Forest has been working in partnership with the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS) to assess the status of these passerines.

Survey bird populations

Ring individuals

Monitor breeding, diet, and survival

As part of our efforts to raise awareness about Mauritius’ unique birds, we created and distribute posters of endemic and exotic birds to visiting schools.

Since 2020, we have rung 35 Mauritius paradise flycatcher, 55 Mauritius grey white-eye, and 13 Mauritius bulbul.