This is a list of the bird species recorded in Réunion. The avifauna of Réunion include a total of 161 species, of which 17 are endemic, and 27 have been introduced.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Réunion.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. Not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Réunion
(E) Endemic - a species endemic to Réunion
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to Réunion as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Réunion although populations exist elsewhere (X) Extinct - a species formerly found on Réunion, but no longer exists alive globally
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
White-faced whistling duck, Dendrocygna viduata (A) Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Knob-billed duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos (A) Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca (A) Réunion shelduck, Alopochen kervazoi (X) Meller's duck, Anas melleri (I) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Mauritius duck, Anas theodori (X)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus (I) Gray francolin, Ortygornis pondicerianus (I) Chinese francolin, Francolinus pintadeanus (extirpated) Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis (I) Madagascar partridge, Margaroperdix madagarensis (I) Common quail, Coturnix coturnix (I) Jungle bush-quail, Perdicula asiatica (I)
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus (A) Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor (A)
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Pink pigeon, Nesoenas mayeri (Ex) Malagasy turtle-dove, Streptopelia picturata (I) Zebra dove, Geopelia striata (I)
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.
Madagascar cuckoo, Cuculus rochii (A)
Swifts
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Mascarene swiftlet, Aerodramus francicus
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Reunion rail, Dryolimnas augusti (X) Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Mascarene coot, Fulica newtonii (X) Reunion gallinule, Porphyrio caerulescens (X) African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A)