Seychelles bird checklist - Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Seychelles

This checklist includes all bird species found in Seychelles , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to .

The taxonomic order and nomenclature follows Clements, version 2025. If you prefer to view the list based on a different authority, click on one of the list available below. Globally threatened species (status in red) were identified by Birdlife International in Birdlife Data Zone (species).

Bird Checklists of the World is part of Avibase and Bird links to the World, which are designed and maintained by Denis Lepage, and hosted by Birds Canada, which is a co-partner of Birdlife International.

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Country or region: Seychelles [map]

Other names: Republic of Seychelles

Number of species: 291
Number of endemics: 18
Number of globally threatened species: 28
Number of extinct species: 3
Number of introduced species: 13
Date last reviewed: 2024-03-30
Last modified: 2026-01-03
See also: http://www.seychellesbirdrecordscommittee.com/the-seychelles-list.html

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ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
White-faced Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna viduata	Rare/Accidental
Knob-billed Duck	Sarkidiornis melanotos	Rare/Accidental
Ruddy Shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	Rare/Accidental
Cotton Pygmy-Goose	Nettapus coromandelianus	Rare/Accidental
Garganey	Spatula querquedula
Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Rare/Accidental
Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Rare/Accidental
Eurasian Wigeon	Mareca penelope	Rare/Accidental
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Rare/Accidental
Red-billed Duck	Anas erythrorhyncha	Rare/Accidental
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	Rare/Accidental
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	Rare/Accidental
Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula	Rare/Accidental
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Gray Francolin	Ortygornis pondicerianus	Introduced species
Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix	Rare/Accidental
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Introduced species
Malagasy Turtle-Dove	Nesoenas picturatus	Introduced species
European Turtle-Dove	Streptopelia turtur	Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Namaqua Dove	Oena capensis	Rare/Accidental
Zebra Dove	Geopelia striata	Introduced species
Seychelles Blue-Pigeon	Alectroenas pulcherrimus	Endemic
Comoro Blue-Pigeon	Alectroenas sganzini	Endemic (country/region) Near-threatened
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Malagasy Coucal	Centropus toulou
Great Spotted Cuckoo	Clamator glandarius	Rare/Accidental
Pied Cuckoo	Clamator jacobinus	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Cuckoo	Cuculus poliocephalus	Rare/Accidental
Common Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	Rare/Accidental
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
Eurasian Nightjar	Caprimulgus europaeus	Rare/Accidental
Madagascar Nightjar	Caprimulgus madagascariensis
APODIFORMES: Apodidae
White-throated Needletail	Hirundapus caudacutus	Rare/Accidental
Seychelles Swiftlet	Aerodramus elaphrus	Endemic Vulnerable
Alpine Swift	Tachymarptis melba	Rare/Accidental
Common Swift	Apus apus	Rare/Accidental
Pacific Swift	Apus pacificus	Rare/Accidental
Little Swift	Apus affinis	Rare/Accidental
African Palm Swift	Cypsiurus parvus	Rare/Accidental
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
White-throated Rail	Dryolimnas cuvieri
Corn Crake	Crex crex	Rare/Accidental
Spotted Crake	Porzana porzana	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Moorhen	Paragallinula angulata	Rare/Accidental
Eurasian Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
Allen's Gallinule	Porphyrio alleni	Rare/Accidental
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinica	Rare/Accidental
African Swamphen	Porphyrio madagascariensis	Extirpated
White-breasted Waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus	Rare/Accidental
Striped Crake	Aenigmatolimnas marginalis	Rare/Accidental
Little Crake	Zapornia parva	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae
Eurasian Thick-knee	Burhinus oedicnemus	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Rare/Accidental
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Haematopodidae
Eurasian Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	Vulnerable
Pacific Golden-Plover	Pluvialis fulva
Common Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula
Little Ringed Plover	Thinornis dubius	Rare/Accidental
Spur-winged Lapwing	Vanellus spinosus	Rare/Accidental
Senegal Lapwing	Vanellus lugubris	Rare/Accidental
Sociable Lapwing	Vanellus gregarius	Rare/Accidental Critically endangered
Caspian Plover	Anarhynchus asiaticus	Rare/Accidental
Oriental Plover	Anarhynchus veredus	Rare/Accidental
Siberian Sand-Plover	Anarhynchus mongolus	Rare/Accidental Endangered
Tibetan Sand-Plover	Anarhynchus atrifrons
Greater Sand-Plover	Anarhynchus leschenaultii
CHARADRIIFORMES: Rostratulidae
Greater Painted-Snipe	Rostratula benghalensis	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae
Pheasant-tailed Jacana	Hydrophasianus chirurgus	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Eurasian Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Little Curlew	Numenius minutus	Rare/Accidental
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	Near-threatened
Bar-tailed Godwit	Limosa lapponica	Near-threatened
Black-tailed Godwit	Limosa limosa	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Jack Snipe	Lymnocryptes minimus	Rare/Accidental
Great Snipe	Gallinago media	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Pin-tailed Snipe	Gallinago stenura	Rare/Accidental
Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	Rare/Accidental
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	Rare/Accidental
Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Rare/Accidental
Gray-tailed Tattler	Tringa brevipes	Rare/Accidental
Marsh Sandpiper	Tringa stagnatilis	Rare/Accidental
Wood Sandpiper	Tringa glareola
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	Rare/Accidental
Spotted Redshank	Tringa erythropus	Rare/Accidental
Common Greenshank	Tringa nebularia
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	Near-threatened
Great Knot	Calidris tenuirostris	Rare/Accidental Endangered
Red Knot	Calidris canutus	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Ruff	Calidris pugnax	Rare/Accidental
Broad-billed Sandpiper	Calidris falcinellus	Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper	Calidris acuminata	Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Curlew Sandpiper	Calidris ferruginea	Vulnerable
Temminck's Stint	Calidris temminckii	Rare/Accidental
Long-toed Stint	Calidris subminuta	Rare/Accidental
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Calidris subruficollis	Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Little Stint	Calidris minuta
Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Dromadidae
Crab-Plover	Dromas ardeola
CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae
Madagascar Pratincole	Glareola ocularis	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Collared Pratincole	Glareola pratincola	Rare/Accidental
Black-winged Pratincole	Glareola nordmanni	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Oriental Pratincole	Glareola maldivarum	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Stercorariidae
Parasitic Jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus	Rare/Accidental
Pomarine Jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus	Rare/Accidental
Brown Skua	Stercorarius antarcticus	Rare/Accidental
South Polar Skua	Stercorarius maccormicki	Rare/Accidental
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Black-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	Rare/Accidental
Gray-hooded Gull	Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus	Rare/Accidental
Franklin's Gull	Leucophaeus pipixcan	Rare/Accidental
Sooty Gull	Ichthyaetus hemprichii	Rare/Accidental
European Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	Rare/Accidental
Blue-billed White-Tern	Gygis candida
Brown Noddy	Anous stolidus
Lesser Noddy	Anous tenuirostris
Sooty Tern	Onychoprion fuscatus
Bridled Tern	Onychoprion anaethetus
Little Tern	Sternula albifrons	Rare/Accidental
Saunders's Tern	Sternula saundersi
Gull-billed Tern	Gelochelidon nilotica	Rare/Accidental
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia	Rare/Accidental
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida	Rare/Accidental
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo
White-cheeked Tern	Sterna repressa	Rare/Accidental
Black-naped Tern	Sterna sumatrana
Roseate Tern	Sterna dougallii
Sandwich Tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Crested Tern	Thalasseus bengalensis
Great Crested Tern	Thalasseus bergii
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae
Greater Flamingo	Phoenicopterus roseus	Rare/Accidental
PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae
Eared Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	Rare/Accidental
PHAETHONTIFORMES: Phaethontidae
White-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon lepturus
Red-billed Tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus	Rare/Accidental
Red-tailed Tropicbird	Phaethon rubricauda
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Oceanitidae
Wilson's Storm-Petrel	Oceanites oceanicus	Rare/Accidental
White-faced Storm-Petrel	Pelagodroma marina	Rare/Accidental
Black-bellied Storm-Petrel	Fregetta tropica	Rare/Accidental
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Hydrobatidae
Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel	Hydrobates monorhis	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Matsudaira's Storm-Petrel	Hydrobates matsudairae	Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
PROCELLARIIFORMES: Procellariidae
Southern Giant-Petrel	Macronectes giganteus	Rare/Accidental
Pintado Petrel	Daption capense	Rare/Accidental
Kermadec Petrel	Pterodroma neglecta	Rare/Accidental
Trindade Petrel	Pterodroma arminjoniana	Vulnerable
Herald Petrel	Pterodroma heraldica	Rare/Accidental
Barau's Petrel	Pterodroma baraui	Rare/Accidental Endangered
Bulwer's Petrel	Bulweria bulwerii	Rare/Accidental
Jouanin's Petrel	Bulweria fallax	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Mascarene Petrel	Pseudobulweria aterrima	Rare/Accidental Critically endangered
Flesh-footed Shearwater	Ardenna carneipes	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Wedge-tailed Shearwater	Ardenna pacifica
Tropical Shearwater	Puffinus bailloni
CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae
White Stork	Ciconia ciconia	Rare/Accidental
SULIFORMES: Fregatidae
Lesser Frigatebird	Fregata ariel
Great Frigatebird	Fregata minor
SULIFORMES: Sulidae
Abbott's Booby	Papasula abbotti	Extirpated Endangered
Red-footed Booby	Sula sula
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster
Masked Booby	Sula dactylatra
SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Reed Cormorant	Microcarbo africanus	Rare/Accidental
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	Rare/Accidental
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
Glossy Ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	Rare/Accidental
African Sacred Ibis	Threskiornis aethiopicus	Rare/Accidental
Malagasy Sacred Ibis	Threskiornis bernieri	Endangered
Eurasian Spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	Rare/Accidental
African Spoonbill	Platalea alba	Rare/Accidental
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Eurasian Bittern	Botaurus stellaris	Rare/Accidental
Cinnamon Bittern	Botaurus cinnamomeus	Rare/Accidental
Little Bittern	Botaurus minutus	Rare/Accidental
Yellow Bittern	Botaurus sinensis
Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Little Heron	Butorides atricapilla
Squacco Heron	Ardeola ralloides	Rare/Accidental
Malagasy Pond-Heron	Ardeola idae	Endangered
Indian Pond-Heron	Ardeola grayii	Rare/Accidental
Western Cattle-Egret	Ardea ibis
Great Egret	Ardea alba	Rare/Accidental
Medium Egret	Ardea intermedia	Rare/Accidental
Gray Heron	Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	Rare/Accidental
PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Pink-backed Pelican	Pelecanus rufescens	Extirpated
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Rare/Accidental
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
European Honey-buzzard	Pernis apivorus	Rare/Accidental
Oriental Honey-buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus	Rare/Accidental
Booted Eagle	Hieraaetus pennatus	Rare/Accidental
Western Marsh Harrier	Circus aeruginosus	Rare/Accidental
Malagasy Harrier	Circus macrosceles	Rare/Accidental Endangered
Pallid Harrier	Circus macrourus	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Rare/Accidental
Common Buzzard	Buteo buteo	Rare/Accidental
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae
Western Barn Owl	Tyto alba	Introduced species
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Eurasian Scops-Owl	Otus scops	Rare/Accidental
Seychelles Scops-Owl	Otus insularis	Endemic Critically endangered
Brown Fish-Owl	Ketupa zeylonensis	Rare/Accidental
BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae
Common Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Rare/Accidental
CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater	Merops persicus	Rare/Accidental
Olive Bee-eater	Merops superciliosus	Rare/Accidental
European Bee-eater	Merops apiaster	Rare/Accidental
CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Malagasy Kingfisher	Corythornis vintsioides	Rare/Accidental
Gray-headed Kingfisher	Halcyon leucocephala	Rare/Accidental
Pied Kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	Rare/Accidental
CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae
European Roller	Coracias garrulus	Rare/Accidental
Broad-billed Roller	Eurystomus glaucurus	Rare/Accidental
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Lesser Kestrel	Falco naumanni	Rare/Accidental
Eurasian Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Rare/Accidental
Malagasy Kestrel	Falco newtoni
Seychelles Kestrel	Falco araeus	Endemic Vulnerable
Red-footed Falcon	Falco vespertinus	Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Amur Falcon	Falco amurensis
Eleonora's Falcon	Falco eleonorae	Rare/Accidental
Sooty Falcon	Falco concolor	Rare/Accidental Vulnerable
Eurasian Hobby	Falco subbuteo	Rare/Accidental
Saker Falcon	Falco cherrug	Rare/Accidental Endangered
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
PSITTACIFORMES: Psittaculidae
Comoro Black Parrot	Coracopsis sibilans	Near-threatened
Seychelles Parrot	Coracopsis barklyi	Endemic Vulnerable
Seychelles Parakeet	Psittacula wardi	Endemic Extinct
Rose-ringed Parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Introduced species
Gray-headed Lovebird	Agapornis canus	Extirpated
PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae
Eurasian Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Vangidae
Rufous Vanga	Schetba rufa	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae
Aldabra Drongo	Dicrurus aldabranus	Endemic Near-threatened
PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae
Seychelles Paradise-Flycatcher	Terpsiphone corvina	Endemic Vulnerable
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae
Red-backed Shrike	Lanius collurio	Rare/Accidental
Lesser Gray Shrike	Lanius minor	Rare/Accidental
Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator	Rare/Accidental Near-threatened
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
House Crow	Corvus splendens	Introduced species
Pied Crow	Corvus albus
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Greater Short-toed Lark	Calandrella brachydactyla	Rare/Accidental
Bimaculated Lark	Melanocorypha bimaculata	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae
Madagascar Cisticola	Cisticola cherina
PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae
Aldabra Brush-Warbler	Nesillas aldabrana	Endemic Extinct
Icterine Warbler	Hippolais icterina	Rare/Accidental
Sedge Warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	Rare/Accidental
Marsh Warbler	Acrocephalus palustris	Rare/Accidental
Common Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	Rare/Accidental
Seychelles Warbler	Acrocephalus sechellensis	Endemic Near-threatened
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Mascarene Martin	Phedina borbonica	Rare/Accidental
Banded Martin	Neophedina cincta	Rare/Accidental
Gray-throated Martin	Riparia chinensis	Rare/Accidental
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	Rare/Accidental
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Wire-tailed Swallow	Hirundo smithii	Rare/Accidental
Western House-Martin	Delichon urbicum	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae
Malagasy Bulbul	Hypsipetes madagascariensis
Seychelles Bulbul	Hypsipetes crassirostris	Endemic
Red-whiskered Bulbul	Pycnonotus jocosus	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae
Wood Warbler	Phylloscopus sibilatrix	Rare/Accidental
Willow Warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus	Rare/Accidental
Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae
Eurasian Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	Rare/Accidental
Garden Warbler	Sylvia borin	Rare/Accidental
Greater Whitethroat	Curruca communis	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae
Marianne White-eye	Zosterops semiflavus	Endemic Extinct
Seychelles White-eye	Zosterops modestus	Endemic Vulnerable
Malagasy White-eye	Zosterops maderaspatanus
Aldabra White-eye	Zosterops aldabrensis	Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	Rare/Accidental
Wattled Starling	Creatophora cinerea	Rare/Accidental
Rosy Starling	Pastor roseus	Rare/Accidental
Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	Rare/Accidental
Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin	Cercotrichas galactotes	Rare/Accidental
Seychelles Magpie-Robin	Copsychus sechellarum	Endemic Endangered
Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Rare/Accidental
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush	Monticola saxatilis	Rare/Accidental
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra	Rare/Accidental
Siberian Stonechat	Saxicola maurus	Rare/Accidental
Northern Wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe	Rare/Accidental
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	Rare/Accidental
Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	Rare/Accidental
Pied Wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
Souimanga Sunbird	Cinnyris sovimanga
Seychelles Sunbird	Cinnyris dussumieri	Endemic
PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae
Red Fody	Foudia madagascariensis	Introduced species
Aldabra Fody	Foudia aldabrana	Endemic Endangered
Seychelles Fody	Foudia sechellarum	Endemic Near-threatened
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Common Waxbill	Estrilda astrild	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Gray Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	Rare/Accidental
Western Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	Rare/Accidental
Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla citreola	Rare/Accidental
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba	Rare/Accidental
Richard's Pipit	Anthus richardi	Rare/Accidental
Tree Pipit	Anthus trivialis
Red-throated Pipit	Anthus cervinus	Rare/Accidental
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
Common Rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	Rare/Accidental
Yellow-fronted Canary	Crithagra mozambica	Introduced species
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae
Black-headed Bunting	Emberiza melanocephala	Rare/Accidental
Ortolan Bunting	Emberiza hortulana	Rare/Accidental

References (partial list)