Madagascar Fody

Fodies are small passerine birds. The Mauritian Fody, an endemic species, was once common on the island. Due to habitat loss it became restricted to the Black River Gorges National Park. They were released on Ile aux Aigrettes in 2003 with the hope they would gain another stronghold within which they could thrive. Fortunately, it proved a success - it only took a year before they were breeding on the island.

They're small birds reaching 14cm in length, and are very similar to the introduced and very common Madagascar Fody. The difference being, in the breeding season, the male Madagascar Fody develops a completely red body, where as the male of the native species developes the orange-red colour only on the head. The Madagascar Fody is also known as the Red Fody, Red Cardinal Fody and the Common Fody.