Mauritius Fody (Foudia rubra)

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ploceidae
Genus: Foudia
Species: F. rubra

Identification
This medium-sized forest weaver bird has a bright red head, neck and breast, and dark brown back, wings and tail streaked with pale brown. The slightly hooked beak is black and this dark colouration extends up to the eyes. The rump has a patch of pale red. The sexes are different, the female being rust-brown, the male basically grey.

Habitat
The Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra is a bird endemic to the island of Mauritius. Having a current estimated population of less than 250. Threats include loss of habitat and introduced predators. The preferred habitat includes native scrub vegetation with a few scattered taller trees, but the species also inhabits low native scrub and native forest.