Seychelles is a remarkable place for birds, with rare endemics found nowhere else and huge seabird colonies. Highlights include the Seychelles black parrot, the national bird, in the Vallee de Mai on Praslin, the paradise flycatcher at the Veuve Reserve on La Digue, and the magpie robin, brought back from near extinction. The reserves of Cousin and Aride and the seabird island of Bird are the best places to watch them.
For its size, Seychelles is one of the great birdwatching destinations on earth. Millions of years of isolation produced birds found nowhere else, and several were pulled back from the very edge of extinction by careful conservation. Add island colonies of nesting seabirds in the hundreds of thousands and you have a place that rewards anyone who looks up.
The endemic land birds
- Seychelles black parrot, the national bird, which lives in the palm forest of the Vallee de Mai on Praslin and almost nowhere else.
- Seychelles paradise flycatcher, a striking black bird with long tail streamers, best seen at the Veuve Reserve on La Digue.
- Seychelles magpie robin, once one of the rarest birds in the world, saved through work on islands like Fregate and Cousin.
- Smaller endemics such as the Seychelles blue pigeon, sunbird, fody and bulbul, seen across the islands.
The seabird colonies
The outer and smaller islands host spectacular breeding seabirds. Bird Island has a colony of sooty terns numbering in the hundreds of thousands from about May to October. The reserves of Aride and Cousin protect noddies, terns, shearwaters and tropicbirds in great numbers. Standing among a working seabird colony is one of the loudest, most alive experiences in nature.
The best places to watch
- Vallee de Mai, Praslin, for the black parrot and the ancient palm forest.
- Veuve Reserve, La Digue, a small free reserve for the paradise flycatcher.
- Cousin Island, a managed reserve famous for both land birds and seabirds, visited on guided trips.
- Aride Island, the most important seabird island of the granitics.
- Bird Island, for the sooty tern spectacle and Esmeralda the giant tortoise.
Tips for birdwatching
Bring binoculars, go early when birds are active, and use the reserves and their guides, who know exactly where each species is. Many of the best sites are protected islands reached on day boats, so a little planning pays off. Photography is rewarding, especially in the soft morning light.
How to plan
Pair the Vallee de Mai and a Cousin or Aride trip from Praslin for the richest birding, and add the Veuve Reserve if you are on La Digue. For the sooty terns, time a Bird Island visit for the May to October season. Browse verified places to stay in our directory and look at boat trips to reach the reserve islands.
Frequently asked questions
What birds are unique to Seychelles?
Endemics found nowhere else include the Seychelles black parrot (the national bird), the paradise flycatcher, the magpie robin, and smaller species like the Seychelles blue pigeon, sunbird and fody.
Where can you see the Seychelles black parrot?
In the Vallee de Mai palm forest on Praslin, which is almost its only home. It is the national bird and a key reason birdwatchers visit the reserve.
Where is the best birdwatching in Seychelles?
The Vallee de Mai on Praslin, the Veuve Reserve on La Digue, and the protected islands of Cousin and Aride for both land birds and seabirds. Bird Island has a huge sooty tern colony from May to October.
When is the seabird colony at its peak?
The sooty tern colony on Bird Island is at its peak from about May to October, when hundreds of thousands of birds breed there. The reserves of Aride and Cousin hold seabirds through much of the year.
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