THE SEYCHELLES LIST
At 1st August 2025, 286 species have been accepted to the Seychelles List maintained by SBRC. The list includes 6 native species that are now extinct and 5 introductions that became established breeding species, but have now been eradicated or have died out naturally. A further 3 taxa have been recorded at genus level, but SBRC has been unable to determine the identity of the species with certainty.
The Seychelles List follows the taxonomy of AviList. Adopting this list has meant the removal of two full species from the former list of SBRC, as follows:
1. Little Egret & Dimorphic Egret: Avilist treats Dimorphic Egret Egretta garzetta dimorpha (resident in the Aldabra Group) as a subspecies of Little Egret E. g. garzetta (recorded as a vagrant elsewhere in Seychelles). SBRC continues to collect records of Little Egret E. g. garzetta as records clearly emanate from a different source to the resident population.
2. Black Kite & Yellow-billed Kite: Although Avilist acknowledges that the aegyptius complex is morphologically distinctive, mitochondrial DNA data does not align with currently recognised subspecies. Avilist retains all taxa within a single species until more comprehensive nuclear or genomic data are available. SBRC continues to maintain separate records of Black Kite Milvis migrans migrans and Yellow-billed Kite. M. m. aegyptius.
In addition three groups of sightings unidentified to species level have been accepted by SBRC:
1. Albatross sp. probably Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris or Shy Albatross T. cauta
2. Bulweria sp.
3. Ficedula sp.
To view or download the Seychelles list click the following link:
THE SEYCHELLES LIST
RECENT ADDITIONS
2024
There were three species recorded in Seychelles for the first time in 2024. There were two duck species recorded at the same location, Intendance, Mahe: Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus (above left: photo Christophe Mason-Parker) and Gadwall Mareca strepera (above centre: photo Adrian Skerrett) Gadwall were also reported from Aride and Coëtivy. The other first record was a Banded Martin Neophedina cincta at Alphonse (above right: photo Jack Coupland/ICS). All three were also the first authenticated reports of the species for the western Indian Ocean.
2023
American Purple Gallinule (Francis Godley)
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Grey-headed Gull (Graeme Risdon)
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.Two records were added to the Seychelles List in 2023:
An American Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica at North-east Point in September 2022 (F. Godley).
A Grey-headed Gull , probably 2cy, at Victoria harbour, Mahe on 19-26 February 1995 (G. Risdon).
An American Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica at North-east Point in September 2022 (F. Godley).
A Grey-headed Gull , probably 2cy, at Victoria harbour, Mahe on 19-26 February 1995 (G. Risdon).
2021
Oriental Honey-buzzard (left; Elena Levorato) and Pied Kingfisher (right; Martin van Rooyen)
Four new vagrant species were added to the Seychelles List in 2021. Two of these came from satellite data: Barau's Petrel Pterodroma baraui and Mascarene Petrel Pseudobulweria aterrima. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis and Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhinchus were the other two additions.
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin (left; Stuart Dunlop) and Senegal Lapwing (right; Anabelle Cupidon)
2019
Three new species seen during 2019 were accepted to the Seychelles list:
Eurasian (Steppe) Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus
One at Cascade, Mahé on 6 April 2019 (C. Brewster).
Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris
Two adults at the settlement to airstrip road, Farquhar on 19 December 2019 (A. Cupidon, M. Morgan).
Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin Cercotrichas galactotes
One, probably race familiaris, at the solar construction site, south side of Cousine, on 6-7 November 2019 (S. Dunlop, B. Dunlop).
2017
Franklin's Gull (Clare Keatng Daly)
One new species seen during 2017 was added to the Seychelles list:
Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan
One adult breeding at the floating dock, D’Arros on 7 May 2017 (C. Keating Daly, R Daly).
Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan
One adult breeding at the floating dock, D’Arros on 7 May 2017 (C. Keating Daly, R Daly).
2016
Five new species seen during 2016 were accepted:
African Spoonbill Platalea alba.
One at various locations on a 5 kilometre stretch of tidal flats from Providence, Mahé to a tidal stream near L’Ecole Francaise, Victoria, Mahé from 5 October to 24 November 2016 (L. Soerensen, N. Bomholt, M. van Dinther, C .Onezia, J. Souyave, S. Agricole, A. P. Skerrett, A. Rocamora).
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia i
One 1cy in flight over the plateau area of Aride on 30 December 2015 (N. Pluchon, M. Curran, J. Michel, U. Samedi, E. Palmer).
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
One race fuscus (‘Caspian Reed Warbler’), which landed on a fly-fishing skiff at St Francois on 11 November 2015 (W. Haselau).
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
One female at a freshwater pool and an adjacent muddy area, Ile Perseverance, Mahe, 30-31 January 2016 (C .Onezia, J. Souyave, A. P. Skerrett).
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala
One female or 1cy at various localities at Bird Island 22 October-11 November 2016 (P. Bailey, A. Bailey, N. J. Phillips, V. E. Phillips, T. R. Bresson, J. Burrell).
African Spoonbill Platalea alba.
One at various locations on a 5 kilometre stretch of tidal flats from Providence, Mahé to a tidal stream near L’Ecole Francaise, Victoria, Mahé from 5 October to 24 November 2016 (L. Soerensen, N. Bomholt, M. van Dinther, C .Onezia, J. Souyave, S. Agricole, A. P. Skerrett, A. Rocamora).
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia i
One 1cy in flight over the plateau area of Aride on 30 December 2015 (N. Pluchon, M. Curran, J. Michel, U. Samedi, E. Palmer).
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
One race fuscus (‘Caspian Reed Warbler’), which landed on a fly-fishing skiff at St Francois on 11 November 2015 (W. Haselau).
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
One female at a freshwater pool and an adjacent muddy area, Ile Perseverance, Mahe, 30-31 January 2016 (C .Onezia, J. Souyave, A. P. Skerrett).
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala
One female or 1cy at various localities at Bird Island 22 October-11 November 2016 (P. Bailey, A. Bailey, N. J. Phillips, V. E. Phillips, T. R. Bresson, J. Burrell).
Resident Grey Heron inspects visiting African Spoonbill (Adrian Skerrett)
From left to right: Eurasian Spoonbill (Nicholas Pluchon), Eurasian Reed Warbler (Wayne Haselau), Greater Painted-Snipe (Adrian Skerrett).
2015
Two new species were added to the SEYCHELLES LIST in 2015:
Common Teal Anas crecca
One at La Passe, Silhouette 7 December 2015- 21 January 2016 (E. Nancy, B Moncherry).
Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa
One adult male at Takamaka, Grand Terre, Aldabra on 19 January 2015 (F Gamble, M Dubel).
The 5th report of SBRC covering records to 31 December 2015 showed the number of accepted species to this date to be 269.
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2014
In February 2014, after examination of skins at Tring, a record of Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus at Hirondelle, Bird on 23 November 2012 was accepted (NJ Phillips, VE Phillips, TR Bresson).
2013
Two new species were accepted by SBRC in May 2013. These were Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta at Bird Island on 23 November 2012 and Madagascar Kingfisher Alcedo vintsioides at Aldabra on 20 March 2013.
Common Teal Anas crecca
One at La Passe, Silhouette 7 December 2015- 21 January 2016 (E. Nancy, B Moncherry).
Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa
One adult male at Takamaka, Grand Terre, Aldabra on 19 January 2015 (F Gamble, M Dubel).
The 5th report of SBRC covering records to 31 December 2015 showed the number of accepted species to this date to be 269.
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2014
In February 2014, after examination of skins at Tring, a record of Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus at Hirondelle, Bird on 23 November 2012 was accepted (NJ Phillips, VE Phillips, TR Bresson).
2013
Two new species were accepted by SBRC in May 2013. These were Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta at Bird Island on 23 November 2012 and Madagascar Kingfisher Alcedo vintsioides at Aldabra on 20 March 2013.
Pied Avocet at Bird (John Phillips)
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Madagascar Kingfisher at Aldabra (Calum Ferguson)
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Lesser Moorhen at Desroches (Tony Jupiter)
Richard's Pipit at Assumption (Chris Feare)
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Red Knot at Alphonse (Aurelie Duhec)
Three new species for Seychelles were accepted in January 2013. These were:
1. A juvenile Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata at Desroches (T Jupiter. 2. An adult Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi at Assumption found by (CJ Feare and J Linnebjerg) 3. An adult Red Knot Calidris canutus at Alphonse found by (A Duhec). 4. A Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha at Aldabra (J Souyave & D Rose). In addition Round Island Petrel Pterodroma arminjoniana was accepted to the Seychelles List based on geolocator evidence. See the full report here. |
2012
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The 258th and 259th records for Seychelles, both at Aldabra within a matter of weeks: Namaqua Dove in December 2011 (left, photo Michal Sur) and Red-billed Duck in January 2012 (right, photo Joel Souyave)
Spur-winged Lapwing at Mahe: The 256th species on the Seychelles list (Adrian Skerrett)
