Birds of the Maldives

  
Maahoara (Great Frigatebird) - first                  Gudugudaa Dhooni (Greater Flamingo)- second

The Maldives is a home to many different bird species. There are over a hundred species and about one-third are seabirds due to it being such a small island. The rest are migrant, introduced, or imported from places near the Maldives. Many of the species are appreciated and important to it's people and are officially protected under the Environment Protection and Preservation Act. Some birds such as the Rahmathee Forike (Northern House Martin) or the Mushi fenfoah dhooni (Red-Throated Pipit) are especially important to their culture since they pollinate and scatter seeds throughout the islands creating the beautiful plant life in the Maldives. Others are just simply beautiful birds that add art to the landscape. Here is a list of just a few of the many protected birds of the Maldives:

• Ainmathee Gaadhooni (Lesser Crested Tern)
• Alaka (Grey Plover)
• Beyndu (Sooty Tern)
• Bileymaa Dhushin (Pacific Golden Plover)
• Boakalhu Gohorukey (Black-Headed Gull)
• Chon Chon Ilolhi (Common Greenshank)
• Dhanbu Maakanaa (Purple Heron)
• Dheyfaiy Dhooni (Eurasian Spoonbill)
• Girubaa Dhooni (Spot-Billed Pelican)
• Gudugudaa Dhooni (Greater Flamingo)
• Maahoara (Great Frigatebird)
• Theyravaa Ilolhi (Black-Winged Stilt)
• Valla (Roseate Tern)