The Tropicbird :

The Tropicbird is the emblematic bird that represents the Mauritius national airline. In French it’s called paille-en-queue wich means straw tail. It’s because of the thin straw-like feathers on his tail.

I twas also called in french paille-en-cul but for reasons well understood by French speakers this name was abandoned. They are plunge-divers that feed on small fish.

The chicks are covered in white down, and they wait patiently in the nest while both parents search for food. The Tropicbird doesn’t come near humans and stays mainly in the wild relief on the south and west coast side, where it can be seen flying over the blue sky with his graceful and white silhouette. Females generally nest in holes on sea cliffs such as the ones found in the Great North-East River, or on islets off the coasts, as well as on the Round Island.