Azores Birds & Birdwatching
Azores is an isolated archipelago of 9 oceanic islands, where land species arrived through the wind, the sea, other animals or through human help. Geologically these islands are the youngest of Macaronesia (biogeographical region that comprehends the archipelago of Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde) and are true ecological and evolutionary laboratories.
As Darwin once written, “Regarding the small size of these islands the sheer amount of endemic species is really remarkable. Furthermore, every mountain is crowned by a young crater and the borders of each lava flow are still clearly recognizable. We have to conclude that not long ago, the ocean was reigning out here. It seems to me, that here in space as well as in time, the secret of all secrets, that is the appearance of new creatures on earth is readily perceptible.” (1845).
Regarding vertebrates, Azores as a distant archipelago, only have 49 land species from which 37 are breeding birds, 9 introduced mammals except the endemic Azores bat Nyctalus azoreum, 2 amphibians, 1 reptile. In what concerns to birds, Azores only have one endemic species which is Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula murina - the most threaten passerine in Europe, and ten endemic subspecies: Buzzard Buteo buteo rothschildi, Quail Coturnix coturnix conturbans, Woodpigeon Columba palumbus azorica, Blackbird Turdus merula azorensis, Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla gularis, Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea patriciae, ChaffinchFringilla coelebs moreletti and 3 subspecies of Goldcrest Regulus regulus sanctaemariae (only in Santa Maria Island), Regulus regulus azoricus (only found in São Miguel) and Regulus regulus inermis. To add to these species there is also some Macaronesian endemic species and subspecies as well as important sea birds colonies, such as Cory’s and Macaronesian Shearwaters and Madeiran Storm-petrels.
Though these endemisms are just a very small part of what can make a birdwatcher visiting Azores. Birdwatching in Azores is much more than just the native species, birdwatching in Azores, specially in the Western part of the archipelago, is always a surprise as one gets many American vagrants. Birdwatching in Azores is important not only due to its endemic and threaten Bullfinch but mainly due to the wide diversity of birds from the Neartic and Western Paleartic that can be found on these islands, specially during migration seasons.
Azores Islands have 15 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) most of them coastal areas which hold important colonies of Roseate and Common Terns as well as the seabirds already mentioned. These Azorean IBAs are: Cintrão, coast and islet of Graciosa, coasts of Corvo, Faial, Flores and Pico, East part of São Miguel, North and East Coast of Santa Maria, Rosais, South and East Coast of Terceira, Topo, Vila Franca islet, Vila Islet and the West coasts of São Miguel and Terceira.
Here is the list of breeding birds in Azores archipelago:
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Atlantic Canary Serinus canaria
Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula murina
Blackbird Turdus merula azorensis
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla gularis
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii
Buzzard Buteo buteo rotschildi
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs moreletti
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea borealis
Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis parva
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris aurantiiventris
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea patriciae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
Macaroneasian Shearwater Puffinus baroli
Madeiran Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma castro
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Quail Coturnix coturnix conturbans
Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
Robin Erithacus rubecula
Rock Dove Columba livia atlantis
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus
Starling Sturnus vulgaris granti
Teal Anas crecca
Waxbill Estrilda astrild
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus azorica
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis atlantis
