The Island of Fuerteventura is not only home to Guirres, but inhabited by several other spectacular bird species, most of them being subspecies that differ from the nominate form because they have been living in isolation for many years. Overall, however, the total number of bird species breeding on Fuerteventura is rather low. This is partly due to the empty and desert/ semi-dessert conditions requiring specific adaptations, but as opposed to most other island systems, the island has also always been isolated by the sea from the mainland. The island holds an interesting amount of steppe-birds that are relatively easy to see compared to other places in the world and usually in large numbers (Houbara, cream-coloured Courser and Bleack-bellied Sandgrouse).

Houbara

Cream-coloured courser

Black-bellied sandgrouse
Other specialities include Fuerteventura blue tit (East Canary subspecies), Berthelot’s pipit (Macaronesian endemic) and Canary island stonechat (Fuerteventura endemic).

Fuerteventura blue tit

Canary island stonechat (male)

Canary island stonechat (female)

Berthelot’s pipit
Strong winds from the east, called ‘Calima’, may sometimes blow many songbirds on the island during migration periods, resulting in some common Northern European garden birds to be seen on the rocks and cliffs along the sea, or patches of Canary Tamarisk being full of chiffchaffs and pied flycatchers.

Chiffchaff

Pied flycatcher

Spotted flycatcher
There is always a chance to see someting interesting

Barbary ground squirrel drinking nectar from a flower of the Tabacco tree

The Monarch is locally common

Portuguese war-ship at the coast of Cuchillos de Vigan in February 2016
Below some examples of the different habitats to watch birds, followed by a list list of bird species seen on Fuerteventura during our fieldwork trips. These birds are mainly seen during evening strolls in the centre of the island (Barranco de rio Cabra, Barranco de la Torre, Rosa del Taro, the plains surrounding Triquivijate and the area around La Caldera).

Barrancos

Plains

Cliffed coast

Beach and rocky coast

Villages
Local/Breeding birds
Little Egret (uncommon)
- 2 birds at Puertito de Los Molinos, 20-9-2015
- 1 bird at Salinas de El Carmen, 1-2-2016
- 1 bird at Los Molinos, 8-8-2016
- 1 bird near El Cotillo and 1 bird near Faro de Toston, 16-8-2016
- 1 bird at Salinas de El Carmen, 13-9-2016
- 1 bird at Pozo Negro, 26-9-2016
Cattle egret
- 7 birds at Morro Jable, 4-9-2016
- 1 bird at Barranco de la Torre (near routa del Queso), 26-9-2016
Blue heron (uncommon)
- 5 birds at Los Molinos 5 ex on 20-9-2015
- 1 bird at Cuchillos de Vigan on 2-2-2016
- 2 birds near Tiscamanita , 7-2-2016
- 1 bird at Los Molinos, 7-2-2016
- 1 bird visiting the feeding station, 13-2-2016
- 1 bird at Barranco de rio cabra, 9-8-2016
- 2 birds near Tiscamanita on 29-8-2016
- 1 bird at Salinas de El Carmen, 13-9-2016
- 2 birds at the coast of Morro Jable, 28-9-2016
Cory shearwater (common, large numbers between March and October)
Rudy Shelduck (common)
- Usually large numbers at Los Molinos (up to 100+)
- 1 individual with 8 small chicks at Los Molinos on 7-2-2016
Egyptian Vulture (uncommon)
Canary Buzzard (common)
- 10 individuals together in Barranco de rio cabra on 10-8-2016
- 14 individuals together at the feeding station on 19-8-2016
Kestrel (common)
Barbary Falcon (uncommon)
- 1 adult (male?) at Barranco de la Torre, 1-2-2016
- 1 bird at Casillas del Angel, 7-8-2016
- 1 adult female hunting on doves at Barrance de rio Cabra near Casillas del Angel (31-8-2016)
- 1 bird at the coast near Tindaya, 4-9-2016
Barbary Partridge (common)
- A group of 22 individuals at Casillas del Angel on 14-8-2016
Moorhen (always a few in barrancos with some water)
- 3 birds at Los Molinos on 20-9-2016
- 3 birds at Barranco de rio cabra, 10-8-2016
- 5 birds at Barranco de la Torre, 13-8-2016
- 1 bird at Rosa del Taro, 26-9-2016
Coot (common in reservoirs with permanent water)
- Los Molinos and Rosa del Taro
Houbara Bustard (uncommon)
- 2 birds at Tindaya, one male displaying on 23-9-2015
- 5 birds at Triquivijate, 2 displaying males very close to the car on 3-2-2016
- 2 birds at Triquivijate on 7-8-2016
- 1 bird at Triquivijate on 31-8-2016
- 4 birds near Antigua, 24-9-2016
Black-winged stilt (common)
Stone curlew (common)
- A group of 20 individuals near Tindaya on 20-9-2015
Cream-coloured courser (common)
- A group of 8 adult birds at the feeding station, 25-8-2016
Little ringed plover (common in barrancos with some water)
Kentish plover (uncommon)
- 2 birds near Corralejo, 13-9-2016
- 6 birds at the beach of Morro Jable, 28-9-2016
Yellow-legged gull (common)
Black-bellied sandgrouse (common)
- A group of ± 100 individuals near Villaverde on 17-9-2015
Collared dove (common)
Laughing dove (locally common)
- Vega de Rio Palmas
- Barranco de la Torre
- 1 bird in Tiscamanita, 24-8-2016
- Up to 20 birds in Barranco de Rio Cabra near Casillas del Angel, 31-8-2016
Rock dove (common, but mixed with feral pigeons)
Turtle dove
- 4 birds at La Oliva, 17-9-2015
Pallid swift (uncommon)
- 1 bird at Puertito, 20-9-2015
- 2 birds at the feeding station, 15-2-2016µ
Plain swift (uncommon)
- 4 birds at Barranco de rio Cabra, 10-8-2016
- 1 bird near Puerto del Rosario, 13-8-2016
- 3 birds at Morro Jable, 4-9-2016
- 3 birds at Barranco de la Herradura, 5-9-2016
Hoopoe (common)
- ± 10 individuals together at Triquivijate on 3-2-2016
Lesser short-toed lark
- Groups of up to 75 individuals near la Caldera de Gairia
- A group of 100+ flying along the feeding station on 18-8-2016
Berthelot’s pipit (common)
Canary Island stonechat (common, especially in barrancos)
Sardinian warbler
- Vega de rio Palma
- Barranco de la Torre,
- Pajara
- Betancuria
Spectacled warbler (common)
African blue tit (Locally common)
- Betancuria
- Pajara
- Vega de rio Palma
- Barranco de rio Cabra
- Morro Jable
Iberian Grey shrike (common)
Raven (common)
- Largest group at the feeding station 64 birds
Spanish sparrow (common)
Linnet (relatively common)
- Rosa de Taro, Oasis Park, Barranco de rio Cabra
Goldfinch (uncommon)
- Some birds in Pajara
Trumpeter finch (common)
Corn bunting (rare)
- Group of ± 10 birds near La Caldera Gairia, 19-9-2015
- singing male near Rosa del Taro, 3-2-2016
- 2 birds near Rosa del Taro, 21-9-2016
Escapes
Red-vented bulbul
- Oasis park
Lavender waxbill
- Oasis park
Monk Parakeet
- Morro Jable
Ring-necked parakeet
- Pajara
Hadada Ibis
- Morro Jable
Migratory Birds
White stork
- 5 birds at Rosa del Taro, 6-8-2016
- 3 birds at Rosa del Taro 3, 13-8-2016
Booted Eagle
- 1 bird at Los Molinos, 20-9-2015
- 1 bird at Los Alares, 18-8-2016
- 1 bird near Antigua, 1-9-2016
Peregrine Falcon
- One adult female on 21-9-2015
Hobby (?)
- One bird flying very fast and low hunting for short-toed lark at Triquivijate on 24-8-2016. Looked a bit buffy, no heavily scaled upperparts à (juvenile) hobby ?.
Corncrake
- One bird flying away at approx. 5 meters, near Rosa del Taro 28-9-2016
Greenshank
- 11 birds at Los Molinos, 20-9-2015
- 1 bird at Los Molinos, 7-2-2016
- 1 bird at Barranco de la Torre (near routa del Queso), 26-9-2016
Redshank
- 1 bird at Los Molinos, 20-9-2015
- 1 bird at Salinas de el Carmen, 1-2-2016
- 1 bird at Los Molinos, 7-2-2016
- 3 birds at Salinas de el Carmen, 23-8-2016
Common sandpiper
- Common on rocks along the coast
- 9 birds Los Molinos, 20-9-2015
Green sandpiper
- 1 individual at Los Molinos, 20-9-2015
- 3 birds at Los Molinos on 8-8-2016
- 5 individuals at Barranco de rio Cabra, 9/10-8-2016
- 1 bird at Barranco de Rio Cabra, 30/31-8-2016
Whimbrel
- 1 bird at Pozo Negro 2,2-9-2015
- 2 bird near Caleta de Fuste, 20-2-2016
- 1 bird near Puertito, 28-8-2016
- A group of 17 birds at La Jandia, 4-9-2016
- 5 birds at Salinas de El Carmen, 13-9-2016
- Frequent along the coast in September
Ringed Plover
- 2 birds at Salinas de El Carmen, 23-8-2016
- 1 bird near Correlejo, 12-9-2016
- 1 bird at Salinas de El Carmen, 13-9-2016
Sanderling
- Some near Corralejo in Februray
- 14 birds near Cooralejo, 13-9-2016
Turnstone
- 5 bird at La Jandia, 20-9-2016
Sandwich tern
- 2 birds at Salinas de el Carmen, 1-2-2016
- 4 birds at Morro Jable, 4-9-2016
- 5 birds near Corralejo, 13-9-2016
- 2 birds near Corralejo, 27-9-2016
Lesser Black-backed gull
- 1 bird at Salinas de El Carmen, 23-8-2016
Short-toed lark (?)
- Some birds between 20-9 and 25-9-2015 near La Caldera de Gairia
- 1 bird at feeding station (solitary, high), 26-8-2016
Swift
- 6 birds near La Caldera de Gairia, 12-9-2015
- 3 birds at Puerto del Rosario, 30-1-2016
- 4 birds at Puerto del Roserio, 6-8-2016
- 2 birds near the airport, 25-9-2016
Sand martin
- 4 birds near La Caldera de Gairia, 21-9-2015
House martin
- 1 bird near La Caldera de Gairia, 21-9-2015
Barn swallow
- 35 birds between 21-9 and 25-9-2015, various places
Red-rumped swallow
- 1 bird (1st year) at Barranco de la Torre (near routa del Queso), 26-9-2016
Red-throated pipit
- A 1st winter near Casillas de Morales on 21-9-2015, exhausted and approachable at 3 meters
Yellow wagtail
- 2 birds near Casillas de Morales, 21-9-2015
- 8 birds at Rosa de Taro, 22-9-2015
- 7 birds at Mal Nombre, 28-9-2016
- Several small groups at the beach of Morro Jable, 28-9-2016
White wagtail
- A group of 11 birds at the beach of Morro Jable, 28-9-2016
- Some birds at the feeding station, 29-9-2016
Northern wheatear
- 1 bird near Villaverde, 17-9-2015
- 2 birds at the feeding station, 19-9-2016 (1 bird present until at least 26-9-2016)
Whinchat
- 1 bird near Casillas de Morales, 21-9-2015
- 1 bird at Barranco de rio Cabra, 29-9-2016
Common redstart
- 1 bird at Vega de Rio Palma, 24-9-2016
Song thrush
- 6 birds at Vega del rio Palmas, 31-1-2016
- 4 birds at Barranco de la Torre, 1-2-2016
Blackcap
- Pajara, 31-1-2016
- Vega del Rio Palma, 31-1-2016
- Pajara, singing bird, 29-9-2016
Whitethroat
- 1 bird at Casillas de Morales, 21-9-2015
- 2 birds at Rosa del Taro, 23-9-2015
- 1 bird near Corralejo, 27-9-2016
- 1 bird at Rosa del Taro, 29-9-2016
Subalpine warbler
- Male and female on rocks at the coast at Pozo Negro, 22-9-2015, together with chiffchaff, willow warblers and pied flycatchers
Reed warbler
- 3 birds at Rosa del Taro, 23-9-2015
Melodious warbler/ Icterine warbler (?)
- 1 bird on the cliffs near Puertito, very dark legs, 8-8-2016
Willow warbler
- Everywhere between 21 and 24-9-2015
- 1 bird at Barranco de Herradura, 5-9-2016
Chiffchaff
- Everywhere between 21 and 24-9-2015
- 1 bird at Vega del Rio Palma, 31-1-2016
- 2 birds at Pajara, 25-2-2016
- 2 birds at Barranco de rio Cabra, 10-8-2016
- 1 bird at Oasis Park, 15-8-2016
- 1 bird at Barranco de rio Cabra, 29-8-2016
- 1 bird at Vega de Rio Palma, 24-9-2016
- 5 birds together near Corralejo, 27-9-2016
- Up to 25 birds together at Mal Nombre, 28-9-2016
- Many at various places, 28/29-9-2016
Pied flycatcher
- Everywhere between 21 and 24-9-2015
- 1 bird at Pajara, 15-8-2016
- 1 bird at Barranco de Herradura, 5-9-2016
- Several at Pajara, Vega de Rio Palma and Betancuria, 24-9-2016
- 1 bird at Barranco de la Torre, 26-9-2016
- Many at various places, 28/29-9-2016
Spotted flycatcher
- 1 bird at Rosa del Taro, 22-9-2015
- 4 birds at Pozo Negro, 22-9-2015
- 3 birds at Rosa del Taro, 23-9-2015
- various places between 20/25-9-2015, not as much as pied flycather
- 1 bird at Barranco de Rio Cabra, 29-8-2016
- 1 bird at Betancuria, 14-9-2016
- 2 birds at Pajara, 24-9-2016
- 1 bird near Corralejo, 27-9-2016
- 5 birds together near Tuineje, 29-9-2016
- Various places 28/29-9-2016