The Canary Islands are home to a huge variety of birds waiting to be seen. Some of them are species that inhabit the islands while others are migratory birds which come to the island to spend the winter. The island of Tenerife has two endemic laurel pigeons, Bolle's Pigeon Columba bolli, and Laurel Pigeon Columba junoniae. Other species like Blue Chaffinch Fringilla teydea and the Tenerife Kinglet Regulus can be easily seen here as well.
A picnic site at Las Lajas is a good place to observe the Blue Chaffinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. La Gomera boasts large populations of laurel pigeons, Kinglet, and Sparrowhawk. The island of Fuerteventura is the only place in the world where you can see the Canary Island Chat. Lanzarote is a place to see Eleonora's Falcon and Barbary Falcon, as well as Cattle Egret and Little Egret which have recently come to this location.
La Palma island hosts its own endemic subspecies of Common Chaffinch and Blue Tit. It is also the only place where you may see Red-billed Chough breeds. All the islands together boast an impressive range of migrant birds, stragglers, and shorebirds. Species coming from Africa and Europe usually occupy the Eastern islands, while American stragglers choose the Western ones. The number of exotic birds is growing all the time. Among them, you may see seven parrot species, like Common Myna, Common and Orange-cheeked Waxbills, and Sacred Ibis, breeding on the islands. Some recent colonisers and accidental breeders include the House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Black Winged Stilt, Little Bittern, and Barn Swallow. The best time to see the widest variety of migratory birds is, of course, winter.
Practical info
When is the best time to visit the Canary Islands for birdwatching?
December to March is the recommended time for birdwatching in the Canary Islands. During this period, various migratory and shorebirds species come to the Eastern and Western islands. There are many different bird species that you can observe during this time, including stragglers, and shorebirds from Europe and Africa. Show more
Where is the best place to see the Blue Chaffinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker?
The Las Lajas picnic site located in Gran Canaria is a great place to see the Blue Chaffinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. It is a famous spot for birdwatching and hosts many other bird species like the Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Great Reed Warbler, and Tenerife Blue Chaffinch. Show more
What bird species can be seen on Fuerteventura Island?
The Fuerteventura Island features several bird species, including the unique and globally-renowned Canary Island Chat, Trumpeter Finch, Cream-Colored Courser, and Houbara Bustard. You can also find different migratory and shorebirds species such as the Green Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Common Sandpiper, and Black-tailed Godwit. Show more
Which island is the only place to see Red-billed Chough breeds?
Red-billed Chough breeds are only found on La Palma island. The island also has its endemic subspecies of the Common Chaffinch and Blue Tit, as well as other bird species such as the Kestrel, Buzzard, and the Canary Islands Kinglet. Show more
What exotic birds can be seen on the Canary Islands apart from parrots?
In addition to the seven parrot species in the Canary Islands, you can observe other exotic birds such as Common Myna, Common Waxbill, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, and Sacred Ibis. The recent accidental breeds in the islands include Barn Swallow, Black-winged Stilt, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, and Little Bittern. Show more
