This is a list of the bird species recorded in the Canary Islands. The avifauna of the Canary Islands include a total of 394 species, of which seven are endemic, and nine have been introduced by humans. One listed species is extinct.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for the Canary Islands.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in the Canary Islands (E) Endemic - a species endemic to the Canary Islands (I) Introduced - a species introduced to the Canary Islands as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (Extinct) Extinct globally - a species that no longer exists
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Graylag goose, Anser anser (A) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A) Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (A) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (A) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata (I) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (A) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (A) American black duck, Anas rubripes (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (A) Common pochard, Aythya ferina Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Common scoter, Melanitta nigra (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (A)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.
Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Common quail, Coturnix coturnix
Flamingos
Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus (A) Lesser flamingo, Phoenicopterus minor (A)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis (A) Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (A) Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus (A) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. The Madeiran wood pigeon (Columba palumbus maderensis), an endemic subspecies, is extinct.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus Bolle's pigeon, Columba bollii (E) Laurel pigeon, Columba junoniae (E) European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (I) Laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis (A)
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A) Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A) Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis (A) Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (A) Egyptian nightjar, Caprimulgus aegyptius (A)
Swifts
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) Alpine swift, Apus melba Common swift, Apus apus Plain swift, Apus unicolor Pallid swift, Apus pallidus Little swift, Apus affinis (A) White-rumped swift, Apus caffer (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus (A) Corn crake, Crex crex (A) African crake, Crex egregia (A) Sora, Porzana carolina (A) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Lesser moorhen, Gallinula angulata (A) Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A) Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A) Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio (A) African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis (A) Little crake, Zapornia parva (A) Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A)
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes (Gruidae) are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Common crane, Grus grus (A)
Thick-knees Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The thick-knees (Burhinidae) are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (A) Canarian oystercatcher, Haematopus meadewaldoi (E) (extinct)
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius (A) White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus (A) Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (A) Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (A) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii (A) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (A) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (A) Little stint, Calidris minuta Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (A) White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A) Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (A) Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (A) Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (A) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Great snipe, Gallinago media (A) Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A) Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius (A) Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (A) Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A)