Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Calonectris
Species: diomedea
Sub-species: borealis

Description
Cory's Shearwater is the largest sea bird that breed in Madeira Archipelago. It is a migrant bird with white underparts, long and slightly rounded wings and dark brown and grey upper parts. It has a greyish head with no marked cap and a yellowish thin bill. Cory's Shearwaters flight is relaxed low, very close to sea and weaving its body through the waves.

Distribution
In the Madeira archipelago this bird is present between March and October, for the breeding season. It spends the remaining months of the year on the high seas. Corys can be seen on all islands of the archipelago with Selvagens having the biggest number of birds per square meter. In Madeira Island it is common to hear them after sunset near the coastline all around the island.

Habitat
In Madeira, this species nest mainly in sea cliffs while in Selvagens it builds its nests on holes on the ground or under big rocks, but never too far from the ocean. Though the best habitat to observe this bird is on a seawatching trip

Breeding
Cory's Shearwaters build their nests in holes in rocky sea cliffs or burrows on the ground. It lays one egg on the unique annual brood, between May and June. Incubation period is 54 days and the chick leaves its nest by October.

Madeiran name: Cagarra
Madeira Archipelago migrant breeder
Social: Flocks
Length: 45 - 56 cm
Status: Vulnerable

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Sterna
Species: dougallii

Madeiran name: Garajau rosado
Madeira Island breeder
Social:Small flocks
Length: 33 - 36 cm
Status: Least Concern

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Estrilda
Species: astrild

Description
Waxbill is an African species introduced in Madeira where it now breeds locally in places with reeds. It has a stripped brownish body with upper part darker than lower part. It is easily identified by its red bill and eye-mask on adults. Younger birds have dark brown bill and paler body. Females and males are not easily distinguish as they seem very similar in colours and size.

Distribution
This bird can be found at sea-shore level on both Madeira and Porto Santo islands.

Habitat
in Madeira waxbills are found in habitats with tall grass as marshes or reed beds, usually near fresh water.

Breeding
Waxbills nests are built deep in dense vegetation with grass stems interlaced on a large ball shape. This species lays between 4 to 6 eggs on each brood which vary between 1 to 4 annually. Male and female incubate the eggs for almost two weeks until the chicks hatch and then feed the chicks for two to three more weeks until the young birds fledge.

Madeira/Portuguese name: Bico de Lacre
Madeira and Porto Santo Islands breeder
Social:Flocks
Length: 11 - 13 cm
Status: Least concern

Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Bulweria
Species: bulwerii

Madeira name: Alma negra
Madeira popular name (called by fishermen): Tinhosa
Madeira Archipelago migrant breeder
Social: Small flocks
Length: 25 - 29 cm
Status: Least Concern

Order: Gruiformes
Family: Ralliidae
Genus: Gallinula
Species: chloropus

Description
The Moorhen has a brownish-black body with a white diagonal stripe on both sides of the body and a white patch under the tail. The bill extends over the front part of the face and is short with a yellow tip. The feet and toes are relatively long and are greenish yellow in colour. There are no differences in appearance between adults; the young birds have brownish colouring.

Distribution
This bird is found all over the world except in Australia and in cold countries. In the Madeira archipelago it can be seen in Porto Santo, alongside the streams, while in Madeira it occurs only in the Lugar de Baixo lagoon, where it was first recorded as a visitor and has now been nesting since 2003.

Habitat
The Moorhen is always associated to fresh water areas, generally with dense vegetation and other types of aquatic birds. It feeds on plants, weeds and insects.

Breeding
The bird builds its nest next to water, in a roofed basket covered with leaves and branches. The Moorhen lays between 4 and 10 eggs at a time with 3 clutches being possible annually between April and August. The incubation period lasts for about 3 weeks and the chicks are relatively large when they hatch. They have black plumage and are soon ready to follow the adults to the water.

Madeiran name: Galinha-d’-água
Madeira Island resident breeder
Social: Small flocks
Length: 32 – 35 cm
Status: Regionally endangered /Secure worldwide

Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Oceanitidae
Genus: Pelagodroma
Species: marina
Sub-species: hypoleuca

Description
This small marine bird is relatively easy to identify by its long yellow legs and its peculiar flight in which it appears to “bounce” from side to side over the sea surface. The underside of its body is white with the underside of the wings having a dark outline. The bird’s face is also light coloured with a dark linear mark through the eye. Its back and wings are dark grey and the bird has a white rump patch.

Distribution
The White-faced Storm Petrel is a migratory species with several sub-species occurring in the Madeira and Canaries archipelagos under the form (P.m. hypoleuca) and in the Cape Verde archipelago under the form (P.m. eadesi). In the Madeira archipelago the bird nests only on the Selvagens islands (Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora), where it can be easily seen at sea between January and September.

Habitat
It spends most of its time at sea, feeding on plankton, and is rarely seen following boats. The bird only goes to land to nest and at night.

Breeding
Both parent birds excavate the deep nest in sandy ground. On the Selvagens islands, the nests are protected by two types of plant of the species Mesembryanthenum cristallinum and M. nodiflorum. The roots of these plants hold up the nest tunnel accesses. A single egg is laid at the end of March and the chick hatches in May. Eight to ten weeks later the young bird is already flying.

Madeiran name: Calcamar
Selvagens Islands breeder (summer migrant)
Social: Small flocks
Length: 17 – 21 cm
Status: Vulnerable / localized
Seasonality in Madeira: From February to August in Selvagens Islands