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

Description
This small marine bird is relatively easy to identify by its long black 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 upperparts and wings are dark grey and the bird has a white rump patch.

Distribution
The White-faced Storm Petrel is a migratory species with the 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 parents 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
Portuguese name: Painho-de-ventre-branco
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

Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Puffinus
Species: puffinus
Sub-species: puffinus

Description
The Manx Shearwater is a migratory marine bird. Its underside is white and the upper parts are completely black. The bird can be distinguished from the Little Shearwater by its black face in the eye zone and because it is slightly larger. Its bill is thin, long, straight and black. In flight it is possible to see the dark undersides of the wing tips. The bird moves with great difficulty on land as it has very weak feet.
The Manx Shearwater flies quickly, with long glides with a few changes in direction. It has a very rapid and strong wing beat. In the nesting season these birds gather on the sea at the end of the afternoon before heading for land.

Distribution
In the Madeira archipelago this bird is present between February and August, the nesting season. It spends the remaining months of the year on the high seas. The bird can be seen on all the islands of the archipelago.

Habitat
In Madeira, the Manx Shearwater nests in deep valleys, generally associated with water and vegetation, in the lands of the Funchal Ecological Park at altitudes of up 700 metres

Breeding
The bird excavates a deep nest in the rock, about 1 metre deep, and lays just a single egg in the sole annual laying. Incubation lasts about 50 days and the chick is fed by both parent birds for approximately 6 weeks before leaving the nest in July.

Madeiran name: Patagarro
Madeira Archipelago migrant breeder
Social: Flocks
Length: 32 - 38 cm
Status: Vulnerable / localized

Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Species: livia
Sub-species: atlantis

Description
For a considerable time the Rock Dove has interbred with other pigeons that have escaped from captivity and have formed independent populations of feral and town pigeons. The pure Rock Dove’s plumage is light grey on its back, dark grey on its head and under parts, and has two long black wing-bars. In flight, a white rump patch can be seen as can a black band across the tail. Its feet are reddish, as are the eyes. The black bill has a small patch of white skin above the upper mandible. The bird’s throat has shiny plumage that varies from green to violet.

Distribution
The Rock Dove is widespread throughout the world. The sub-species found in Madeira is C.l.atlantis. The bird is found on all the islands of the archipelago except for the Selvagens.

Habitat
The true Rock Dove is generally found on sparsely vegetated rocky slopes next to the sea. It can also be found in fields and wooded areas looking for seeds and small invertebrates.

Breeding
The Rock Dove nests in cavities in cliffs where it builds a rudimentary nest that is loose and untidy. During the year there can be 3 clutches with two eggs each. Both parent birds incubate the eggs and care for the chicks.

Madeiran name: Pombo da Rocha
Madeira Archipelago resident breeder
Social:Family groups
Length: 30 - 35 cm
Status: Secure

Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianida
Genus: Coturnix
Species: coturnix
Sub-species: confisa

Description
This is a heavily hunted bird that is often heard but rarely seen. The Quail has a small, rounded body and is brown in colour with lighter streaks. Both sexes have a white streak on their heads, but the female has a more homogeneous facial pattern than the male, which has a black throat centre.
In flight, the bird’s wings appear long and narrow. The Quail flies with very rapid wing beats and generally travels on a low, curved flight path from its starting point before dropping back down into ground cover.

Distribution
The Quail is found throughout all of northern Europe and, being a lover of warmth, migrates to Africa and Asia. The sub-species present in the Madeira archipelago is the same as is found in the Canaries (C.c. confisa). It is believed that in the hotter months some European individuals stop here on their migration routes. In the Madeira archipelago it is only on the Selvagens islands that this species does not occur.

Habitat
Quails are generally found in drier areas, in open fields with small bushes where they take cover and under which they look for the seeds and small insects that they feed on.

Breeding
On Madeira the bird nests in April and May while on Porto Santo the breeding season starts earlier – in February. The nest is built by the female in a shallow hollow lined with some vegetation, well-hidden among shrubs and grasses. Just one clutch of 7 to 12 eggs is laid annually. Only the female sits on the eggs and hatching takes two to three weeks. The female then looks after the chicks which very soon start to fly and pick at the ground in search of food. It is believed that the male mates with several females during the same nesting season.

Madeiran name: Codorniz
Madeira Archipelago resident breeder
Social: Flocks
Length: 31 - 35 cm
Status: Secure

Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Oceanitidae
Genus: Oceanodroma
Species: castro

Description
A small, dark, pelagic bird with rounded wings and a white rump patch. May be confused with the White-Faced Storm-Petrel but has longer wings, browner plumage, and a longer tail with slight forking (not easy to see). Undulating flight with incomplete wingbeats interrupted with short glides on a zigzag trajectory. The Madeiran Storm-Petrel is not easily seen at sea, it does not follow ships and on land it is strictly nocturnal.

Distribution
This species is widely distributed throughout the world, being found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on the Saint Helena and Ascension islands and on the Galapagos archipelago. In Macaronesia, it is found in the Madeira, Azores and Canary archipelagos.

Habitat
Its habitats are small islands, sea rocks and coastal cliffs.

Breeding
It breeds on all the islands of Madeira archipelago, except for the island of Porto Santo – although it does breed on the sea rocks surrounding that island. Madeira Storm-petrel has two breeding seasons, one in spring and the other in autumn. One egg is laid per sitting and incubation takes between 38 and 42 days. Both parents take turns in sitting on the egg, staying on the nest for periods of 2 to 6 days at a time. The chick remains in the nest for 68/73 days after hatching.

Madeira name: Roque de Castro
Portuguese name: Paínho
Madeira Archipelago migrant breeder
Social: Alone or on Small flocks
Length: 19 – 21 cm
Status: Vulnerable

Also known as:
Madeiran Storm Petrel
Paíño

Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Puffinus
Species: baroli

Description
This bird is like a small version of the Manx Shearwater. The upper parts are black while the underside is white. The wings and head are more rounded. The face is white with the dark eye standing out (unlike the Manx Shearwater, in which the eye is in the dark part of the face). The rear edges of the wings are silvery-grey. The call is melodious and laughing.
When in mixed groups, the Little Shearwater can be differentiated by its quicker flight, more rapid wingbeats, its shorter bill and the black eye in its white face. Generally does not fly in arcs nor does the bird often glide. Sometimes raises its head during flight.

Distribution
This species is exclusive to the Madeira, Azores and Canary archipelagos. In the Madeira archipelago, nests on Madeira, Porto Santo, Desertas and Selvagens islands.

Habitat
This seabird lives all year relatively near to its breeding area but is very rarely seen and/or identified since it does not follow ships and, with its wave-top flight, is easily missed.

Breeding
Little Shearwater is a pelagic bird that nests on the cliffs of small islands and rocks. It builds its nest in rock cavities and under loose stones. The eggs, one per pair of birds, are laid no later than February and the juveniles leave their nests in May/June, when these are then occupied by Bulwer’s Petrels or Cory’s Shearwaters.

Madeira name: Pintaínho
Madeira popular name (called by fishermen): Fura-buxos
Madeira Archipelago breeder
Social: Small flocks
Length: 25 – 30 cm
Status: Vulnerable
Seasonality in Madeira: From December to May

Recommend Tours to watch this species:
Desertas Boat Trip
Half-day sea trip

Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Accipiter
Species: nisus
Sub-species: granti

Description
This raptor is smaller than the Buzzard and larger than the Kestrel (the other two raptors found in the Madeira archipelago). Its wings are rounded and relatively short. The male has reddish underparts while the female is larger, greyer and coarsely barred. The Sparrowhawk is extremely quick and silent, flying among trees with great skill and agility.

Distribution
The Sparrowhawk is found throughout the entire island of Madeira but is not easily seen on account of its discreet habits. This subspecies only occurs in Madeira and Canary archipelagos.

Habitat
Lives in forested areas where it flies under cover of vegetation. This species is rarely seen in the open fields.

Breeding
It builds its nest in trees, normally between 6 and 12 metres above the ground. The nests are built in March and the eggs are laid in April. The clutches have 3 or 4 eggs and the incubation period is 33 to 35 days. The young birds are ready to fly by the time they are 5 to 6 weeks old.

Madeiran name: Fura-bardos or Gavião
Madeira Archipelago breeder
Social: Family groups
Length: 28 – 40 cm
Status: Secure