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

Description
The Common Tern has a white body with the upper part of the wings and the abdomens being light grey. The bird has a black cap and orange legs and bill; very often there is a black tip to the bill.
Although it inhabits the coast this bird does not use the sea for resting since its plumage is not waterproof. After each dive it returns to land to shake the saltwater off its feathers.

Distribution
This species is broadly distributed around Europe and the world. In Madeira it is a migratory bird that comes to nest in the summer in small numbers throughout all the islands of the archipelago. The Common Tern usually reaches Madeira in March and in mid-September.

Habitat
Although it is not an exclusively coastal species, on Madeira this bird tends to stay far away from human settlements and concentrates on small islands and coastal areas.

Breeding
In the Madeira archipelago, its nests, scrapes on the ground, are built on islands and rocky cliffs. The Common Tern nests between May and June, laying 2 to 4 eggs in each annual clutch. The eggs are incubated mainly by the female and hatch in about 20 days.

Madeiran name: Garajau comum
Madeira Archipelago migrant breeder
Social: Flocks
Length: 31 – 35 cm
Status: Secure

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus
Species: cachinnans
Subspecies: atlantis

Description
These very numerous gulls have a medium grey coloured back and the adults have yellow legs and a red orbital ring. The bill is also yellow with a small red mark at the end. Juveniles have streaked grey-brown bodies with dark bills and pink legs.

Distribution
This sub-species is found on all the islands on the Madeira archipelago as well as on the Canary islands and the Azores. It concentrates mainly around areas where there is abundant food, namely, around fish markets and refuse dumps.

Habitat
The Yellow-legged Gull is found in a great variety of habitats, preferring quieter locations such as small islands and coastal cliffs where it spends the night and nests. During the day, these birds are commonly seen in large numbers in areas of human settlement.

Breeding
There are large nesting colonies on the islet of Cevada (São Lourenço point) and on Chão islet (Desertas islands). These gulls nest in May, with just one clutch of 2 to 3 eggs being laid.

Madeiran name: Gaivota de patas amarelas
Madeira Archipelago resident breeder
Social: Flocks
Length: 55 – 65 cm
Status: Secure

BARN OWL

Order: Strigiformes
Family: Tytonidae
Genus: Tyto
Species: alba
Subspecies: schmitzi

Description
This is the only nocturnal bird of prey on the Madeira archipelago and is easy to identify by its outline and strident call. This sub-species is endemic and has a darker colouring. It has a heart-shaped, flattened “face” with dark feathers around the eyes. The lower part of the body is light coloured with dark patches, the wings are rounded and the claws are very strong.

Distribution
On Madeira this bird is commonly found in most parts of the island, generally not very high up. Some specimens of the Barn Owl are found on Porto Santo but there are no confirmed records of nesting taking place on this island.

Habitat
The Barn Owl is found in a variety of habitats, from areas of human settlement, forested areas, agricultural areas, and areas with low vegetation to deep valleys.

Breeding
This bird nests in large holes in rocks, trees, ruins and in buildings. The nesting season varies from April to July, with 4 to 6 completely white eggs being laid in a single clutch. The eggs are incubated by the female alone while the male feeds her regularly.

Madeiran name: Coruja das Torres
Madeira Island resident breeder – not confirmed to Porto Santo
Social: Family groups
Length: 33 – 39 cm
Status: Secure

LINNET

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Carduelis
Species: cannabina
Subspecies: guentheri

Description
With a grey bill and brownish body, in summer the male has a reddish breast and head, thus distinguishing it from the female which has a light brown head and a darker brown streaked back. In winter, the male’s colouring gets somewhat duller with the red on the breast and head being less obvious. In flight, the wings are black with white stripes at the sides. The tail is relatively long for this type of bird.

Distribution
This bird is scarce, being found on the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo. In winter they are seen at low altitudes whereas in summer they can be found higher up.

Habitat
As they feed on the ground on seeds and insects, Linnets are generally to be found in open areas with low vegetation, preferring grasses and bushes, in agricultural zones and also in gardens and settled areas.

Breeding
These birds nest between April and July in bushes of low to medium height; sometimes more than one nest can be found in the same bush. It is believed that on Porto Santo the nesting season starts earlier, in February. Linnets lay 2 to 3 clutches per year, each containing 4 to 6 eggs.

Madeiran name: Pintarroxo
Madeira and Porto Santo Islands resident breeder
Social: Flocks
Length: 12,5 – 14 cm
Status: Secure/Vulnerable

GREY WAGTAIL

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Motacilla
Species: cinerea
Subspecies: schmitzi

Description
This bird is easily recognised when at rest by the way it pumps its long tail strongly up and down. It has a distinguishing undulating manner of flight, generally accompanied by a sharp double call.
The body is elegant with yellow breast and underparts, a distinct pale supercilium, and a dark grey back from the head down to the long tail, with the wings being darker. The male can be distinguished from the female by a black bib.
The sub-species endemic to Madeira is distinguished from other sub-species (European, Canaries, Azores) by its darker back.

Distribution
This subspecies is evenly distributed throughout the entire island of Madeira, from the sea-shore up to the high zones, being found more commonly in moist areas close to water courses.

Habitat
The Grey Wagtail may choose various types of habitat but all of these must have water present in the form of small streams, water courses, wells, etc.

Breeding
The nest is normally built in the form of a tea-cup, in rock crevices or between streamside vegetation roots, under bridges or in walls. The bird lays from 4 to 6 eggs in each of two clutches that may be laid between April and August.

Madeiran name: Lavandeira
Madeira Island resident breeder
Social: Family groups
Length: 18 – 19 cm
Status: Secure