Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling - 1st record for Madeira

On the 18th of March 2008 in Caniçal, Madeira Wind Birds guides (Catarina and Hugo) and their customers have seen a blue/green bird with bright yellow eyes... We could not identified it immediately as it was not on the European Bird Guide though after searching in other bird guides and with the help of pictures taken, it was possible to identify it as a Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus.

This is the first record for Madeira of this Africa species and it was recorded after some weeks of eastern and north-eastern winds which might have blown this beautiful coloured bird to Madeira Island.

Other special species seen on this same day and on the same place was 2 Common Terns, 1 Waxbill, several Spanish Sparrows, few Barn Swallows and a House Martin. These were the first Common Terns for 2008 in Madeira.