This is a list of the bird species recorded in Madeira. The avifauna of Madeira include a total of 356 species, of which two are endemic, and 9 have been introduced by humans. Two listed species are 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 Madeira.
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 Madeira (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Madeira (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Madeira 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) Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (A) Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (A) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (A) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (A) Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata (I) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (A) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (A) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (A) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta (A) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris (A) Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A) Common scoter, Melanitta nigra (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (A) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (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.
Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa (I) Common quail, Coturnix coturnix Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I) Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (A) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
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.
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (A) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (A) Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (A) Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis (A)
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 Stock dove, Columba oenas (A) Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus (A) Trocaz pigeon, Columba trocaz (E) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur
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.
Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (A)
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 (A) Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A)
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.
Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (A) Red-necked nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis (A) Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (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.
Little swift, Apus affinis (A) Common swift, Apus apus White-rumped swift, Apus caffer (A) Alpine swift, Apus melba (A) Pallid swift, Apus pallidus Plain swift, Apus unicolor Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (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.
Corn crake, Crex crex (A) American coot, Fulica americana (A) Eurasian coot, Fulica atra Lesser moorhen, Gallinula angulata (A) Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A) Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A) Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio (A) Sora, Porzana carolina (A) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana (A) Water rail, Rallus aquaticus (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 (A)
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 (A) Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta (A)
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Canarian oystercatcher, Haematopus meadewaldoi (Extinct) Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (A)
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.
Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A) Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (A) European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (A) American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola (A) Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (A)
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 (A) Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (A) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (A) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) 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 (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) Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (A) Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A) Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius (A) Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus (A) Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (A) Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (A) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (A) Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia (A) Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A) Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (A) Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (A) Common redshank, Tringa totanus (A)
Pratincoles and coursers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Glareolidae
Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.
Cream-colored courser, Cursorius cursor (A) Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola (A)
Skuas and jaegers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large sea birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.
Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus