Madeira Birdwatching Day Tour

Unfold Madeira amazing sceneries and most of the island endemic bird species: Trocaz Pigeon, Madeira Firecrest, Chaffinch, Berthelot's Pipit, Plain Swifts, Spectacled Warbler.

  • Madeira Island, Portugal

    A day birdwatching on the east of Madeira observing most of the island's endemic bird species and unfolding amazing sceneries.

    • Price

      90 EUR per person

    • Target species

      Trocaz Pigeon, Madeira Firecrest, Berthelot's Pipit, Atlantic Canary, Plain Swift, Madeira Chaffinch, Spectacled Warbler.

    • Itinerary

      East side of Madeira, from sea level up to 500 meters (1640 feet) of altitude, though the itinerary is dependent on weather conditions, so it may vary.

    • Schedule

      Pickups start between 9:00 (summer) and 9:30 (winter) and drop off is around 16:00.

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    Highlights

    10 endemic bird species & subspecies of Madeira and Macaronesia.
    Visit different habitats: Forest, Coastal, Shrubland and Rivers.
    Good photo opportunities of birds, butterflies and landscapes

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    Inclusions

    Pick up and drop off at the same place
    Quality telescope & binoculars (shared by group)
    English and Portuguese speaking ornithologists

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    Friendly advice

    Bring a jacket for the altitude cooler temperatures, a hat, comfortable shoes for walking through some irregular terrain and a bottle of water.

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    Group size

    Minimum people to run the trip: 2
    Maximum group size: 12 (with 2 tour leaders)

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    Meeting point

    City centers of Funchal, Machico, Santa Cruz, Caniço. As long as your hotel is not too difficult to access due to traffic, narrow roads or controlled entrance, pick up is at the hotel, otherwise it will be at a meeting point close by. For other locations, please contact us.

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    Climate Positive

    We offset 200% of the carbon emissions (CO2) of this activity.

This tour is the ideal birding tour to observe most of the endemic bird species and subspecies of Madeira and a lovely way to visit non-touristy areas of this lush green island in a comfortable way with very short and easy walks!

For more than 18 years, we have been running Wind Birds company, and this birding full-day tour is adjusted to make the most out of it, allying a high number of endemic bird species with dazzling landscapes and nature experiences. Even non-birdwatchers have joined us and enjoyed it!

Most of the morning, we look for the Madeira endemic Trocaz Pigeon Columba trocaz close to the Laurel Forest and the Macaronesian Berthelot's pipit Anthus berthelotii on a drier habitat. It is also possible to observe the Macaronesian subspecies of Kestrel Falco tinnunculus canariensis, the always lovely to watch Spectacled Warbler, Plain Swift Apus unicolor and, if we are lucky, the very elusive Rock Sparrows.

The afternoon, admiring the Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis, the Madeira subspecies of Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs maderensis and Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea schmitzi. If your holiday in Madeira is between May and August, there is also the chance to see Pallid Swifts Apus pallidus during this birding tour.

There will also be a walk along a river to look for any vagrant waders or ducks. Almost sure Common Moorhens Gallinula chloropus will welcome us, Eurasian Coot Fulica atra, Muscovy ducks, Yellow-legged gulls Larus michahellis, Common Waxbills Estrilda astrild and Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres. Sometimes we are lucky enough to find a rarity for Madeira, such as American birds: Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria, White-rumped Calidris fuscicollis, Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis... Some of them are found during our birdwatching tours.

Upcoming Tours

Sadly, this tour is suspended due to forest fires of October 2023 and August 2024. As an alternative, we recommend the Half Day Birdwatching Tour.

  • Madeira Birdwatching Spectacled Warbler Sylvia Conspicillata Orbitalis
  • Madeira Birdwatching Atlantic Canary Serinus Canaria
  • Madeira Birdwatching Madeira Firecrest Regulus Madeirensis
  • Madeira Birdwatching Berthelot Pipit Anthus Berthelotii
  • Madeira Birdwatching Common Blackbird Turdus Merula Cabrerae
  • Madeira Birdwatching Wood Sandpiper Tringa Glareola
  • Madeira Birdwatching Canarian Kestrel Falco Tinnunculus Canariensis
  • Madeira Birdwatching Purple Sandpiper Calidris Maritima
  • Madeira Birdwatching Trocaz Pigeon Columba Trocaz

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have other questions, please contact us.

  • What should I take?

    We recommend you bring a warm jumper, a waterproof jacket, a hat or a seamed cap, walking boots or shoes with a good grip and a bottle of water.

  • Do you have a spotting scope?

    Yes, we have Swarovski and Leica telescopes for the group's use, and we do have two pairs of binoculars that we can lend to anyone who does not have them during the tour.

  • My partner is not a birdwatcher. Can they come on the tour?

    Yes, this is not an intense birdwatching tour, where we ally birdwatching with habitat sightseeing, and we do not spend too much time searching for a species. If we do not see that species in one place, we will look for it in a different area. Typically, non-birdwatchers enjoy this tour.

  • The weather conditions are bad. Do you still run the tour?

    If the forecasts for the day of your activity are not suitable for birdwatching or not safe to operate, we will try to postpone or cancel it (refundable).

  • What type of payment do you accept?

    We accept Visa, MasterCard, Amex and cash. Google Pay and ApplePay are also accepted.