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 west of Madeira observing most of the island endemic bird species and unfolding amazing sceneries.
- Price
  
  80 EUR per person (>10 years old) 50 EUR per child (1-10 years old) *lunch included
- 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
  
  Pick ups start around 9:00 and drop off is around 17:00. Check availability during your stay.

Highlights

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

Pick up and drop off at the same place
3 course meal with drinks included on the tour
Quality telescope & binoculars (shared by group), guide books
English and Portuguese speaking ornithologists
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.
Group size

Minimum people to run the trip: 2
Maximum group size: 8
Staff to Guest ratio: 1/4
Meeting point

City centers of Machico, Santa Cruz, Caniço, Funchal, Cabo Girão and Ribeira Brava. 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.

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

For more than 15 years we have been running Wind Birds company and this birding full-day tour has been 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 is spent looking for the Madeira endemic land birds: Trocaz Pigeon Columba trocaz and Madeira Firecrest Regulus madeirensis. For this we go to an area surrounded by the indigenous Laurel Forest and majestic mountains. It is also possible to observe the Macaronesian subspecies of Kestrel Falco tinnunculus canariensis and 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 Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii and Pallid Swifts Apus pallidus during this birding tour.

Lunch is in Santana, a good location to observe Atlantic Canary Serinus canaria and the best chance for the elusive Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus granti and Linnet Carduelis cannabina guentheri, so after a three course meal we will walk around the restaurant gardens to look for these species.

The afternoon itinerary is decided according to the weather though either of the chosen places are good to birdwatch for Berthelot's pipit Anthus berthelotii, Spectacled warbler Sylvia conspicillata orbitalis, Plain Swift Apus unicolor, and Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa. These shrubland habitats are also important bird areas to find some migrant birds such as Grey Heron, Swallows, House Martins, Larks, Northern Wheatear...

There will also be a stop to look for any vagrant waders or ducks. Almost sure we will be welcomed by Common Moorhens Gallinula chloropus, Eurasian Coot Fulica atra, Muscovy ducks, Yellow-legged gulls Larus michahellis 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 Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis, Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis... some of them were found during our birdwatching tours.