Birds of Fuerteventura: Which Ones to Look Out For

It would appear that birds of Fuerteventura would be quite limited, on first examination of the location and landscape. However, it is possible to see numerous birds at a number of sites, as some birds like the dry, desert-like landscape with its rocky outcrops and scrubland. Others can be seen on the plains and volcanic fields, while others are attracted to any water that suddenly appears on the surface after an infrequent rain shower.  Others are attracted to the ornamental lakes on the golf courses.

Birds of Fuerteventura List

In the holiday resorts and villages the first bird that you will probably see is a collared dove, but further inland you will be able to look out for the following:

• Houbara Bustard

• Fuerteventura Chat

• Cream Coloured Courser

• Black-bellied Sandgrouse

• Ruddy Shellduck

• Common Kestrel

• Yellow Browed Warbler

• Fuerteventura Stonechat

• Stone Curlew

• Raven

• Egyptian Vulture

• Hoopoe

• Barbary Partridge

• Great Grey Shrike

• Trumpeter Finch

• Berthelots Pipit

• Buzzard Spectacled Warbler

• Sardinian Warbler

• Blue Tit

• Linnet

• Nightingale

• Pallid Swift

• Corys Shearwater

• Little Ringed Plover

• Sparrow

• Pied Wagtail

• Egret

• Turtle Dove

• Rock Dove

• Common Sandpiper

• Lesser Black Backed Gull

• Black Winged Stilts

• Common Tern

• Cattle Egret

Birds of Fuerteventura: Best Places to Watch Them

The best locations for seeing birds are:

• El Barranco de Torre – a dry river valley south of Caleta de Fuste
• Near the dam at Los Molinos on the west coast
• The barranco south of the Las Peñitas dam near Betancuria
• The area around Antigua and Triquivijate
• Around Tuineje
• Around La Pared
• Around Betancuria
• Around La Oliva
• Between Lajares and El Cotillo

From speaking to people who like taking photos of birds, it is generally known that twitchers, who are looking for the birds, are always keen to see the first four birds on the above list.

The Fuerteventura Chat, used to be called the Canarian Chat, but is now only found on this island, so it has been renamed. It likes the dry rocky ravines and scrubland, and is now recognized as an endangered species. The Houbara Bustard likes the arid conditions on the island, which are similar to that of North Africa.  The  Cream Coloured Courser likes the dry, open plains, although it is classed as a wader.  The Black Bellied Sandgrouse also likes the dry, barren plains.  The Egyptian Vulture, or Guirre as it is known on Fuerteventura, is in danger of extinction on the island, so its habitats are being protected.

If you are out and about on the island looking to see birds , then make sure that you wear sun protection and a hat, and take plenty of water. Temperatures can be between 25 and 35 degrees in some of the inland areas throughout most of the year.

So there are a wide range of birds of Fuerteventura, although they never seem to appear in large numbers.  Spotting a bird and recognizing it, can be quite difficult.  However, it can be rewarding when you see one, and even better if it’s possible to take a photo.

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