Endemic birds of the Western Palearctic
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of the restricted-range endemic bird species found in the Western Palearctic region:
In addition the following species are endemic to the region:
The following are near-endemics
- Algerian NuthatchAlgerian NuthatchThe Algerian Nuthatch, Sitta ledanti, is a small passerine bird which is the only bird species endemic to Algeria, where it is also the only nuthatch. It was first discovered in 1973....
- Anatolian Nuthatch (Kruper's Nuthatch)
- Berthelot's PipitBerthelot's PipitThe Berthelot’s Pipit is a small passerine bird which breeds in Madeira and the Canary Islands. It is a common resident in both archipelagos....
- Blue ChaffinchBlue ChaffinchThe Blue Chaffinch, Fringilla teydea, is a species of passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is endemic to the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria in Spain's Canary Islands...
- Bolle's PigeonBolle's PigeonThe Bolle's Pigeon is a species of Columba genus of the family Columbidae, of doves and pigeons, which is endemic to the Canary Islands, Spain. This bird is named after the German naturalist Carl Bolle, who was the first to distinguish it from the Laurel Pigeon...
- Canary
- Cape Verde Swamp WarblerCape Verde Swamp WarblerThe Cape Verde Swamp Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is also known by the name Cape Verde Cane Warbler . It breeds both on Santiago and on Fogo in the Cape Verde Islands. It previously bred on Brava and San Nicolau...
- Caucasian Black GrouseCaucasian Black GrouseThe Caucasian Grouse is a large bird in the grouse family. It is closely related to the Black Grouse . It occurs in extreme southeastern Europe and adjacent regions...
- Caucasian SnowcockCaucasian SnowcockThe Caucasian Snowcock, Tetraogallus caucasicus , is a snowcock in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds....
- Corsican NuthatchCorsican NuthatchThe Corsican Nuthatch, Sitta whiteheadi, is a small passerine bird which is endemic to Corsica, where it is the only nuthatch.The Corsican Nuthatch is a resident bird of the mountain forests of Corsica, and is closely associated with Corsican Pine preferably with some very old trees aged 300 years...
- Cyprus WarblerCyprus WarblerThe Cyprus Warbler, Sylvia melanothorax, is a typical warbler which breeds on Cyprus. This small passerine bird is a short-distance migrant, and winters in Israel, Jordan and Egypt....
- Cyprus WheatearCyprus WheatearThe Cyprus Wheatear or Cyprus Pied Wheatear is a small, 14–15 cm long passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
- Fuerteventura ChatFuerteventura ChatThe Canary Islands Stonechat , also known as the Fuerteventura Stonechat or Fuerteventura Chat, and formerly known as the Canary Islands Chat due to its once widespread distribution on the Canary Islands...
- Iago SparrowIago SparrowThe Iago Sparrow , is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It is also known as the Cape Verde Sparrow and the Rufous-backed Sparrow. It is endemic to the Cape Verde Islands, in the eastern Atlantic Ocean....
- Laurel PigeonLaurel PigeonThe Laurel Pigeon, White-tailed Laurel Pigeon, Paloma rabiche, is a species of bird in the Columba genus in the Columbidae family. It is a member of the family Columbidae of doves and pigeons, which is endemic to the Canary Islands, Spain...
- Madeira FirecrestMadeira FirecrestThe Madeira Firecrest or Madeira Kinglet, Regulus madeirensis, is a very small passerine bird that is endemic to the island of Madeira. It is a member of the kinglet family. Before it was recognised as a separate species in 2003, it was classified as a subspecies of the Common Firecrest...
- Plain SwiftPlain SwiftThe Plain Swift is a medium-sized swift. Although this bird is superficially similar to a Barn Swallow or House Martin, it is not related to those passerine species. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.Swifts have very short legs that...
- Raso LarkRaso LarkThe Raso Lark is a small passerine bird with a highly restricted range, being found only on Raso islet in the Cape Verde Islands...
- Scottish CrossbillScottish CrossbillThe Scottish Crossbill is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is endemic to the Caledonian Forests of Scotland, and is the only vertebrate unique to the United Kingdom...
- Tenerife GoldcrestTenerife GoldcrestThe Tenerife Goldcrest, Regulus regulus teneriffae, is a very small passerine bird in the kinglet family, closely resembling the Goldcrest but with a broader black band across the forehead, slightly darker underparts and a longer bill...
- Trocaz PigeonTrocaz PigeonThe Trocaz Pigeon, Madeira Laurel Pigeon or Long-toed Pigeon is a pigeon which is endemic to the island of Madeira. It is a mainly grey bird with a pinkish breast; its silvery neck patch and lack of white wing markings distinguish it from its close relative and probable ancestor, the Common Wood...
In addition the following species are endemic to the region:
- Rock PartridgeRock PartridgeThe Rock Partridge, Alectoris graeca, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds.This partridge has its main range in southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe, and is closely related and very similar to its eastern equivalent, the Chukar...
- Red-legged PartridgeRed-legged PartridgeThe Red-legged Partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is sometimes known as French Partridge, to distinguish it from the Grey or English Partridge....
- Barbary PartridgeBarbary PartridgeThe Barbary Partridge , is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds....
- Cory's ShearwaterCory's ShearwaterThe Cory's Shearwater is a large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae.This species breeds on islands and cliffs in the Mediterranean, with the odd outpost on the Atlantic coast of Iberia. The nest is on open ground or among rocks or less often in a burrow where one white egg is laid,...
- Cape Verde ShearwaterCape Verde ShearwaterThe Cape Verde Shearwater , or Cagarra locally, is a medium-large shearwater, a seabird in the petrel family Procellariidae. It is a breeding endemic of the Cape Verde archipelago of Macaronesia in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of West Africa.-Taxonomy:The Cape Verde Shearwater was originally...
- European Storm-petrelEuropean Storm-petrelThe European Storm Petrel or Storm Petrel is a small bird of the storm-petrel family, Hydrobatidae, part of the seabird order Procellariiformes. It is the only member of the genus Hydrobates.-Description:...
- European Shag
- Red KiteRed KiteThe Red Kite is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species is currently endemic to the Western Palearctic region in Europe and northwest Africa, though formerly also occurred just...
- Levant SparrowhawkLevant SparrowhawkThe Levant Sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers....
- Mediterranean GullMediterranean GullThe Mediterranean Gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus, is a small gull which breeds almost entirely in Europe, mainly in the south east, especially around the Black Sea, and in central Turkey. There are colonies elsewhere in southern Europe, and this species has undergone a dramatic range expansion in...
- White-eyed GullWhite-eyed GullThe White-eyed Gull is a small gull which is endemic to the Red Sea. Its closest relative is the Sooty Gull. It is one of the world's rarest gulls, with a population of just 4,000 - 6,500 pairs. The species is classed as Near Threatened by the IUCN; human pressure and oil pollution are deemed the...
- Audouin's GullAudouin's GullThe Audouin's Gull is a large gull restricted to the Mediterranean and the western coast of Saharan Africa. It breeds on small islands colonially or alone, laying 2-3 eggs on a ground nest...
- Red-necked NightjarRed-necked NightjarThe Red-necked Nightjar, Caprimulgus ruficollis, is the largest of the nightjars occurring in Europe. It breeds in Iberia and north Africa, and winters in tropical west Africa.-Habitat:...
- Middle Spotted WoodpeckerMiddle Spotted WoodpeckerThe Middle Spotted Woodpecker is a European woodpecker belonging to the genus Dendrocopos.The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is 20–22 cm long and has plumage similar to the Great Spotted Woodpecker. As with that species the upperparts are predominantly black with white oval wing patches and white...
- European Green Woodpecker
- Levaillant's WoodpeckerLevaillant's WoodpeckerThe Levaillant’s Woodpecker or Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker is a large member of the woodpecker family Piciformes. It occurs as a resident breeder in the three Maghreb countries Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in northwest Africa....
The following are near-endemics
- Squacco HeronSquacco HeronThe Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a small heron, long, of which the body is , with wingspan. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.-Behaviour:...