Birds, birding & conservation in the Cape Verde islands

Cape Verde Islands

Hotspots

The following information was sent by Rubén Barone Tosco. We will add to this section as more information becomes available.

Meanwhile, the information given in the IBAs and News sections should help to determine good birdwatching locations, help in planning a trip to the Cape Verde Islands and finding the endemic species.

Sal Island

Saltpans of Pedra de Lume, Sal Island, Cape Verde

Photo: Rubén Barone Tosco

There are a number of good sites for birdwatching on this island. The saltpans of Pedra de Lume ("salinas de Pedra de Lume") are one of the best sites for aquatic migrants, especially waders, and a breeding area for Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus and Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus. Alexander Kestrel Falco (tinnunculus) alexandri, Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura and Iago Sparrow Passer iagoensis have all been seen here. The saltpans of Santa Maria ("salinas de Santa Maria"), in the south of the island is another good site for waders, and the surrounding beach together with the saltpans is one of the best sites for breeding Kentish Plovers. Ospreys Pandion haliaetus have been found here and the local sand dunes and plains are the best place for Greater Hoopoe-Lark Alaemon alaudipes on this island.

Saltpans of Santa Maria, Sal Island, Cape Verde

Photo: Rubén Barone Tosco

The temporary lagoon in the mouth of Ribeira da Madama, close to Baia da Murdeira on the west coast of the island (very close to the paved road between Espargos and Santa Maria) is one of the best sites for aquatic migrants. Herons, waders, ducks and even spoonbills have been seen here. The best time to visit is at the beginning of the monsoon rains from August to November.

Cultivations at Terra Boa, Sal Island, Cape Verde

Photo: Rubén Barone Tosco

Migrant passerines can be found in the Terra Boa cultivations in the north of the island. Swifts, Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata, Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, pipits, swallows and martins have all been seen here and there are records of Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor, Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura, Greater Hoopoe-Lark Alaemon alaudipes, Iago Sparrow Passer iagoensis and even Cape Verde Peregrine Falco (peregrinus) madens. This last species is very rare on Sal and the rest of the Cape Verde Islands.

The west coast between Palmeira and Baia da Murdeira has flat coastal plains and some sandy beaches. Many migrant waders have been found here in the appropriate season e.g. September-October and Ospreys Pandion haliaetus and Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cinctura can also be found. The Ilhéu de Rabo de Junco on the east coast is practically the only good site for breeding seabirds. Brown Booby Sula leucogaster, the very rare Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus and the rare Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris (diomedea) edwardsii, seen mainly in the late afternoon, have all been found here.

Santa Maria coast and village has hosted some rare migrant passerines e.g. Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides with only one record for the islands and it is easy to find Alexander Kestrel Falco (tinnunculus) alexandri and Iago Sparrow Passer iagoensis. On the beach there are some migrant waders, herons, gulls, terns and a few breeding Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus.

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Santiago Island

From north to south, there are several good places for birdwatching on Santiago.

On the marine cliffs north of Tarrafal there is a small breeding colony of Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus as well as some pairs of Alexander’s Kestrel Falco (tinnunculus) alexandri and small numbers of the endemic Cape Verde Swift Apus alexandri and Rock Dove Columba livia which also occupy some of the interior mountains. On the rocky coast it is possible to find migrant herons and waders, such as Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea and Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos. On the plains and small slopes there are other species like Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata, the endemic Iago Sparrow Passer iagoensis, Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild, Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris and even Common Quail Coturnix coturnix. At night it is possible to find the Cape Verde Barn Owl Tyto (alba) detorta in Tarrafal village and the surrounding open fields and small woodlands.

The coast between Tarrafal and Chão Bom is good for migrant herons, waders and other aquatic species, with records of some rare or vagrant birds like Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia and Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos. Sometimes it is possible to see Osprey Pandion haliaetus, and in the nearby plains there are several steppe birds like Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor and Black-crowned Sparrow Lark Eremopterix nigriceps. Other breeding species present here are Spectacled Warbler, Iago Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis, Common Waxbill and Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala.

In the area of Serra da Malagueta - Ribeira Principal, Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla and Brown-necked Ravens Corvus ruficollis can be found and this is a very good site for Alexander’s Kestrel, Cape Verde Swift, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Spectacled Warbler and Common Waxbill and there are records of Cape Verde Barn Owl even in the higher mountains.

On Boa Entrada, around the famous “poilão” (big Kapok Tree Ceiba pentandra), a former breeding place of the highly endangered Cape Verde Purple Heron Ardea (purpurea) bournei up to 1999, there is good habitat for the endemic Cape Verde Cane Warbler Acrocephalus brevipennis which is locally common. It’s also a good place to see or hear Blackcaps, Grey-headed Kingfishers, Spanish Sparrows, Alexander’s Kestrels, Common Waxbills and other typical birds of cultivations and woodlands, and it is sometimes possible to find Cape Verde Barn Owl at dusk.

The mountainous area of Rui Vaz - Serra do Pico da Antónia is one of the last strongholds of the Cape Verde Buzzard Buteo (buteo) bannermani, as it’s a very rare and endangered species confined actually to Santo Antão and this island. Other raptors present here are Alexander’s Kestrel and Cape Verde Peregrine Falcon Falco (peregrinus) madens as well as Cape Verde Barn Owl. This is also a breeding place for Brown-necked Raven and Cape Verde Swift.

Botanical Garden at São Jorge dos Orgãos

Santiago, Cape Verde

Photo: Rubén Barone Tosco

In the cultivations and gardens of São Jorge dos Orgãos there are good populations of some breeding passerines including Spectacled Warbler, Blackcap, Cape Verde Cane Warbler, Spanish Sparrow and Common Waxbill. A place of special interest is the “Jardim Botânico Nacional Grandvaux Barbosa” (National Botanical Garden Grandvaux Barbosa) which has some drinking places for several passerines. Other relatively common birds in this area are Cape Verde Swift, Grey-headed Kingfisher and Iago Sparrow.

Liberão, a locality situated on Ribeira Montanha valley, is actually the only breeding place of the Cape Verde Purple Heron. The number of pairs is so low than this (sub) species is highly endangered, being the object of a special conservation programme developed by Wetlands International and the Cape Verde government. Despite the continued presence of local people in the surroundings, ornithologists and birdwatchers must remain some distance from the colony in order to avoid disturbance during the breeding period. Other breeding species include Alexander’s Kestrel, Common Quail, Helmeted Guineafowl, Cape Verde Swift, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Spectacled Warbler, Blackcap, Cape Verde Cane Warbler, Brown-necked Raven, Iago Sparrow, Spanish Sparrow and Common Waxbill, many of them locally common.

The recent construction of a dam in the São Lourenço dos Orgãos area, called “Barragem de Poilão”, has resulted in Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus breeding there (the last breeding places of this species in the Cape Verdes were on Pedra Badejo lagoons, Santiago, and on Rabil lagoon, Boavista, up to the 1960s) and the observation of several ducks, herons and relatives and waders, some of them very “rare” in this archipelago, e.g. Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes. On the other hand, Cape Verde Purple Herons visit this site from their single colony.

One of the lagoons of Pedra Badejo during the rainy season

Santiago, Cape Verde

Photo: Rubén Barone Tosco

Not far from here are Pedra Badejo lagoons which in the appropriate season, especially in the rainy months, hold good numbers of migrant waders, herons and other aquatic birds. At the same time this is one of the few breeding places for Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus on Santiago Island, and it is possible to find Cape Verde Cane Warblers in the cultivations and groups of trees. In the last few years, the poor quantity of water in the lagoons has resulted in a reduction of avian interest but in wetter years, it can be an important spot for migrants.

Praia city and its surroundings constitute a good birding area. On the marine cliffs situated to the north, there is a small colony of Red-billed Tropicbird. Other interesting species found here are Alexander’s Kestrel, Cape Verde Peregrine Falcon (very rare and difficult to see), Cape Verde Swift and Iago Sparrow. In the plains situated between the cliffs and the airport there are good populations of Common Quail, Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cinctura and Black-crowned Sparrow Lark as well as some Cream-coloured Coursers and Brown-necked Ravens prospecting for food. In the vegetated areas of the city, even in the main squares and parks, is possible to find Grey-headed Kingfishers, Blackcaps, Common Waxbills, Iago Sparrows and Spanish Sparrows. The low coast holds some migrant herons and waders, including sometimes “rare” species like Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, but more commonly Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Common Sandpipers, Common Greenshanks Tringa nebularia, Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus, Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres, gulls Larus spp. and terns Sterna spp. In the port area and close to the cliffs Brown Booby Sula leucogaster sometimes pass although they do not breed here but in distant places like Baia do Inferno situated in the southwest part of the island. Finally, there are several observations of Cape Verde Barn Owl in the western half of the city.