Species

Country checklist and status

iGoTerra

We are delighted that our Corporate Sponsor iGoTerra has made its country checklists, including subspecies (IOC or Clements) as well as all other species groups like mammals, butterflies etc. available through the ABC website. The only thing required is a Basic membership / registration which is free of charge. Go to Azores checklists. If you are already a member of iGoTerra, you will be taken directly to the country page. In case you are not a member, you will be redirected automatically to the registration form and from there can go straight to the country page.

This shows the fascinating status distribution of the 296 species on the list as breeding species (38), vagrants (254), escapes (3) and unknown (1).

Endemic species

The Azores or São Miguel Bullfinch Pyrrhula (pyrrhula) murina which has the local name of Priôlo is a very distinct form of Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula which has only ever been known to occur at the east end of the island of São Miguel.

Godman, who discovered it, described it as one of the characteristic birds of mountainous areas on the island. The present population of some 120 pairs is confined to the largest fragments of native Macaronesian Laurel Forests. At the end of the last century it had a wider range and was regarded as a pest in orange orchards, being easily taken for museum collections.

See the full feature article in ABC Bulletin 7.1 and at Azores Bullfinch

Near endemic species (found in 3 or less countries)

These species are also found on the Canary Islands and Madeira.

Threatened species

For further information, see BirdLife International Azores Bullfinch