Birds from the Azores: An updated list with some comments on species distribution

Luís MD Barcelos; Pedro R Rodrigues; Joël Bried; Enésima P Mendonça; Rosalina Gabriel; Paulo Alexandre Vieira Borges

doi:10.3897/BDJ.3.e6604

. 2015 Nov 20;(3):e6604. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e6604

Birds from the Azores: An updated list with some comments on species distribution

Luís MD Barcelos ^‡,^✉, Pedro R Rodrigues ^§, Joël Bried ^|, Enésima P Mendonça ^‡, Rosalina Gabriel ^‡, Paulo Alexandre Vieira Borges ^‡

PMCID: PMC4678808 PMID: 26696765

Abstract Abstract

Background

An updated checklist of the Birds of the Azores is presented based on information compiled from Rodrigues et al. (2010) and from the websites, Azores Bird Club. (2014), Aves dos Açores (2014) Azores Bird Sightings (2014) and Vittery (2014), since 2010.

New information

The checklist has a total of 414 species, including 38 new species.

Almost half of the species and subspecies that occur in the Azores have a Palearctic origin, the remaining ones being essentialy Nearctic and Holarctic species. São Miguel is the island with the highest number of bird species, followed by Terceira, Corvo and Flores islands.

Keywords: Azores, birds checklist, species distribution

Introduction

Birds (Vertebrata: Aves) are some of the most iconic animals. They play important roles in the ecosystem, and since they are abundant and diverse in most urban and rural areas, humans have established a good long-lasting relationship with them (e.g., birdwatching, photography). However, amongst the ca 10.000 bird species which have been living on Earth since the appearance of modern humans, many species were regionally lost or extinct, or are endangered, especially on islands (Sax et al. 2002, Elphick et al. 2010, Rando et al. 2013, Alcover et al. 2015). Updating a list of birds from remote oceanic islands represents an important step towards an improved knowledge of colonization mechanisms and migratory patterns by animals and a contribution towards the conservation and management of insular taxa and their natural habitats.

The Azores Archipelago is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between 36°55’ and 39°43’ N, and 24°46’ and 31°16’ W, about 1500 km from mainland Europe and 1900 km from North America (Fig. 1). The Azores is a volcanic oceanic archipelago consisting of nine islands and several islets of recent volcanic origin (0.25 to 8.12 My old), which are spread over >600 km along a northwest-southeast transect (França et al. 2003). The oceanic distribution of these islands and, as a consequence, their relative positions, has led to the formation of the following groups: (i), a western group, comprising the islands of Flores and Corvo; (ii), a central group, with the islands of Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Terceira and Graciosa and (iii), an eastern group, made up of the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria.

Figure 1. — Map of Azores islands, Portugal (Modified from Amorim 2005).

Due to its remoteness, the Azores archipelago was discovered and humans settled only at the beginning of the fifteenth century. The settlers described the islands as covered by dense native vegetation, with countless birds, especially seabirds (Frutuoso 2005a, Frutuoso 2005b, Frutuoso 2005c). Until then the archipelago was definitely a bird paradise, not only for seabirds that could use the vast coastal cliffs of the islands and islets to breed, but also for terrestrial birds which were widespread in the lush Azorean forests (Rodrigues and Cunha 2012). After human colonization started in 1439, several bird species suffered a sudden decrease in population size due to their use as food and oil source for human consumption, as well as to the introduction of predators and the destruction of their habitat (Rodrigues et al. 2010). As a consequence of the human impact, six flightless bird species are confirmed to be extinct in the Azores, namely one Otus species (Rando et al. 2013) and five Rallus species (Alcover et al. 2015), but recent findings indicate that many more will be described soon (Josep Alcover and Juan Rando, pers. comm.).

Despite the reduction of several bird populations, the Azores remain of great interest for ornithologists and are considered as one of the most popular destinations for European birdwatchers (Pereira 2010, Rodrigues and Michielsen 2010), all the more since they hold two endemic species: the Azores Bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina Godman, 1866) (Fig. 2), and Monteiro’s Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma monteiroi Bolton et al. 2008) (Fig. 3), and 11 endemic subspecies. Besides, the Azores archipelago displays colonies of several seabird species of great importance in the European context, and it is also possible to observe pelagic birds and a large variety of migratory birds, some of which are very rare Nearctic vagrants to the western Palearctic (Rodrigues and Michielsen 2010, Barreiros et al. 2014).

Figure 2. — Azores Bullfinch (*Pyrrhula* *murina* Godman, 1866). Photo by PAV Borges (2008).

Figure 3. — Monteiro’s Storm Petrel (*Oceanodroma* *monteiroi* Bolton et al., 2008). Photo by PH Silva (2014).

Rodrigues and Cunha (2011) resumed the ornithological history of the Azores, from the beginning of human settlement until recently, and the latest checklist of birds from the Azores archipelago was published in 2010 by Rodrigues et al., as part of the complete list of Azorean biota published by Borges et al. (2010). This list was based on an exhaustive review of the published literature (e.g., Le Grand 1993, Monteiro et al. 1996, Monteiro et al. 1999, Elias et al. 2003, Elias et al. 2004, Elias et al. 2005, Elias et al. 2006, Bried et al. 2007, Jara et al. 2007, Jara et al. 2008, Bolton et al. 2008, Imber 2008, Vittery 2014) but also on unpublished data following Rodebrand (2010) and Rodebrand S. & The Birding Azores Team (2010). This checklist totalled 384 species, distributed between three categories: breeding, non-breeding and potentially breeding (species reported as introduced and/or escapes from captivity and for which suitable nesting conditions exist in the Azores, but whose numbers are insufficient to allow the maintenance of self-sustaining populations in this archipelago). During the last years, and due to the growing interest of birdwatchers in the Azores avifauna, several dedicated websites have been developed, such as ABC – Azores Bird Club. (2014) (formerly Birding Azores) (http://www.birdingazores.com/), AdA – Aves dos Açores (2014) (http://azores.avesdeportugal.info/) and ABS – Azores Bird Sightings (2014) (http://azoresbs.weebly.com/ from January 2012 to February 2014 and http://azoresbirdsightings.blogspot.co.uk/ from August 2014 onward). These websites are presently used by birdwatchers as a tool to register new information about species occurrence and distribution in the Azores.

The present paper updates the previous checklist (Rodrigues et al. 2010), with respect to species distribution within the archipelago and also by including new species to the archipelago. The updating is based on the sightings reports available on the websites mentioned above. We also perform a nomenclatural review of the Orders, Families, Species and Subspecies, following the 2014 IOC World Bird list (v 4.3) (Gill and Donsker 2015) published by the International Ornithologists’ Union (available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/). Some additional notes on the distribution of the different species among the islands and their biogeographic origin are presented.

Materials and methods

Based on Rodrigues et al. (2010), we completed a full taxonomic revision using the IOC Bird list (Gill and Donsker 2015) as a reference to identify the changes which occurred in the taxonomic hierarchy and synonymies. Then, we updated the list of the species recorded in the Azores archipelago until the end of 2014, as well as their distribution within the archipelago. The species newly reported for the Azores are signalled as NSR (New Species Record). Most of these NSRs were reported after 2010, but there are also a few missing records prior to this date. The species previously reported by Rodrigues et al. (2010), but whose distribution has changed since then, are signalled with an asterisk (*). All the new information about species occurrence and distribution was compiled based on the birdwatching websites mentioned earlier, and relies on a large number of birdwatcher contributions.

In order to make the data easier to consult, the main checklist (Checklist 1) includes all the breeding and non-breeding species together, including the escapes and/or introduced species which already have feral populations in the Azores. All the other escapes and/or introduced species were excluded from the main list, and can be consulted in Checklist 2.

We considered the species with five our less records, in Azores, as Rare Species. This species are presented in a table (Suppl. material 3) with the number of sightings, number of individual recorded, and some notes.

Besides the taxonomical information and the distribution among the Azorean islands (Fig. 4), we include information on: i) biogeographical origin, based on (Lomolino et al. 2010); ii) breeding status; iii) islands where breeding has been documented and iv) current protection status of the species according to the Azorean Decree DLR n.° 15/2012/A Governo dos Açores (2012) from 2nd April 2012, which transposes the European Directives (Birds), Conventions (Bern and OSPAR), Agreements (AEWA) and specific regional protection statuses (TOP100) to the regional legislation. The protection statuses are represented by a letter or code (corresponding to the directive, convention or law) and by a Roman numeral (corresponding to the annex) as follows: P – Priority species for conservation; A – Birds directive; B – Bern Convention; AEWA – African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement; O – OSPAR Convention; T100 – 100 prioritary threatened species for management purposes in the European biogeographical region of Macaronesia (Martín et al. 2008); (X) – New species disaggregated from Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro (Harcourt, 1851) and which is known to breed only on Praia and Baixo islets (Graciosa Island).

Figure 4. — Global species richness on the nine Azorean islands (COR= Corvo; FLO = Flores; FAI = Faial; PIC = Pico; GRA =Graciosa; SJG = São Jorge; TER = Terceira; SMG = São Miguel; SMR = Santa Maria) (Suppl. material 1).

Checklists

List of the non-breeding and breeding species from Azores

Chordata

Vertebrata

Aves

Anseriformes

Anatidae

Aix sponsa

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Distribution

COR; FLO; GRA; TER*; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Anas acuta

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Anas crecca

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Conservation status

A-IIA; AEWA

Distribution

COR (Occasional Breeder); FLO (Occasional Breeder); FAI; PIC; GRA*; SJG; TER; SMG (Occasional Breeder); SMR

Notes

Regular Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Anas querquedula

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Palearctic

Distribution

FLO; TER*; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant; Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Galliformes

Phasianidae

Alectoris rufa hispanica

(Seoane, 1894)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Conservation status

A-IIA

Distribution

PIC (Breeder); GRA*; TER (Breeder); SMG*; SMR (Breeder)

Notes

Introduced. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Coturnix coturnix conturbans

Hartert, 1917

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Conservation status

A-IIB

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

GRA; SMG

Notes

Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Procellariiformes

Diomedeidae

Thalassarche melanophris

(Temminck, 1828)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Sub-Antarctic

Distribution

FAI; PIC

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Procellariidae

Bulweria bulwerii

(Jardine & Selby, 1828)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Pantropical

Conservation status

P; A-I; B-II; T100

Distribution

FLO*; FAI*; PIC*; GRA*; SMG*; SMR (Breeder)

Notes

Native. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Calonectris borealis

(Cory, 1881)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Notes

Macaronesian Endemic. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Puffinus gravis

(O'Reilly, 1818)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Southern Atlantic

Conservation status

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; SJG; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Regular Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Puffinus griseus

(Gmelin, 1789)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Southern hemisphere

(Kuhl, 1820)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic

Distribution

COR*; FLO; FAI*; PIC; GRA*; TER*; SMG; SMR*

Notes

Regular Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Oceanodroma castro

(Harcourt, 1851)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Pelagodroma marina

(Latham, 1790)

Distribution

PIC*; TER

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Ciconia nigra

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

COR*; FLO*; FAI*; PIC*; GRA*; SJG*; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Suliformes

Fregatidae

Fregata magnificens

Mathews, 1914

Ecological interactions

Native status

Sub-tropical and Tropical Atlantic; Tropical-eastern Pacific

Distribution

COR*; FLO*; PIC*; TER*; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant; Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocorax auritus

(Lesson, 1831)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA*; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Phalacrocorax carbo

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

COR; PIC*; GRA*; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Accipitriformes

Pandiondidae

Pandion haliaetus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

COR*; FLO; FAI; PIC; TER; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Accipitridae

Buteo buteo rothschildi

(Swann, 1919)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

TER; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Gruidae

Grus canadensis

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Distribution

FLO

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Grus grus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Recurvirostra avosetta

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

SMG; SMR*

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Charadriidae

Charadrius alexandrinus

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Charadrius hiaticula

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Conservation status

A; B-II; AEWA

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; SJG; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Regular Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Charadrius morinellus

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR; FAI; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Charadrius semipalmatus

Bonaparte, 1825

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Holarctic

Conservation status

A-IIB; AEWA

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; SJG; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Regular Migrant; Regular Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Vanellus vanellus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Conservation status

A-IIB; AEWA

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; SJG; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

A; B-II; AEWA

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; SJG; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Regular Migrant; Regular Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Calidris alpina

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Calidris ferruginea

(Pontoppidan, 1763)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Conservation status

A; B-II; AEWA

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Calidris fuscicollis

(Vieillot, 1819)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Scolopax rusticola

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Conservation status

A-IIB; AEWA

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; SJG; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Regular Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Larus michahellis atlantis

Dwight, 1922

Ecological interactions

Native status

Rissa tridactyla

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Conservation status

A; AEWA

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; SJG; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Regular Migrant; Regular Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Sterna dougallii dougallii

Montagu, 1813

Ecological interactions

Native status

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

COR*; FLO; FAI; PIC*; GRA; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Regular Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Columbiformes

Columbidae

Columba livia (domestica)

Gmelin, 1789

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Conservation status

A-IIA

Distribution

COR (Breeder); FLO (Breeder); FAI (Breeder); PIC (Breeder); GRA (Breeder); SJG (Breeder); TER (Breeder); SMG (Breeder); SMR (Breeder)

Notes

Introduced. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Columba palumbus azorica

Hartert, 1905

Ecological interactions

Native status

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

PIC*; SJG; TER*; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Strigiformes

Tytonidae

Tyto alba

(Scopoli, 1769)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Strigidae

Asio flammeus

(Pontoppidan, 1763)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Caprimulgus europaeus

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR*; GRA*; TER; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Chordeiles minor

(Forster, 1771)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR; FAI*; TER*; SMG; SMR*

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Coraciiformes

Caoraciidae

Coracias garrulus

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Alcedinidae

Alcedo atthis

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Megaceryle alcyon

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Distribution

FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; SJG; TER*; SMR*

Notes

Sphyrapicus varius

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR*; FLO; FAI; PIC; TER*; SMG; SMR*

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Psittaciformes

Psittacidae

Psittacula krameri

(Scopoli, 1769)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Afro-tropical

Native status

Nearctic

Distribution

COR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. New Azores Record

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Oriolidae

Oriolus oriolus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR*; FLO; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Bombycillidae

Bombycilla cedrorum

Vieillot, 1808

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Distribution

COR; FLO

Notes

Occasional Migrant. New Azores Record

Bombycilla garrulus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

FAI

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Acrocephalidae

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR; TER

Notes

Palearctic

Conservation status

A-IIB

Distribution

COR (Breeder); FLO (Breeder); FAI (Breeder); PIC (Breeder); GRA (Breeder); SJG (Breeder); TER (Breeder); SMG (Breeder); SMR (Breeder)

Notes

Azores Endemic. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Muscicapidae

Erithacus rubecula rubecula

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Passeridae

Passer domesticus domesticus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Native status

Afro-tropical

Distribution

TER (Breeder); SMG (Breeder)

Notes

Introduced. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

COR (Breeder); FLO (Breeder); FAI (Breeder); PIC (Breeder); GRA (Breeder); SJG (Breeder); TER (Breeder); SMG (Breeder); SMR (Breeder)

Notes

Azores Endemic. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Motacilla citreola

Pallas, 1776

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR; SMR*

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Motacilla flava

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR; PIC; TER*; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

COR (Breeder); FLO (Breeder); FAI (Breeder); PIC (Breeder); GRA (Breeder); SJG (Breeder); TER (Breeder); SMG (Breeder); SMR (Breeder)

Notes

Macaronesian Endemic. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Chloris chloris aurantiiventris

(Cabanis, 1851)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Conservation status

A; B-II

Distribution

FAI*; PIC*; TER (Breeder); SMG (Breeder); SMR*

Notes

Introduced. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Fringilla coelebs moreletti

Pucheran, 1859

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Palearctic

Conservation status

P; A-I; T100

Distribution

SMG (Breeder)

Notes

Azores Endemic. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Serinus canaria

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Conservation status

Distribution

COR (Breeder); FLO (Breeder); FAI (Breeder); PIC (Breeder); GRA (Breeder); SJG (Breeder); TER (Breeder); SMG (Breeder); SMR (Breeder)

Notes

Macaronesian Endemic. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Serinus serinus

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

TER

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Spinus spinus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

COR; FLO; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant; Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant. New Azores Record

Icteridae

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Distribution

COR; FLO; SMR*

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Icterus galbula

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Nearctic

Distribution

COR; FLO; SMR*

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Calcariidae

Calcarius lapponicus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

COR; FLO; TER; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Plectrophenax nivalis

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Holarctic

Distribution

COR; FLO; FAI; PIC; GRA; TER; SMG; SMR

Notes

Occasional Migrant; Occasional Wintering. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

List of potential breeding species from Azores

Chordata

Vertebrata

Aves

Anseriformes

Anatidae

Aix galericulata

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

PIC*; GRA; TER; SMG

Notes

Occasional Migrant. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

SMG

Notes

Introduced. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Phasianus colchicus

Linnaeus, 1758

Ecological interactions

Native status

Palearctic

Distribution

AZO

Notes

Introduced. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Introduced. Rodrigues et al. (2010)

Analysis

The updated list of the bird species recorded in the Azores comprised 38 newly recorded species, increasing the total number of recorded species and subspecies to 414. These 414 taxa belong to 24 orders, 67 families, 202 genera and 404 species. Some of the species and genus names from the previous list were changed and some families were moved to other orders. The taxonomic revision results in the addition of four new orders to the checklist.

São Miguel Island stands out as the richest island (299 spp. and sspp.), followed by Terceira (248 spp. and sspp.), Corvo and Flores (238 and 232 spp. and sspp., respectively) (Fig. 4). The islands of Corvo (western group) and Santa Maria (eastern group) were the ones with the highest increases in species number (plus 14,1% and 12,%, respectively).

Almost half of the species and subspecies that occur in the Azores come from the Palearctic (n = 195, that is, 47% of spp and sspp) but the Nearctic is also well represented (n = 125 i.e., 30% of spp and sspp). The species and subspecies of Holarctic origin totalled 68 (i.e., 17% of spp and sspp) (Fig. 5). The Passeriformes (songbirds), Charadriiformes (waders, skuas, gulls, terns and auks) and Anseriformes (swans, geese and ducks) are by far the most represented orders with 129, 111 and 42 taxa, respectively.

Figure 5. — Biogeographical origin of the species present in Azores archipelago; “Other” – marine regions (Indo-Pacific; Southern Atlantic; Sub-Antarctic; Antarctic; Tropical Atlantic) (Suppl. material 2).

Discussion

The most striking feature of this checklist is that it shows not only an impressive increase in the number of new species records for the Azores (36, that is, plus 8,7% in less than five years), but also an enlargement of the distribution of several species among the different Azorean islands. A simple explanation for this could be the increase in the number of observers performing birdwatching out of the “high season” (autumn and spring) for vagrant birds, and possibly also the creation of the “Aves dos Açores” website, whose aim is to provide information about all common species and also about rarities, even though is mostly aimed at a non-birdwatcher public.

The situation of the Azores in the middle of the North Atlantic makes these islands a safe place for the birds taken away from their normal migratory routes by strong winds or by changes in wind direction (vagrants) (Liechti 2006). Vagrant birds have been observed using trans-oceanic ships to rest until they detect a landmass at close range and usually fly towards it (Lees and Gilroy 2009). The higher number of Nearctic species reported on Corvo Island could be related to the relative proximity of this island to the American continent, allowing birds to wander into it. Another explanation for this may be the combination of a very small area (17 km2) and the high observation pressure during the autumn, when several tens of birdwatchers visit the island. On the opposite side of the archipelago, Santa Maria Island, the closest island to the European continent, holds a higher proportion of Palearctic species. The comparatively low number of non-breeding species observed on Graciosa and São Jorge islands may be explained, at least partly, by a lower observation pressure than on the other islands.

The native birds from the Azores provide good examples of insular speciation, since two endemic species and 11 endemic subspecies are known. Moreover, many more endemic terrestrial species have gone extinct (Rando et al. 2013, Alcover et al. 2015), possibly as a consequence of direct predation by man, the introduction of non-native predatory species (e.g., cats, rats, ferrets and weasels), and habitat degradation or loss. The current endemic species and subspecies are the survivors of almost 600 years of human occupation and major land-use changes. The recent population recovery of the Azores Bullfinch (Fig. 2) in the north-eastern part of São Miguel is considered as a good example of the best practices of LIFE conservation programs (Ceia et al. 2010). Another example of successful conservation measures comes from the rabbit eradication and habitat restoration on Praia islet (Graciosa Island), which resulted in a significant increase in the breeding numbers of Monteiro's Storm-petrels, Madeiran Storm-petrels and terns (Bolton et al. 2004, Bried et al. 2009, Bried and Neves in press).

Species lists such as this one are important to draw attention to particular taxonomic groups, to serve as a baseline in long-term systematic monitoring, to elucidate patterns of species diversity and distribution, to elucidate information gaps about distribution, and can serve as a tool in educational projects. The currently ongoing initiatives concerning citizen ornithological science in the Azores will be of high value for the knowledge of the biology and phenology of migratory birds and will hopefully increase the pressure towards the definition and preservation of more Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the archipelago.

Supplementary Material

Supplementary material 1

Global species richness on the nine Azorean islands

Barcelos et al.

Data type: Species distribution

Brief description: Global species richness on the nine Azorean islands (COR= Corvo; FLO = Flores; FAI = Faial; PIC = Pico; GRA =Graciosa; SJG = São Jorge; TER = Terceira; SMG = São Miguel; SMR = Santa Maria).

File: oo_62386.xlsx

biodiversity_data_journal-3-e6604-s001.xlsx^{(10.2KB, xlsx)}

Supplementary material 2

Biogeographical origin of the species present in Azores archipelago

Barcelos et al.

Data type: occurences

Brief description: Biogeographical origin of the species present in Azores archipelago.

“Other” refers to marine regions only represented once (Indo-Pacific; Southern Atlantic; Sub-Antarctic; Antarctic; Tropical Atlantic).

File: oo_62383.xlsx

biodiversity_data_journal-3-e6604-s002.xlsx^{(9KB, xlsx)}

Supplementary material 3

List of Rare Species

Barcelos et al.

Data type: occurences

Brief description: Species with five or less records and individuals counts, in the Azores, with some notes.

File: oo_62653.xlsx

biodiversity_data_journal-3-e6604-s003.xlsx^{(14.8KB, xlsx)}

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the work of countless volunteer scientists and amateur birdwatchers who are contributing to the knowledge of bird distribution in the Azores.

We also thank two anonymous referees for their constructive comments.

Author contributions

Luís Barcelos, Pedro Rodrigues, Joël Bried led the writing, performed research and contributed equally to this paper; PAVB and RG designed research and helped in writing. LB and EM collected the data; LB, EM and PB analyzed data.

References

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Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary material 1

Global species richness on the nine Azorean islands

Barcelos et al.

Data type: Species distribution

File: oo_62386.xlsx

biodiversity_data_journal-3-e6604-s001.xlsx^{(10.2KB, xlsx)}

Supplementary material 2

Biogeographical origin of the species present in Azores archipelago

Barcelos et al.

Data type: occurences

Brief description: Biogeographical origin of the species present in Azores archipelago.

“Other” refers to marine regions only represented once (Indo-Pacific; Southern Atlantic; Sub-Antarctic; Antarctic; Tropical Atlantic).

File: oo_62383.xlsx

biodiversity_data_journal-3-e6604-s002.xlsx^{(9KB, xlsx)}

Supplementary material 3

List of Rare Species

Barcelos et al.

Data type: occurences

Brief description: Species with five or less records and individuals counts, in the Azores, with some notes.

File: oo_62653.xlsx

biodiversity_data_journal-3-e6604-s003.xlsx^{(14.8KB, xlsx)}

[B1743369] Alcover J. A., Pieper H., Pereira F., Rando J. C. Five new extinct species of rails (Aves: Gruiformes: Rallidae) from the Macaronesian Islands (North Atlantic Ocean). Zootaxa. 2015 doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4057.2.1. [DOI] [PubMed]

[B1779802] Amorim Isabel R. Colonization and diversification on oceanic islands: forest Tarphius and cave-dwelling Trechus beetles of the Azores. University of California; Los Angeles: 2005. 282. English. [Google Scholar]

[B1744063] Açores Aves dos. Noticias dos Açores. http://azores.avesdeportugal.info/ [2014-12-31T00:00:00+02:00];

[B1779839] Club. Azores Bird. Birding Azores Database - Year lists 2005-2012. http://www.birdingazores.com/ [2014-12-31T00:00:00+02:00];

[B1744072] Sightings Azores Bird. Lastest Sightings and Archived Sightings. http://azoresbs.weebly.com/ [2014-05-30T00:00:00+03:00];

[B1743213] Barreiros João P., Elias Rui B., Gabriel Rosalina, Rodrigues Pedro, Barcelos Luis D., Branco Joaquim O., Borges Paulo A. V. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea (Aves : Pelecaniformes : Ardeidae) in the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos : a new species for the Western Palearctic. Arquipélago - Life and Marine Sciences. 2014;31:37–43. [Google Scholar]

[B1743379] Bolton Mark, Medeiros Renata, Hothersall Becky, Campos Ana. The use of artificial breeding chambers as a conservation measure for cavity-nesting procellariiform seabirds: A case study of the Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro) Biological Conservation. 2004;116(1):73–80. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00178-2. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

[B1743226] Bolton Mark, Smith Andrea L., Gómez-Díaz Elena, Friesen Vicki L., Medeiros Renata, Bried Joël, Roscales Jose L., Furness Robert W. Monteiro's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma monteiroi: A new species from the Azores. Ibis. 2008;150(4):717–727. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2008.00854.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

[B1743404] Borges Paulo A V, Costa A, Cunha R, Gabriel R, Gonçalves V, Martins A F, Melo I, Parente M, Raposeiro P, Rodrigues P, Santos R S, Silva L, Vieira P, Vieira V. Listagem dos Organismos Terrestres e Marinhos dos Açores. Principia; Cascais: 2010. 432. [Google Scholar]

[B1779892] Bried Joël, Neves Verónica C. Habitat restoration on Praia islet, Azores archipelago, proved successful for seabirds, but new threats have emerged. Airo in press

[B1743240] Bried Joel, Geraldes P, Paiva Vitor H. First attempted breeding of Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus Brünnich, 1764) on Santa Maria, Azores. Arquipélago - Life and Marine Sciences. 2007;24:61–63. [Google Scholar]

[B1743389] Bried Joël, Magalhães Maria C., Bolton Mark, Neves Verónica C., Bell Elizabeth, Pereira José C., Aguiar Luís, Monteiro Luís R., Santos Ricardo S. Seabird Habitat restoration on praia islet, Azores Archipelago. Ecological Restoration. 2009;27(1):27–36. doi: 10.3368/er.27.1.27. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

[B1743504] Ceia Ricardo S., Sampaio Hugo L., Parejo Sandra H., Heleno Ruben H., Arosa Maria L., Ramos Jaime A., Hilton Geoff M. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater: Does laurel forest restoration remove a critical winter food supply for the critically endangered Azores bullfinch? Biological Invasions. 2010;13(1):93–104. doi: 10.1007/s10530-010-9792-x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

[B1743451] Elias G., Costa H., Matias R., Moore C. C., Tomé R. Relatório do Comité Português de Raridades referente aos anos de 2002. Anuário Ornitológico. 2004;2:1–20. [Google Scholar]

[B1743462] Elias G., Costa H., Matias R., Moore C. C., Tomé R. Relatório do Comité Português de Raridades referente aos anos de 2003. Anuário Ornitológico. 2005;3:1–21. [Google Scholar]

[B1743482] Elias G., Costa H., Matias R., Moore C. C., Tomé R. Relatório do Comité Português de Raridades referente aos anos de 2004. Anuário Ornitológico. 2006;4:1–15. [Google Scholar]

[B1743493] Elias G., Costa H., Matias R., More C. C., Tomé R. Relatório do Comité Português de Raridades referente aos anos de 1999, 2000 e 2001. Anuário Ornitológico. 2003;1:3–35. [Google Scholar]

[B1743546] Elphick Chris S., Roberts David L., Michael Reed J. Estimated dates of recent extinctions for North American and Hawaiian birds. Biological Conservation. 2010;143(3):617–624. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2009.11.026. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

[B1743517] França Z., Cruz J., Nunes J. C., Forjaz V. H. Geologia dos Açores: uma perspectiva actual. Açoreana. 2003;10:11–140. [Google Scholar]

[B1743565] Frutuoso Gaspar. Livro sexto das saudades da terra. (1589). (Volume VI) Instituto Cultural de Ponta Delgada; Ponta Delgada: 2005. 169 [Google Scholar]

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[B1743432] Frutuoso Gaspar. Livro terceiro das saudades da terra. (1589). (Volume III). Instituto Cultural de Ponta Delgada; Ponta Delgada: 2005. 121 [Google Scholar]

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[B1743351] Açores Governo dos. Regime Jurídico da Conservação da Natureza e da Proteção da Biodiversidade. Decreto Legislativo Regional 15/2012/A de 2 de Abril. I Série-A. Vol. 66. Diário da República; 2012. 88 [Google Scholar]

[B1743932] Imber M. J. Kermadec Petrels (Pterodroma neglecta) off the Azores, North Atlantic Ocean. Notornis. 2008;55(2):106–108. [Google Scholar]

[B1743270] Jara J., Costa H., Elias G., Matias R., Moore C. C., Tomé R. Aves de occorência rara ou acidental em Portugal. Relatório do Comité Português de Raridades referente ao ano de 2005. Anuário Ornitológico. 2007;5:1–45. [Google Scholar]

[B1743282] Jara J., Costa H., Matias R., Moore C. C., Noivo C., Tipper R. Aves de occorência rara ou acidental em Portugal. Relatório do Comité Português de Raridades referente aos anos de 2006 e 2007. Anuário Ornitológico. 2008;6:1–45. [Google Scholar]

[B1743166] Lees Alexander C., Gilroy James J. Rare birds, where and when: An analysis of status and distribution in Britain and Irland. Vol. 1. York: 2009. Vagrancy mechanisms in passerines and near-passerines.22 [Google Scholar]

[B1743923] Le Grand Gérald W. Recherches sur l'écologie des Vertébrés terrestres de l'archipel des Açores. 1993. 350 [Google Scholar]

[B1743942] Liechti Felix. Birds: Blowin' by the wind? Journal of Ornithology. 2006;147(2):202–211. doi: 10.1007/s10336-006-0061-9. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

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[B1743313] Monteiro L. R., Ramos J. A., Pereira J. C., Monteiro P. R., Feio R. S., Thompson D. R., Bearshop S., Furness R. W., Laranjo M., Hilton G., Neves V. C., Groz M. P., Thompson K. R. Status and distribution of Fea’s Petrel, Bulwer’s Petrel, Manx Shearwater, Little Shearwater and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel in the Azores Archipelago. Waterbirds. 1999;22(3):358–366. [Google Scholar]

[B1743332] Pereira Carlos. Aves dos Açores. SPEA - Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves; 2010. 128. [Google Scholar]

[B1743952] Rando Juan C., Alcover Josep A., Olson Storrs L., Pieper Harald. A new species of extinct scops owl (Aves: Strigiformes: Strigidae: Otus) from São Miguel island (Azores archipelago, north Atlantic ocean). Zootaxa. 2013;3647(2):343–357. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3647.2.6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

[B1744015] Rodebrand S. Checklist of the birds of Azores including 2009. http://www.birdingazores.com/lists/2009azoresbirdlists.xls. [2010-04-14T00:00:00+03:00];

[B1744034] Team Rodebrand S. & The Birding Azores. Recent Sightings. http://www.birdingazores.com. [2010-04-14T00:00:00+03:00];

[B1744053] Rodrigues Pedro, Cunha Regina T. Azorean Birds - A natural Heritage. Açoreana. 2011:319–330.

[B1743203] Rodrigues P, Cunha R T. Birds as a Tool for Island Habitat Conservation and Management. American Journal of Environmental Sciences. 2012;8(1):5–10. [Google Scholar]

[B1743194] Rodrigues P, Michielsen G. Observação de Aves nos Açores. Artes e Letras; Ponta Delgada: 2010. 164. [Google Scholar]

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Birds from the Azores: An updated list with some comments on species distribution

Luís MD Barcelos

Pedro R Rodrigues

Joël Bried

Enésima P Mendonça

Rosalina Gabriel

Paulo Alexandre Vieira Borges

Abstract Abstract

Background

New information

Introduction

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Materials and methods

Figure 4.

Checklists

List of the non-breeding and breeding species from Azores

Chordata

Vertebrata

Aves

Anseriformes

Anatidae

Aix sponsa

Ecological interactions

Native status

Distribution

Notes

Anas acuta

Ecological interactions

Native status

Conservation status

Distribution

Notes

Anas americana

Ecological interactions

Native status

Distribution

Notes

Anas carolinensis

Ecological interactions

Native status

Distribution

Notes

Anas clypeata

Ecological interactions

Native status

Conservation status

Distribution

Notes

Anas crecca

Ecological interactions

Native status

Conservation status

Distribution

Notes

Anas discors

Ecological interactions

Native status

Distribution

Notes

Anas penelope

Ecological interactions

Native status

Conservation status

Distribution

Notes

Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos

Ecological interactions

Native status

Conservation status

Distribution

Notes

Anas querquedula

Ecological interactions

Native status

Conservation status

Distribution

Notes