Spain stands out as a unique home for eight bird species that are present nowhere else on the planet. It is also the only European country where ten additional species have been recorded. In total, Spain hosts up to 32 bird species, representing more than 75 percent of Europe’s entire population. These remarkable facts form part of the newly released Atlas of Birds in Spawning Season in Spain by SEO/BirdLife, a report underscoring the responsibility to safeguard natural heritage in Spain.
The SEO/BirdLife atlas maps the distribution, trends, and populations of hundreds of species. It shows 450 birds documented across the country, with 302 breeding species and 148 that are present only in spring. The eight endemics are confined to the Balearic and Canary archipelagos and include the Balearic Warbler, Turquoise Pigeon, Balearic Shearwater, Tenerife Blue Finch, Canary Chiffchaff, Rattlesnake Pigeon, Gran Canaria Blue Finch, and Canary Stonechat.
The atlas contains more than 2,182 maps, 931 charts, and 230 tables. It presents the gradual disappearance of some highly threatened birds and shows how the national territory is divided into 5,600 grids of 100 square kilometers to assess species presence in each cell, comparing current data with the 1998–2002 atlas.
Effects of climate change
The latest SEO/BirdLife atlas highlights the gradual decline of several vulnerable species and attributes biodiversity loss largely to climate change. It documents shifts in species ranges and, in some cases, local extinctions.
Human activities also contribute to negative effects on habitat. Intensification and industrialization of agriculture and animal husbandry have altered landscapes, particularly in southern Iberia where desertification is advancing. This, combined with renewable energy projects concentrated in areas where threatened species survive, has further disrupted distribution patterns.
Images accompanying the atlas illustrate a slow retreat of several highly protected birds in the worst-affected zones.
Tenerife blue finch. Bartkauz
SEO/BirdLife organizes the national territory into 5,600 grids of 100 square kilometers within the atlas framework and analyzes each grid for the presence of birds, comparing results with the earlier atlas covering 1998–2002. The study emphasizes the visible trend of declining populations among some of the most at-risk species.
These are the eight endemics
1. Balearic Warbler (Sylvia balearica). Endemic to the Balearic Islands, previously seen as a subspecies of the Sardinian Warbler, it now lives only in Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera, along with numerous smaller islets. Habitat loss due to urban growth and tourism pressure is driving its decline.
2. Canary Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis). An island endemic found in central and western Canary Islands. The population runs into roughly 619,587 individuals, with stability typical across the archipelago.
3. Turquoise Dove (Columba bollii). Native to the Canary Islands, it currently inhabits La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, and Tenerife, with a confirmed reappearance on Gran Canaria after historical extinction there. Population trends suggest growth in recent years.
4. Canary Pigeon (Columba junionae). A Canarian endemic spread across La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. A recent reintroduction on Gran Canaria has had mixed nesting confirmations, but distribution has expanded overall.
5. Bald Balearic Puffin? (Puffinus mauretanicus). Critically endangered, nesting exclusively in the Balearic Islands on islets and coastal cliffs. About 24 breeding colonies are known, with estimates near 3,000 breeding pairs in recent counts.
6. Gran Canaria Blue Finch (Fringilla polatzeki). Its wild distribution is limited to pine forests in Gran Canaria’s protected zones. Captive breeding and reintroduction efforts are part of a broader program, with the species estimated at around 430 mature individuals.
7. Tenerife Blue Finch (Fringilla teydea). Endangered and exclusive to Tenerife, it inhabits forested areas including pine canopies. Field surveys indicate a population in the low thousands, with estimates around 1,013 to 4,722 individuals and an average near 2,868.
8. Canary Stonechat (Saxicola decotiae). Endemic and endangered, it is found across Fuerteventura with a wide distribution across the island. A 2010 study estimated roughly 14,400 birds island-wide, ranging from 13,400 to 15,500.
These eight species illustrate Spain’s unique avian heritage within Europe and highlight the ongoing need for targeted conservation actions.
Ten additional species hold a single European population within Spain, including: Ricoti Lark (endangered), Houbara Bustard (endangered), Coot (endangered), Sandgrouse (vulnerable), Canary Tit (endangered), Cape Swift (vulnerable), Saharan Runner (endangered), Berber Warbler, Orange Nightingale, and Moorish Fast.
Atlas of Birds in the Breeding Season in Spain is available for further exploration through partnership resources and official conservancy channels with clear attribution to conservation authorities.
— End note: ongoing collaboration between regional wildlife agencies and research institutions continues to shape conservation priorities in Spain. This summary reflects the latest official data and field observations, with careful synthesis to support public understanding and policy discussions.
Environment department contact address: [redacted for privacy]