Common Nesting Birds 1

Canary (Serinus canarius)

Ancestor of the numerous caged varieties bred over the centuries, the Canary (Serinus canariensis) is plentiful and widely distributed in both natural and man-made habitats, including pine forests, heathlands, coastal and summit scrub, and gardens and farmland. The three images shown here were taken in degraded scrub in Las Martelas, an area of irrigation basins outside Los Llanos.

Regarded as a subspecies of the Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), the endemic Canary Islands Chiffchaff (P. canariensis) is extremely common in a wide range of habitats, at all altitudes. It is one of the only four warblers found on the island, the other three species being the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), the Sardinian (S. melanocephalus) and the Spectacled Warbler (S. conspicillata).

Canary Islands Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis)

Female Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

Abundant in both forest and scrubland habitats, this species is largely absent from pure pine forests. The male's melodious warbling is frequently heard in urban surroundings, coming from the dense foliage of the Ficus microcarpa trees planted in squares and streets throughout the island.