Island Canary (Serinus canaria) - 01Sep2025

The Island Canary is native to the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira, sometimes referred to as Macronesia.  It is closely related to the European Serin but diverged long ago.  Of course this is the little yellow bird that everyone knows from the saying "canary in a coal mine" as it is a popular caged bird and was used as a guinea pig to determine air quality in a mine.  I had mine in the Azores where it is easily the most common bird.

Azores Bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) - 04Sep2015

This is the second most rare and endangered bird in Europe behind the Northern Bald Ibis.  It is endemic to Sao Miguel island in the Azores which is part of Portugal.  There are only estimated to be about 775 individuals left per the last count estimate.  The Azoreans call it Priolo and it is a source of national pride.   It is in trouble because the native Azorean habitat which it relies on has been taken over by invasive plants like the Kahili Ginger plant which is native to the Himilayas. 

I was able to bag this amazing bird on a vacation with my wife, but it was not easy to find.