Birds · Passeriformes · Phylloscopidae

Canary Islands Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus canariensis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Canary Islands chiffchaff is a tiny bird endemic to the western Canary Islands, from Gran Canaria to El Hierro. For a long time it was considered a subspecies of the European common chiffchaff, but its song, much more varied and powerful, and genetic analysis separated it as a species of its own in the 1990s. It is one of the most abundant birds of the laurel forest and the Canarian ravines, and it can be heard singing almost all year round.

Weight

7 g – 10 g

Size

10 cm – 12 cm

Lifespan

6 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestMountainIslandsInsectivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Temperate forest Mountain Islands

1countries 4parks3same family

Fun facts

It was recognised as a species of its own in the 1990s on the basis of its song: while the European common chiffchaff repeats a monotonous chiff-chaff, the Canarian bird gives a much richer and more varied phrase.
The subspecies of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura became extinct in the twentieth century, probably through the loss of the vegetation of those islands: today it survives only on the western ones.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Laurel forest, fayal-brezal heath, pine woods, vegetated ravines and gardens of the western Canary Islands
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 14 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 3 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylloscopus_canariensis