Birdwatching in Corvo

Birdwatching on Corvo is a phenomenon that places this tiny Azorean island on the world map of bird observation. Each autumn, between September and November, ornithologists from all over Europe converge on Corvo in hopes of spotting rare species native to North America — the so-called Atlantic vagrants — transported by westerly winds after long migrations. The list of rarities recorded on the island is simply extraordinary: species such as the American Robin (Catharus guttatus), the American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) and various North American shorebird species were spotted here for the first time in Europe. Corvo is, therefore, considered the "European Mecca of rarity birdwatching".

The nerve centre of observation is the agricultural zone next to Vila do Corvo, including the water channels, corn plots and wet meadows that edge the roads. The water reservoir near the caldera and the rim of the Caldera of Corvo are equally productive. There is no access fee and the island has no organised birdwatching services — the experience is, by nature, independent and adventurous. Binoculars of at least 8×42 and a guide to western Palearctic and American birds are recommended. The best time is October, especially after the passage of Atlantic depressions from the west.

Beyond the rarities, Corvo harbours nesting populations of cagarro (Calonectris borealis), wood pigeon (Columba palumbus azorica) and Azores chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs moreletti), endemic to the archipelago. The island is integrated into the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Azores Sea is an essential migration corridor for albatrosses and other seabirds.