Endemic Birds in Principe Island

With roughly 90 confirmed bird species representing 28 taxonomic families, the island's long isolation from mainland Africa has produced a suite of unique species found nowhere else on Earth. Eight single-island endemics and seven endemic subspecies await those willing to venture into this remote corner of the Atlantic.

The Crown Jewels: Príncipe's Critically Endangered Endemics

Two species define Príncipe as a must-visit destination for listers and conservation-minded birders alike. Both are Critically Endangered, confined to the island's most pristine forests, and represent the ultimate birding challenge.

**Príncipe Scops-Owl (Otus bikegila)**

This is the bird that will haunt your dreams—literally and figuratively. One of the world's newest bird species, the Príncipe Scops-Owl wasn't formally described until 2022, though locals had spoken of its presence since 1928. Named for park ranger Ceciliano do Bom Jesus (locally known as Bikegila), this small brown owl with distinctive yellow eyes has the smallest known range of any Otus species globally.

Finding it requires dedication. The population of 1,149–1,597 individuals is restricted to just 34.4 km² of continuous forest—an effective area of occupancy of only 15 km². Your best chance comes immediately after sunset, when pairs begin their diagnostic duets: a rapid, repeated "tuu" note that sounds more like an insect than a bird. Listen also for a unique cat-like call. Success demands night walks through difficult terrain with guides who know the calls intimately.

**Príncipe Thrush (Turdus xanthorhynchus)**

Once thought extinct and rediscovered only in 2002, the Príncipe Thrush ranks among the world's rarest birds. Recent estimates suggest as few as 250 adult individuals survive, making every sighting precious. Split from the São Tomé Thrush in 2010, this species clings to survival in the most remote, rugged areas of high-altitude native forest in southern Príncipe, across approximately 40 km².

The thrush's rarity stems partly from its own trusting nature—a fatal flaw in the presence of introduced Mona Monkeys, which have become highly efficient nest predators. Finding this bird requires serious commitment: full-day expeditions starting at dawn into the heart of Príncipe Obô Natural Park's southern block.

The Accessible Endemics: Common but No Less Special

Not every Príncipe endemic requires a mountaineering expedition. Several species have adapted well to human-modified landscapes, making them far more accessible—though no less worthy of your attention.

Príncipe Kingfisher (Corythornis nais) will likely become your constant companion. This brilliantly colored endemic, classified as Least Concern, frequents streams, forest edges, and even gardens. After a few days, you may find it "almost as common as sparrows"—high praise for any endemic.

Dohrn's Thrush-Babbler (Horizorhinus dohrni) announces itself with loud, distinctive vocalizations echoing through various forest types, including secondary growth and shade plantations. Its common status makes it an easy tick, but take time to appreciate this unique member of Príncipe's avifauna.

Príncipe Sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii) brings flashes of color to flowering plants in gardens, forest edges, and agroforestry systems. This Least Concern endemic proves that not all island specialists require pristine habitat.

Príncipe Speirops (Zosterops leucophaeus), despite its Near Threatened status, is actually one of the island's most common species. Recent surveys consistently encounter this endemic in secondary forest and agroforestry areas across northern Príncipe.

Príncipe Golden Weaver (Ploceus princeps) and Príncipe Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis ornatus), both Least Concern, round out the roster of more easily observed endemics, with the starling often seen in small flocks.

Where to Bird: Essential Locations

Príncipe Obô Natural Park—Southern Block

This is non-negotiable territory for serious birders. The southern third of the island, safeguarding all remaining old-growth forest, serves as the essential refuge for both Critically Endangered endemics. The entire known range of the Príncipe Scops-Owl lies within park boundaries.

Plan for full-day excursions with 5:00–6:00 AM starts into remote, rugged areas. The effort rewards those who persist, but come prepared for challenging terrain and long hours.

Northern Agroforestry and Secondary Forest

The trails around Roça Sundy and Belo Monte offer excellent birding in more accessible terrain. These human-modified habitats harbor the adaptable endemics: kingfisher, sunbird, speirops, and others. Perfect for early-trip warm-ups or when you need a break from the demanding southern expeditions.

The Offshore Islets

For seabird enthusiasts, Príncipe's offshore islets deliver spectacular concentrations.

Ilhas Tinhosas, located 22 km southwest, host the largest seabird colonies in the Gulf of Guinea—an estimated 300,000 birds. Sooty Terns dominate, but Brown Boobies, Black Noddies, and Brown Noddies add to the spectacle.

Ilhéu Boné de Jóquei (Caroço) serves as the primary stronghold for Brown Boobies and White-tailed Tropicbirds around Príncipe. Critically for listers, this islet is the exclusive location for the endemic subspecies Príncipe Seedeater (Crithagra rufobrunnea fradei).

The Conservation Context: Why Your Visit Matters

Príncipe's birds face threats typical of isolated island ecosystems, making conservation action urgent.

Invasive alien species represent the most acute immediate threat. Introduced Mona Monkeys prey efficiently on the nests of the Príncipe Thrush and Scops-Owl—species that evolved without defenses against mammalian predators. Black Rats and feral cats compound the problem, particularly for ground-feeding and cavity-nesting species.

Even the African Grey Parrot, itself globally threatened and now protected from international trade, may compete with the Scops-Owl for essential nesting cavities.

Habitat loss remains the fundamental long-term threat. Proposed infrastructure development, including a hydroelectric dam in the Papagaio River inside the Natural Park near Scops-Owl territory, raises serious concerns.

The Príncipe Obô Natural Park, established in 2006, provides the last native forest refuge. The Príncipe Thrush benefits from a dedicated Single Species Action Plan (2021–2025) with regular monitoring by local staff. A similar plan is recommended for the Scops-Owl.

Researchers now employ Passive Acoustic Monitoring using AudioMoth recorders to survey rare, nocturnal species more efficiently across remote areas—important work that your tourism dollars help support.

Practical Essentials

Hire experienced local guides. This isn't optional. Endemic species require expert knowledge of calls, preferred habitats, and current locations—skills developed by guides trained through organizations like Fundação Príncipe. The difference between success and failure often comes down to guide expertise.

The Holy Grail: For the ultra-obsessed, the Príncipe Olive Ibis (Bostrychia olivacea rothschildi) represents the ultimate rarity—an endemic subspecies unrecorded since 1901 and likely extinct. But on an island that revealed a new owl species in 2022, who knows what still awaits discovery in those remote southern forests?

Príncipe demands commitment, but it rewards the dedicated birder with experiences found nowhere else on Earth. This is island birding at its most pristine and challenging—a chance to see some of the world's rarest birds while supporting the conservation efforts that keep them alive.

Birdwatching on Príncipe: Practical Information

Essential Requirements

Local Guides: Hiring experienced local birdwatching guides is essential rather than optional. Endemic species require expert knowledge of calls, preferred habitats, and current locations. Guides trained by organizations like Fundação Príncipe possess skills developed through years of fieldwork impossible for visiting birdwatchers to replicate in short stays.

Physical Fitness: Observing rare forest specialists like Príncipe Thrush requires hiking in challenging terrain—steep trails, high humidity, muddy conditions, and elevation gains that test fitness levels. The Critically Endangered species inhabit precisely the most inaccessible areas, making physical preparation essential.

Time Investment: Serious birdwatching requires minimum 4-5 days on Príncipe, with longer stays dramatically improving odds of encountering rare species. A single day doesn't provide sufficient time for accessing remote southern forests where specialties occur.

When to Visit

Breeding Season (March-July): Príncipe Thrush breeding season when males vocalize more frequently, slightly improving detection odds. Other species also increase calling during breeding, making this period optimal for birdwatching despite being within the rainy season.

Dry Season (June-September): Easier trail access and more comfortable hiking conditions, though reduced bird vocalization outside breeding season makes detection more challenging. This trade-off between logistics and bird activity requires weighing priorities.

Where to Bird

PNP Southern Block: Essential for Critically Endangered and Endangered species. Access requires full-day excursions with early starts (5:00-6:00 AM) to reach optimal areas and maximize birding time before afternoon heat and clouds reduce activity.

Northern Agroforestry: Excellent for more common endemics including Príncipe Speirops, Príncipe Kingfisher, and Príncipe Sunbird. Accessible from Santo António accommodations with half-day excursions.

Roça Trails: Trails around historic plantations like Sundy and Belo Monte offer good birding combining cultural heritage with endemic bird observation in secondary forest and shade plantations.

Equipment

Binoculars: Essential—minimum 8x42 or 10x42 for adequate magnification in forest environments where birds often remain high in canopy.

Field Guide: "Birds of Western Africa" (Helm Field Guides) covers São Tomé and Príncipe, though a dedicated archipelago guide would be preferable if available.

Recording Device: Useful for documenting calls for later identification, particularly for difficult species requiring vocalization analysis.

Protective Gear: Rain jacket, long pants, long sleeves for vegetation protection, sturdy boots, insect repellent, and sun protection despite forest shade.

Costs

Specialized birdwatching guides command premium rates reflecting expertise—expect €100-150 per day for experienced guides. Full-day southern forest excursions including transport cost €150-250 per group. These rates exceed general nature guide costs but provide dramatically higher success rates for target species.

Príncipe's Endemic Birds: A Species Account

Príncipe Island's designation as Endemic Bird Area 083 reflects an extraordinary concentration of unique avian life packed into one of Africa's smallest land masses. Depending on how you count—strictly single-island endemics versus those shared with neighboring islands—Príncipe harbors either 8 or "at least 11" endemic bird species. When combined with São Tomé, the archipelago boasts 28 or 29 endemic species total, with Príncipe's resident birds spanning 28 taxonomic families.

Understanding which birds qualify as "endemic" requires navigating the nuances of island biogeography. Here's the complete accounting of Príncipe's endemic avifauna, organized by range exclusivity.

The Core Eight: Strictly Single-Island Endemics

These species exist nowhere else on Earth—the crown jewels that define Príncipe as a global birding destination.

The Critically Endangered Pair

Príncipe Scops-Owl (Otus bikegila) – The island's newest endemic, formally described only in 2022, brought Príncipe's single-island endemic count to eight. This Critically Endangered owl represents one of the most significant ornithological discoveries of recent decades, confirming what local residents had reported for nearly a century.

Príncipe Thrush (Turdus xanthorhynchus) – Recognized as distinct from the São Tomé Thrush (T. olivaceofuscus) in 2010, this species immediately revealed itself as one of the world's rarest birds. Classified as Critically Endangered, with fewer than 250 adults estimated to survive, it stands as Príncipe's most imperiled endemic.

The Accessible Seven

Príncipe Kingfisher (Corythornis nais, sometimes Alcedo nais) – Least Concern. Taxonomic debate continues over whether this brilliantly colored bird represents a full species or a subspecies of the Malachite Kingfisher (C. cristatus nais), but it's increasingly treated as a Príncipe endemic. Unlike its rarer relatives, this kingfisher thrives in accessible habitats.

Dohrn's Warbler (Sylvia dohrni) – Least Concern. Formerly known as Dohrn's Thrush-babbler and originally placed in the monospecific genus Horizorhinus, recent taxonomic revision moved it to Sylvia. Common and vocal, it's one of the easier endemics to observe.

Príncipe Speirops (Zosterops leucophaeus) – Least Concern (though formerly Near Threatened). Once placed in the genus Speirops, this endemic white-eye has proven more resilient than initially feared, occurring widely in secondary habitats.

Príncipe Sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii) – Least Concern. The sister species to São Tomé's Giant Sunbird (the world's largest sunbird), this elegant endemic frequents gardens and forest edges throughout the island.

Príncipe Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis ornatus) – Least Concern. Also called Príncipe Starling, this iridescent species often travels in small flocks and adapts well to human-modified landscapes.

Príncipe Golden Weaver (Ploceus princeps) – Least Concern. Also known as Príncipe Weaver or Giant Weaver, this endemic weaver occupies northern secondary forests and agroforestry systems.

Príncipe Drongo (Dicrurus modestus) – The taxonomic status of this bird remains unsettled. The endemic race D. m. modestus on Príncipe is sometimes elevated to full species status and listed as Near Threatened. Whether subspecies or species, it represents unique genetic lineage found only on Príncipe.

Regional Endemics: Shared Treasures of the Gulf of Guinea

Four additional endemic species call Príncipe home while also occurring on neighboring islands, making them archipelago endemics rather than single-island specialists.

Príncipe Seedeater (Crithagra rufobrunnea) – Least Concern. Found on both Príncipe and São Tomé, but critically for listers, Príncipe hosts two endemic subspecies. The Boné de Jóquei Seedeater (C. r. fradei) exists only on the tiny offshore islet of Boné de Jóquei, making it one of the most range-restricted subspecies in the world.

Príncipe White-eye (Zosterops ficedulinus) – Endangered. Shared with São Tomé, this species faces considerably greater threats than its congener, the Príncipe Speirops, earning it a more urgent conservation status.

São Tomé Spinetail (Zoonavena thomensis) – Least Concern. Despite its name, this swift occurs on both islands, cutting through the air above forests and settlements alike.

São Tomé Bronze-naped Pigeon (Columba malherbii) – Near Threatened. This regional endemic spans Príncipe, São Tomé, and Annobón, representing the most widespread of the shared endemics. Its Near Threatened status reflects declining populations across its range.

The Lost Endemic: A Cautionary Tale

Príncipe Olive Ibis (Bostrychia olivacea rothschildi) – Probably extinct. This endemic subspecies of the Olive Ibis has not been recorded since 1901, making it one of the only endemic taxa known to have disappeared from the islands. Its loss serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of island endemics and the urgency of current conservation efforts.

The absence of any confirmed sighting in over 120 years places this subspecies firmly in the "likely extinct" category, though the possibility of rediscovery—however remote—continues to tantalize optimists. After all, Príncipe revealed a new owl species in 2022, proving that these forests still hold secrets.

Understanding the Count: Why Numbers Vary

The variation between "8" and "at least 11" endemic species reflects different counting methodologies. Conservative counts include only the eight strictly single-island endemics. More inclusive counts add the regional endemics that, while not exclusive to Príncipe, form essential components of the island's avifauna and contribute to the archipelago's status as a global biodiversity hotspot.

For visiting birders, the distinction matters less than the reality: Príncipe offers access to unique birds found nowhere else (the eight single-island endemics) plus additional regional specialties that complete the Gulf of Guinea endemic experience. Whether you target 8, 11, or the full complement of 28-29 archipelago endemics, Príncipe delivers species found on no other continent.

The taxonomic fluidity—with species like Dohrn's Warbler moving between genera and the Príncipe Drongo's status remaining debated—reflects ongoing ornithological research. These islands continue to teach scientists about speciation, island biogeography, and the evolution of isolated populations. For birders, this means the list itself remains dynamic, with the possibility of future splits potentially increasing the endemic count further.

Príncipe's 28 taxonomic families of resident birds, compressed into such a small area, create one of the world's most efficient endemic birding destinations. Few places offer such a high return on effort for those seeking species found nowhere else on Earth.

Endemic Bird Checklist - Critically Endangered Species

Príncipe Thrush (Turdus xanthorhynchus)

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (CR)

Primary Location: Remote native forest in PNP's southern block

Difficulty: Very Difficult

The Príncipe Thrush represents the ultimate prize for visiting birdwatchers. Restricted to an extremely small population in the most inaccessible high-altitude native forests, this species was considered extinct for decades until its dramatic rediscovery in 2002. Observing this elusive thrush requires full-day expeditions into southern wilderness with expert guides, considerable physical fitness, and luck. The species is most vocal during breeding season (March-July) when males defend territories, offering slightly improved detection odds. Even experienced guides cannot guarantee sightings given the bird's rarity and secretive behavior, making successful encounters profoundly memorable achievements that justify the effort invested.

Príncipe Scops Owl (Otus sp. nov.)

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (likely, pending formal assessment)

Primary Location: Primary forest in PNP's southern block

Difficulty: Very Difficult

This undescribed scops owl species remained unknown to science until 2016 despite centuries of ornithological work on Príncipe—highlighting how much remains to be discovered in the island's forests. The owl's nocturnal habits compound observation challenges, requiring night walks in difficult terrain guided by specialists familiar with its distinctive calls. Tape playback can elicit responses, though ethical considerations about disturbing a critically small population require judicious use. Successfully observing this owl represents an exceptional achievement, offering the thrill of encountering a species science has not yet formally named and described.

Endangered Species

Príncipe White-eye / Tchibi Tete (Zosterops ficedulinus)

IUCN Status: Endangered (EN)

Primary Location: Predominantly PNP's southern block

Difficulty: Difficult

The Príncipe White-eye, known locally as Tchibi Tete, was historically considered rare on the island. Recent surveys suggest slightly higher numbers than previously estimated, though populations remain insufficient for complacency given restricted range and habitat dependence. The species shows preference for flowering trees in southern and southwestern forests where it feeds on nectar and small invertebrates. Observing this white-eye requires accessing primary forest areas within PNP's protected zones, typically during full-day southern expeditions targeting the most threatened species. Its small size and tendency to forage high in canopy create detection challenges requiring patient observation and good optical equipment.

Príncipe Olive Ibis (Bostrychia olivacea rothschildi)

IUCN Status: Not formally assessed (subspecies)

Primary Location: Primary forest

Difficulty: Very Difficult

This endemic subspecies is probably the archipelago's rarest bird, making it among the most sought-after species for serious birdwatchers. The Príncipe Olive Ibis inhabits dense primary forest where its cryptic plumage and secretive behavior make observation extremely challenging. The species typically forages on the forest floor and in leaf litter, requiring observers to scan carefully in low-light understory conditions. Its conservation status parallels that of the Príncipe Thrush, with both species subjects of joint conservation action plans recognizing their parallel challenges. Successfully observing this elusive forest dweller demands extensive searching with guides intimately familiar with its habits and preferred feeding areas.

Near Threatened Species

Príncipe Speirops (Zosterops leucophaeus)

IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT)

Primary Location: Secondary forest and agroforestry in northern Príncipe

Difficulty: Easy

Despite its Near Threatened classification, the Príncipe Speirops is considered one of the island's most common bird species based on recent surveys. This discrepancy reflects improved survey coverage revealing higher populations than historical estimates suggested, offering conservation optimism. The species demonstrates adaptability to human-modified landscapes including agroforestry plantations and secondary forests, making it far more tolerant of habitat alteration than forest-dependent specialists. Observers can reliably encounter Príncipe Speirops during half-day excursions in northern plantations and secondary forests near Santo António, making it among the most accessible endemics for visitors with limited time or mobility constraints.