The Canary Islands stonechat, also known as the Fuerteventura stonechat or Fuerteventura chat, and formerly known as the Canary Islands chat due to its once widespread distribution on the Canary Islands, is a sedentary resident bird found only on the island of Fuerteventura where it is known as the Caldereta.
Region
Canary Islands
Typical Environment
Restricted to Fuerteventura, where it inhabits arid and semi‑desert landscapes. Typical sites include rocky ravines (barrancos), dry wadis, stony terraces, and sparse shrublands with scattered bushes and low euphorbias. It prefers areas with prominent perches such as boulders, fence posts, or isolated shrubs for foraging. Dense woodland and urban cores are generally avoided.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 700 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Fuerteventura stonechat or Caldereta, it is confined to the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands and is sedentary year‑round. It favors arid ravines and stony slopes dotted with low shrubs, using exposed perches to sally for insects. Habitat degradation from overgrazing, development, and invasive predators places it at risk, and it is legally protected.
Female Canary Islands stonechat
The extinct sub-species
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief undulations between low perches
Social Behavior
Usually encountered as territorial pairs, especially during the breeding season. Nests are low in dense shrubs, grass tussocks, or among rocks; the cup nest is built from plant fibers and lined with softer material. Pairs are generally monogamous, and both adults feed the nestlings.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, scratchy warble interspersed with clearer whistles, delivered from a perch. Calls include the characteristic sharp 'tac-tac' stonechat note and thin seeps when alarmed.
