Timanfaya National Park

Birds

Despite its barren volcanic landscape, Timanfaya National Park provides a habitat for a variety of bird species, particularly those adapted to arid and rocky environments. Some birds use the park as a resting or nesting ground, while others are migratory visitors.

Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides)
A close relative of the Peregrine Falcon, this bird of prey is an agile hunter that soars over the volcanic terrain, scanning for small birds and mammals. It is known for its swift, powerful dives to catch prey mid-air.

Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae)
A rare and elusive bird, the Houbara Bustard is well-camouflaged against the rocky desert landscape. It forages for seeds, small reptiles, and insects, and performs elaborate courtship displays during the breeding season.

Lesser Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens)
One of the most commonly seen birds in Timanfaya, this small lark is well adapted to dry, open landscapes. It feeds on seeds and small insects and is known for its melodious song, which it often delivers in flight.

Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus)
Recognizable by its pinkish hue and stout beak, this finch thrives in arid environments. It primarily feeds on seeds and has a distinctive, trumpet-like call that echoes across the volcanic plains.

Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
A nocturnal bird that blends in with the rocky terrain during the day, the Stone Curlew emerges at night to hunt insects and small vertebrates. It has large, yellow eyes adapted for low-light hunting.

Canary Islands Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis)
This small, active warbler flits through the sparse vegetation on the edges of the park, feeding on insects. It has a distinctive, repetitive song and is endemic to the Canary Islands.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus canariensis)
A familiar sight in Lanzarote, this subspecies of kestrel hovers in the air while scanning for prey. It primarily hunts small mammals, reptiles, and insects, using its keen eyesight to detect movement.

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Often seen in more vegetated areas near the park, this slender bird has a distinctive bobbing tail movement. It forages for insects along rocky terrain and open plains.

Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
This striking bird, with its bold black-and-white wings and prominent crest, is an occasional visitor to the park. It probes the soil with its long, curved bill to find insects and larvae.

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca conspicillata)
A small, secretive warbler that prefers scrubby areas near the park’s edges, the Spectacled Warbler has a distinctive eye-ring and sings a soft, melodious tune while foraging for insects.

Timanfaya National Park’s harsh volcanic landscape may seem inhospitable, but it is home to a fascinating variety of resilient species that have adapted to its extreme conditions. Whether reptiles, arthropods, or birds, each species contributes to the delicate balance of this unique ecosystem.

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Timanfaya National Park, located on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, is a volcanic landscape shaped by dramatic eruptions in the 18th century. This otherworldly terrain, dominated by lava fields, craters, and geothermal activity, is home to a variety of resilient species adapted to the harsh environment. Though sparse, the wildlife here has found ways to thrive in the extreme conditions of heat, aridity, and nutrient-poor soils.

Canarian Wall Gecko (Tarentola angustimentalis)
This small reptile is one of the few vertebrates that can be found in the park. It is well adapted to the arid and rocky environment, where it hides in crevices and hunts for insects at night. Its rough skin and cryptic coloration help it blend into the volcanic rock.

Atlantic Lizard (Gallotia atlantica)
A common sight in Lanzarote, this endemic lizard is well adapted to the volcanic terrain of Timanfaya. It primarily feeds on insects, small plants, and fruits. Their quick movements and ability to withstand high temperatures make them well-suited to this harsh habitat.

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus majorensis)
Though more commonly seen soaring above the park, this scavenger plays an important role in the ecosystem by feeding on carrion. It is recognized by its white plumage, contrasting black flight feathers, and distinctive yellow face.

Berthelot’s Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus hesperidus)
One of the few mammal species in the park, this small bat is a nocturnal insectivore that roosts in volcanic caves and rock crevices. It is highly adaptable to arid environments and relies on echolocation to navigate and hunt in the darkness.

Lanzarote Funnel-web Spider (Macrothele calpeiana)
This large, burrowing spider is a native species that thrives in dry, rocky landscapes. It creates funnel-shaped webs to trap its prey, which consists mostly of insects and small invertebrates.

Timanfaya Darkling Beetle (Hegeter amaroides)
A species uniquely adapted to Lanzarote’s volcanic landscape, this beetle is active at night, searching for organic matter and small insects. It has a hard exoskeleton that helps it retain moisture in the arid environment.

Lanzarote Scorpion (Buthus lanzarotensis)
An elusive nocturnal predator, this scorpion is well adapted to the dry, rocky environment of Timanfaya. It hunts small insects and invertebrates, using its venomous sting to immobilize prey.

Tenebrionid Beetles (Tenebrionidae family)
Several species of these beetles inhabit the park, scavenging for plant debris and organic material. Their hard shells help prevent water loss, a crucial adaptation to survive the extreme aridity of the park.

Birds

Despite its barren volcanic landscape, Timanfaya National Park provides a habitat for a variety of bird species, particularly those adapted to arid and rocky environments. Some birds use the park as a resting or nesting ground, while others are migratory visitors.

Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides)
A close relative of the Peregrine Falcon, this bird of prey is an agile hunter that soars over the volcanic terrain, scanning for small birds and mammals. It is known for its swift, powerful dives to catch prey mid-air.

Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae)
A rare and elusive bird, the Houbara Bustard is well-camouflaged against the rocky desert landscape. It forages for seeds, small reptiles, and insects, and performs elaborate courtship displays during the breeding season.

Lesser Short-toed Lark (Alaudala rufescens)
One of the most commonly seen birds in Timanfaya, this small lark is well adapted to dry, open landscapes. It feeds on seeds and small insects and is known for its melodious song, which it often delivers in flight.

Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus)
Recognizable by its pinkish hue and stout beak, this finch thrives in arid environments. It primarily feeds on seeds and has a distinctive, trumpet-like call that echoes across the volcanic plains.

Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
A nocturnal bird that blends in with the rocky terrain during the day, the Stone Curlew emerges at night to hunt insects and small vertebrates. It has large, yellow eyes adapted for low-light hunting.

Canary Islands Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis)
This small, active warbler flits through the sparse vegetation on the edges of the park, feeding on insects. It has a distinctive, repetitive song and is endemic to the Canary Islands.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus canariensis)
A familiar sight in Lanzarote, this subspecies of kestrel hovers in the air while scanning for prey. It primarily hunts small mammals, reptiles, and insects, using its keen eyesight to detect movement.

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Often seen in more vegetated areas near the park, this slender bird has a distinctive bobbing tail movement. It forages for insects along rocky terrain and open plains.

Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
This striking bird, with its bold black-and-white wings and prominent crest, is an occasional visitor to the park. It probes the soil with its long, curved bill to find insects and larvae.

Spectacled Warbler (Curruca conspicillata)
A small, secretive warbler that prefers scrubby areas near the park’s edges, the Spectacled Warbler has a distinctive eye-ring and sings a soft, melodious tune while foraging for insects.

Timanfaya National Park’s harsh volcanic landscape may seem inhospitable, but it is home to a fascinating variety of resilient species that have adapted to its extreme conditions. Whether reptiles, arthropods, or birds, each species contributes to the delicate balance of this unique ecosystem.