From a European roller with striking blue plumage to a warbler that reportedly went 28 years between sightings, these five birds reveal a less familiar side of Ibiza’s wildlife.

Ibiza is known internationally for its beaches, nightlife and busy summer season, but the island also attracts an extraordinary variety of birdlife. Some species, however, are so rarely recorded locally that spotting one can become a memorable moment for even experienced nature enthusiasts.

Ibiza-based photographer and hiking guide Marc, co-founder of The Other Face, has highlighted five particularly elusive species in a video shared on social media. He says he has photographed all five on the island: the European roller, Iberian grey shrike, merlin, black stork and Moustached warbler.

The sightings offer a glimpse into Ibiza’s biodiversity beyond its most familiar landscapes. The figures quoted below come from Marc’s account of local sightings and should not be interpreted as a complete official census of every bird present on the island.

1. European Roller: A Flash of Blue in the Ibiza Countryside

The European roller (Coracias garrulus) is one of the most colourful birds in the selection. Its vivid blue and turquoise plumage contrasts with chestnut tones across its back, making it particularly distinctive when seen in good light.

Measuring around 30 to 32 centimetres long, it feeds mainly on insects and favours open landscapes, agricultural areas and places with scattered trees.

The species migrates between Europe and Africa, spending the winter south of the Sahara. Although it occurs in parts of mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands are not part of its usual breeding distribution, making sightings on Ibiza particularly noteworthy.

The European roller also faces conservation pressures associated with changes to traditional agricultural habitats and reductions in its insect prey. SEO/BirdLife lists it as endangered in Spain’s Red Book of Birds.

For birdwatchers, the chance to see one on Ibiza is therefore both a striking visual encounter and an opportunity to appreciate a species that is not a regular breeding resident of the islands.

2. Iberian Grey Shrike: A Rare Visitor

The Iberian grey shrike (Lanius meridionalis) is a robust-looking bird with grey plumage, a dark facial mask and a hooked bill.

Marc estimates that only one or two individuals of this species are recorded on Ibiza in a typical year. That figure reflects his account of local sightings, rather than a confirmed annual island-wide count.

Despite its modest size, the shrike is an effective predator. It feeds on insects, small mammals, reptiles and occasionally other birds. It is also known for impaling prey on thorns or barbed wire, a behaviour that can help it store food or hold prey while feeding.

SEO/BirdLife notes that the species has experienced a significant population decline in Spain and is classified as endangered in the national Red Book.

Although grey shrikes can occur in the Balearics during winter, encountering one on Ibiza remains an unusual sighting.

3. Merlin: A Small Falcon with Extraordinary Speed

The merlin (Falco columbarius) is a compact falcon known for its fast, low hunting flights. At approximately 26 to 33 centimetres long, it is among Europe's smallest falcons.

Its hunting style is built around speed and surprise. Rather than relying mainly on soaring high above the landscape, it often pursues small and medium-sized birds in rapid flight close to the ground.

Adult males generally have bluish-grey upperparts, while females are more brown in colour.

Marc says there have been just nine recorded sightings of the species on Ibiza since 1996. This figure is attributed to the photographer and has not been independently established here as a complete historical count.

The merlin is primarily a winter visitor to Spain, and individuals can appear in the Balearics, although sightings are sporadic. Its rarity on Ibiza does not mean the species is globally threatened: it is classified as being of least concern globally.

4. Black Stork: Seven Sightings in Three Decades

The black stork (Ciconia nigra) is another exceptional bird on Marc’s list. Unlike the more familiar white stork, it has predominantly dark plumage, with white areas and a reddish bill in adults.

It favours quiet environments, often near wetlands, rivers and other places where it can find food and suitable habitat.

In Spain, the species' main breeding areas are concentrated in the centre and west of the mainland, including parts of Extremadura, Andalusia, Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha.

Ibiza lies far from these principal breeding areas, so an appearance on the island is an unusual event.

According to Marc, only seven black stork sightings have been recorded on Ibiza over a period of 30 years. The figure illustrates the rarity of reported encounters locally, rather than the size of any resident population.

5. Moustached Warbler: A 28-Year Gap Between Sightings

The most striking interval in Marc’s account concerns the Moustached warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon), a small bird associated with wetlands and dense reedbeds.

Its brownish plumage and secretive behaviour can make it difficult to detect among marsh vegetation. Unlike the colourful European roller, it relies more on camouflage than conspicuous markings.

Marc says the species was recorded on Ibiza in 1996 and was not seen again on the island until 2024. If considered as the gap between those reported observations, that amounts to 28 years.

This does not mean the bird disappeared from all of its wider range during that period. The figure concerns sightings on Ibiza, not the species' global distribution.

The Moustached warbler is closely associated with wetland habitats, which are important for numerous bird species. SEO/BirdLife considers it vulnerable and has highlighted the decline of its populations in many wetlands.

Its reported return to the island after such a long interval illustrates why monitoring wetlands and protecting suitable habitats matter for biodiversity.

A Different Way to Discover Ibiza

These five birds show that Ibiza's natural appeal extends well beyond its coastline and well-known visitor attractions. The island's agricultural landscapes, wetlands and migration routes can produce encounters with species that are rarely seen locally.

The sightings also demonstrate that rarity on Ibiza does not always mean a species is endangered everywhere. Some birds, such as the merlin, are relatively widespread globally but appear only occasionally on the island. Others face broader conservation challenges linked to habitat loss and declining populations.

Marc’s work combines wildlife photography with guided hiking, encouraging people to look more closely at the island's natural environment.

For anyone interested in birdwatching, the message is simple: Ibiza has a rich wildlife story, and some of its most remarkable moments happen quietly, away from the island's busiest places.