Príncipe is a pilgrimage destination for serious birdwatchers. The island has eight species found nowhere else on earth, an extraordinary rate of endemism for a place of only 139 km². The full list of target birds includes the Príncipe thrush, Príncipe sunbird, Príncipe speirops, Príncipe golden weaver, Newton's sunbird, Príncipe white-eye, Dohrn's thrush-babbler, and the Príncipe scops-owl — formally described as a new species as recently as 2022.
The most accessible endemics are the Príncipe sunbird and the grey parrot, both visible in gardens and around roças. The forest specialists — particularly the thrush and the scops-owl — require guided expeditions into the Obô Natural Park, often with early morning or night starts. Guides trained by the Fundação Príncipe know the current locations and calls; attempting these birds without help is largely futile. Allow at least two full days in the forest if you want a serious list.