Bird watching in Spain. Where to go
Spain is like a bridge between Africa and Europe.
Birds coming from western and central Europe travel to West Africa, following different routes: coastal and inland.
Coastal routes are located mainly in the east of Spain, along the Mediterranean coast: Catalonia, Valencia, Balearic Islands, Murcia, and eastern Andalusia.
Many birds follow inland routes in search of their favorite stopping and resting places: Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, and southwest Andalusia.
The Pyrenees in the north of Spain serve as the gateway to Europe, while the Strait of Gibraltar is the passage to Morocco, the Sahara Desert, and finally the tropical and rich zones of West Africa.
Birds in Spain are diverse and abundant, due to a combination of factors: its geographical location, great variation in the local geography and topography from north to south / east to west, and a wide range of microclimates present in many regions.
The proximity of many habitats, especially on migration corridors, leads to a rich mixture of species.
So, where to go…
Doñana National Park
Doñana National Park and Odiel Marshes Biosphere Reserve.
Located in the southwest of Spain, Andalusia, and including species like the purple heron, heron, whiskered tern, little egret, and stork.
Birding at Doñana National Park
Extremadura
Extremadura, located in the west of Spain, is a paradise for bird watchers.
Wooded pastures known as dehesas, irrigated plains, river valleys, and large man-made reservoirs provide a variety of habitats.
The region has a relatively low human population density and minimal industrial activity.
And there are so many protected areas for nature and birds in particular.
Some of the most well-known zones for birding in Extremadura:
Birding at Monfragüe National Park
Birds in Llanos de Cáceres, Extremadura
Yoy can see in this video only a few examples of common birds in Extremadura:
Castile-La Mancha
Situated in the center of Spain, it provides a stopping point for the majority of migratory species.
The main areas for bird watching are Cabañeros National Park, Tablas de Daimiel, the Ruidera Lakes, the Tejera Negra Beech Forest, and the Alto Tajo region.
You can see black stork, golden eagle, black vulture or black-winged kite, great-crested grebe, red-crested pochard, mallard, purple heron, black-necked grebe, Eurasian wigeon, cormorant
The Ebro Delta
The Ebro Delta, in Catalonia, north-east of Spain.
A wide range of habitats available: lagoons and reedbeds, ricefields, sand dunes and spits, saltpans, muddy bays and the Mediterranean sea.
You can see many bird species:
- red crested pochard
- little bittern
- purple gallinule
- caspian tern
- marsh harrier
- greater flamingo
- fan-tailed warbler
- great reed warbler
- black-winged stilt
- night herons
- great white egret
- little bittern
- great reed warbler
- fan-tailed warbler
- black-winged stilt
- kingfisher
- …
Go to the Ebro Delta birdwatching info
Pyrenees
Located in the north-east of Spain, this region is bordered by Catalonia to the south, Aragon to the west, and Navarra to the east.
The area is known for its breathtaking mountain landscapes, with jagged peaks and deep valleys that offer stunning views at every turn.
The region is also home to a rich variety of wildlife, including many rare and endangered species that are found nowhere else in Spain.
Many bird species to see:
- wallcreeper
- alpine accentor
- alpine chough
- lammergeier
- rufous-tailed
- rock thrush
- ring ouzel
- citril finch
- dupont’s lark
- lesser short-toed lark
- short-toed lark
- calandra lark
- pin-tailed sandgrouse
- black-bellied sandgrouse
- stone curlew
- black-eared wheatear
- …
Birding in the Pyrenees, Catalonia
Balearic Islands
Parc Natural De S’Albufera De Mallorca. A large wetland with very extensive reedbeds, scrapes and canals.
You can see many bird species from purple gallinule, purple heron to great reed warblers.
Tarifa area and Gibraltar Strait
One of the busiest migration points in Western Europe during the autumn.
Raptors are one of the most remarkable groups on the move during this period.
Thousand of birds:
- spanish imperial eagle
- golden eagle
- booted eagle
- short-toed eagle
- black vulture
- black-shouldered kite
- black stork
- eagle owl
- …
Birds at Tarifa area and Gibraltar Strait
These are just a few examples of the numerous birdwatching locations in Spain.
There are many more, each offering unique experiences and opportunities to see a wide variety of bird species.