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Birds in the Algarve arranged by Portuguese common names

Many keen birders visit the Algarve region of Portugal because it is on a major migration route, but even away from the Sagres area (a hotspot for observing passage migrants) there are many other good sites for bird watching and plenty of resident seabirds, garden birds and countryside birds (including birds of prey) to make a visit worthwhile.

More on accompanied birdwatching walks..

Pictures in this gallery are copyright Ray Tipper - Licence enquiry...

For more details of the best birding sites, see our Nature Reserves/Parks and Wildlife Walks section; however, it's worth mentioning here that the saltpans at Parque Natural de Rio Formosa, the cork oak forests in the serra (hills), and the coastal cliffs (where many seabirds nest) are well worth visiting. In towns look out for White Stork nesting on chimneys; on golf courses keep an eye open for the lovely Hoopoe; and in farmland where almond trees grow there's a very good chance of seeing Bee-eaters, which often rest on telephone wires and high fences; this makes them easy to spot but tricky to photograph against a bright sky.

The table below, sorted alphabetically by Portuguese names, lists a small selection of the birds reported from the Algarve. Some are common; others infrequent and a few rarely seen. For excellent pictures and detailed information of when and where these birds are most likely to be seen, it's well worth getting a copy of Algarve Wildlife, the natural year, a beautifully illustrated book by Clive Viney and Ray Tipper, two expert birders who live in the Algarve and have been studying bird life there for many years.

Sort Table by...

Bee-eater, European Abelharuco
Lapwing, Northern Abibe
Goshawk Açor
Harrier, Montagu’s Águia caçadeira
Eagle, Bonelli’s Águia perdligueira
Eagle, Booted Águia-calçada
Eagle, Short-toed Águia-cobreira
Buzzard, Common Águia-d’asa-redonda
Eagle, Spanish Imperial Águia-imperial
Osprey Águia-pesqueira
Eagle, Golden Águia-real
Harrier, Marsh Águia-sepeira
Skua, Great Alcaide
Stone-curlew Alcaravão
Avocet Alfaiate
Storm-petrel, European Alma-de-mestre
Wagtail, Yellow Alvéola-amarela
Wagtail, White Alvéola-branca
Wagtail, Grey Alvéola-cinzenta
Martin, Sand Andorinha-das-barreiras
Swallow, Barn Andorinha-das-chaminés
Martin, Crag Andorinha-das-rochas
Swallow, Red-rumped Andorinha-dáurica
Martin, House Andorinha-dos-beirais
Swift, Pallid Andorinhão-pálido
Swift, Common Andorinhão-preto
Swift, Alpine Andorinhão-real
Pintail Arrábio
Waxbill, Common Bico-de-lacre
Plover, Kentish Borrelho-de-coleira-interrompida
Plover, Ringed Borrelho-grande-de-coleira
Plover, Little Ringed Borrelho-pequeno-de-coleira
Dotterel Borrelho-ruivo
Vulture, Egyptian Britango
Owl, Eagle Bufo-real
Honey-buzzard Butio-vespeiro
Shearwater, Cory’s Cagarra
Grebe, Black-necked Cagarraz
Swamp-hen, Purple Caimão
Lark, Greater Short-toed Calhandrinha-comum
Lark, Lesser Short-toed Calhandrinha-das-marismas
Egret, Cattle Carraceiro
Wren Carriça
Stonechat, European Cartaxo-comum
Whinchat Cartaxo-nortenho
Storm-petrel, Wilson's Casquilho
Stork, White Cegonha-branca
Stork, Black Cegonha-preta
Tit, Blue Chapim-azul
Tit, Crested Chapim-de-poupa
Tit, Long-tailed Chapim-rabilongo
Tit, Great Chapim-real
Wheatear, Northern Chasco-cinzento
Wheatear, Black-eared Chasco-ruivo
Tern, Little Chilreta
Bunting, Rock Cia
Warbler, Grasshopper Cigarrinha-malhada
Warbler, Savi's Cigarrinha-ruiva
Quail, Common Codorniz
Spoonbill, Eurasian Colhereiro
Ruff Combatente
Owl, Barn Coruja-das-torres
Owl, Tawny Coruja-do-mato
Owl, Short-eared Coruja-do-nabal
Raven, Common Corvo
Cormorant, Great Corvo-marinho
Lark, Crested Cotovia-de-poupa
Woodlark Cotovia-dos-bosques
Lark, Thekla Cotovia-escura
Cuckoo, Common Cuco
Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuco-rabilongo
Bullfinch Dom-fafe
Bunting, Cirl Escrevedeira-de-garganta-preta
Bunting, Reed Escrevedeira-dos-caniços
Merlin Esmerilhão
Starling, Common Estorninho-malhado
Starling, Spotless Estorninho-preto
Firecrest Estrelinha-real
Phalarope, Grey Falaropo-de-bico-grosso
Falcon, Peregrine Falcão-peregrino
Warbler, Western Bonelli’s Felosa-de-papo-branco
Warbler, Sedge Felosa-dos-juncos
Warbler, Willow Felosa-musical
Warbler, Western Olivaceous Felosa-pálida
Warbler, Melodious Felosa-poliglota
Chiffchaff, Common Felosinha
Chiffchaff, Iberian Felosinha-ibérica
Accentor, Alpine Ferreirinha-alpina
Dunnock Ferreirinha-comum
Flamingo, Greater Flamingo
Rail, Water Frango-d'água
Gadwall Frisada
Cisticola, Zitting Fuinha-dos-juncos
Shearwater, Balearic Fura-bucho das Baleares
Godwit, Bar-tailed Fuselo
Jay, Eurasian Gaio
Tern, Common Gaivina
Tern, Arctic Gaivina do Árctico
Tern, Whiskered Gaivina-dos-pauis
Tern, Black Gaivina-preta
Gull, Audouin’s Gaivota de Audouin
Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gaivota-d'asa-escura
Gull, Slender-billed Gaivota-de-bico-fino
Gull, Mediterranean Gaivota-de-cabeça-preta
Gull, Yellow-legged Gaivota-de-patas-amarelas
Kittiwake, Black-legged Gaivota-tridáctila
Coot, Common Galeirão
Shag, European Galheta
Moorhen Galinha-d'água
Woodcock Galinhola
Goose, Greylag Ganso-bravo
Gannet, Northern Ganso-patola; Alcatraz
Tern, Sandwich Garajau
Tern, Caspian Garajau-grande
Egret, Great White Garça-branca-grande
Egret, Little Garça-branca-pequena
Heron, Grey Garça-real
Heron, Purple Garça-vermelha
Bittern, Little Garçote
Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Gavião
Night-Heron Goraz
Chough, Red-billed Gralha-de-bico-vermelho
Jackdaw, Western
 Gralha-de-nuca-cinzenta
Crow, Carrion Gralha-preta
Vulture, Griffon Grifo
Vulture, Griffon, Rüppell's Grifo-pedres
Kingfisher, Common Guarda-rios
Gull, Black-headed Guincho-comum
Ibis, Glossy Íbis-preta
Skylark Laverca
Siskin Lugre
Sandpiper, Green Maçarico-bique-bique
Sandpiper, Common Maçarico-das-rochas
Sandpiper, Wood Maçarico-de-dorso-malhado
Whimbrel Maçarico-galego
Curlew, Eurasian Maçarico-real
Garganey Marreco
Teal, Eurasian Marrequinha-comum
Thrush, Blue Rock Melro-azul
Ouzel, Ring Melro-de-colar
Blackbird Melro-preto
Grebe, Great Crested Mergulhão-de-poupa
Grebe, Little Mergulhão-pequeno
Kite, Black Milhafre-preto
Kite, Red Milhafre-real
Serin, European Milheirinha
Godwit, Black-tailed Milherango
Owl, Little Mocho-galego
Skua, Pomarine Moleiro do Árctico
Skua, Arctic Moleiro-pequeno
Snipe, Common Narceja-comum
Snipe, Jack Narceja-galega
Duck, Tufted Negrinha
Scoter, Common Negrola
Nightjar, Red-necked Noitibó-de-nuca-vermelha
Hobby Ógea
Oystercatcher Ostraceiro
Whitethroat, Common Papa-amoras
Oriole, Golden Papa-figos
Puffin Papagaio-do-mar
Flycatcher, Pied Papa-moscas-preto
Sparrow, House Pardal
Sparrow, Spanish Pardal-espanhol
Sparrow, Rock Pardal-francês
Sparrow, Tree Pardal-montês
Shearwater, Great Pardela-de-barrete
Shearwater, Sooty Pardela-preta
Shoveler Pato-colhereiro
Pochard, Red-crested Pato-de-bico-vermelho
Mallard Pato-real
Magpie Pega
Magpie, Azure-winged Pega-azul
Kestrel, Common Peneireiro
Kite, Black-winged Peneireiro-cinzento
Partridge, Red-legged Perdiz-comum
Pratincole, Collared Perdiz-do-mar
Greenshank Perna-verde-comum
Redshank, Spotted Perna-vermelha-bastardo
Redshank, Common Perna-vermelha-comum
Stilt, Black-winged Pernilongo
Duck, Ferruginous Pêrra
Pipit, Rock Pethina marítima
Pipit, Richard’s Petinha de Richard
Pipit, Tree Petinha-das-árvores
Pipit, Tawny Petinha-dos-campos
Pipit, Meadow Petinha-dos-prados
Pipit, Water Petinha-ribeirinha
Woodpecker, Iberian Green Peto-real
Wigeon, Eurasian Piadeira
Shrike, Woodchat Picanço-barreteiro
Shrike, Iberian Grey Picanço-real
Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Pica-pau-galego
Woodpecker, Great Spotted Pica-pau-malhado
Stint, Temminck’s Pilrito de Temminck
Sanderling Pilrito-das-praias
Sandpiper, Curlew Pilrito-de-bico-comprido
Dunlin Pilrito-de-peito-preto
Stint, Little Pilrito-pequeno
Linnet Pintarroxo
Goldfinch Pintassilgo
Bluethroat Pisco-de-peito-azul
Robin, European Pisco-de-peito-ruivo
Dove, Rock Pombo-das-rochas
Pigeon, Wood Pombo-torcaz
Hoopoe Poupa
Redstart, Black Rabirruivo
Redstart, Common Rabirruivo-de-testa-branca
Dove, Turtle Rola-brava
Turnstone Rola-do-mar
Dove, Collared Rola-turca
Warbler, Cetti’s Rouxinol-bravo
Nightingale, Common Rouxinol-comum
Warbler, Reed Rouxinol-dos-caniços
Warbler, Great Reed Rouxinol-grande-dos-caniços
Dove, Stock Seixa
Knot, Red Seixoeira
Bustard, Little Sisão
Scrub Robin, Rufous-tailed Solitário
Bunting, Ortolan Sombria
Shelduck, Common Tadorna
Tern, Gull-billed Tagaz
Flycatcher, Spotted Taralhão-cinzento
Plover, Grey Tarambola-cinzenta
Plover, European Golden Tarambola-dourada
Harrier, Hen Tartaranhão-cinzento
Weaver, Black-headed Tecelão-de-cabeca-preta
Chaffinch, Common Tentilhão-comum
Brambling Tentilhão-montês
Wryneck Torcicolo
Razorbill Torda-mergulheira
Thrush, Song Tordo-pinto
Redwing Tordo-ruivo
Thrush, Mistle Tordoveia
Fieldfare Tordo-zornal
Warbler, Garden Toutinegra-das-figueiras
Blackcap Toutinegra-de-barrete
Warbler, Western Subalpine Toutinegra-de-bigodes
Warbler, Dartford Toutinegra-do-mato
Warbler, Sardinian Toutinegra-dos-valados
Warbler, Western Orphean Toutinegra-real
Warbler, Spectacled Toutinegra-tomilheira
Treecreeper, Short-toed Trepadeira
Nuthatch, Eurasian Trepadeira-azul
Bunting, Corn Trigueirão
Greenfinch Verdilhão
Pochard, Common Zarro

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