Birds in the Algarve - arranged by taxonomic families
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 Taxonomic Families, 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...
| Goshawk | Açor | Accipiter gentilis | Accipitridae |
| Sparrowhawk, Eurasian | Gavião | Accipiter nisus | Accipitridae |
| Eagle, Spanish Imperial | Águia-imperial | Aquila adalberti | Accipitridae |
| Eagle, Golden | Águia-real | Aquila chrysaetos | Accipitridae |
| Eagle, Bonelli’s | Águia perdligueira | Aquila fasciata | Accipitridae |
| Buzzard, Common | Águia-d’asa-redonda | Buteo buteo | Accipitridae |
| Eagle, Short-toed | Águia-cobreira | Circaetus gallicus | Accipitridae |
| Harrier, Marsh | Águia-sepeira | Circus aeruginosus | Accipitridae |
| Harrier, Hen | Tartaranhão-cinzento | Circus cyaneus | Accipitridae |
| Harrier, Montagu’s | Águia caçadeira | Circus pygargus | Accipitridae |
| Kite, Black-winged | Peneireiro-cinzento | Elanus caeruleus | Accipitridae |
| Vulture, Griffon | Grifo | Gyps fulvus | Accipitridae |
| Vulture, Griffon, Rüppell's | Grifo-pedres | Gyps rueppellii | Accipitridae |
| Eagle, Booted | Águia-calçada | Hieraaeteus pennatus | Accipitridae |
| Kite, Black | Milhafre-preto | Milvus migrans | Accipitridae |
| Kite, Red | Milhafre-real | Milvus milvus | Accipitridae |
| Vulture, Egyptian | Britango | Neophron percnopterus | Accipitridae |
| Honey-buzzard | Butio-vespeiro | Pernis apivorus | Accipitridae |
| Warbler, Great Reed | Rouxinol-grande-dos-caniços | Acrocephalus arundinaceus | Acrocephalidae |
| Warbler, Sedge | Felosa-dos-juncos | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | Acrocephalidae |
| Warbler, Reed | Rouxinol-dos-caniços | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | Acrocephalidae |
| Warbler, Melodious | Felosa-poliglota | Hippolais polyglotta | Acrocephalidae |
| Warbler, Western Olivaceous | Felosa-pálida | Iduna opaca | Acrocephalidae |
| Skylark | Laverca | Alauda arvensis | Alaudidae |
| Lark, Greater Short-toed | Calhandrinha-comum | Calandrella brachydactyla | Alaudidae |
| Lark, Lesser Short-toed | Calhandrinha-das-marismas | Calandrella rufescens | Alaudidae |
| Lark, Crested | Cotovia-de-poupa | Galerida cristata | Alaudidae |
| Lark, Thekla | Cotovia-escura | Galerida theklae | Alaudidae |
| Woodlark | Cotovia-dos-bosques | Lullula arborea | Alaudidae |
| Kingfisher, Common | Guarda-rios | Alcedo atthis | Alcedinidae |
| Razorbill | Torda-mergulheira | Alca torda | Alcidae |
| Puffin | Papagaio-do-mar | Fratercula arctica | Alcidae |
| Pintail | Arrábio | Anas acuta | Anatidae |
| Teal, Eurasian | Marrequinha-comum | Anas crecca | Anatidae |
| Wigeon, Eurasian | Piadeira | Anas penelope | Anatidae |
| Mallard | Pato-real | Anas platyrhynchos | Anatidae |
| Goose, Greylag | Ganso-bravo | Anser anser | Anatidae |
| Pochard, Common | Zarro | Aythya ferina | Anatidae |
| Duck, Tufted | Negrinha | Aythya fuligula | Anatidae |
| Duck, Ferruginous | Pêrra | Aythya nyroca | Anatidae |
| Gadwall | Frisada | Mareca strepera | Anatidae |
| Scoter, Common | Negrola | Melanitta nigra | Anatidae |
| Pochard, Red-crested | Pato-de-bico-vermelho | Netta rufina | Anatidae |
| Shoveler | Pato-colhereiro | Spatula clypeata | Anatidae |
| Garganey | Marreco | Spatula querquedula | Anatidae |
| Shelduck, Common | Tadorna | Tadorna tadorna | Anatidae |
| Swift, Common | Andorinhão-preto | Apus apus | Apodidae |
| Swift, Alpine | Andorinhão-real | Apus melba | Apodidae |
| Swift, Pallid | Andorinhão-pálido | Apus pallidus | Apodidae |
| Egret, Great White | Garça-branca-grande | Ardea alba | Ardeidae |
| Heron, Grey | Garça-real | Ardea cinerea | Ardeidae |
| Heron, Purple | Garça-vermelha | Ardea purpurea | Ardeidae |
| Egret, Cattle | Carraceiro | Bubulcus ibis | Ardeidae |
| Egret, Little | Garça-branca-pequena | Egretta garzetta | Ardeidae |
| Bittern, Little | Garçote | Ixobrychus minutus | Ardeidae |
| Night-Heron | Goraz | Nycticorax nycticorax | Ardeidae |
| Stone-curlew | Alcaravão | Burhinus oedicnemus | Burhinidae |
| Nightjar, Red-necked | Noitibó-de-nuca-vermelha | Caprimulgus ruficollis | Caprimulgidae |
| Treecreeper, Short-toed | Trepadeira | Certhia brachydactyla | Certhiidae |
| Warbler, Cetti’s | Rouxinol-bravo | Cettia cetti | Cettiidae |
| Plover, Kentish | Borrelho-de-coleira-interrompida | Charadrius alexandrinus | Charadriidae |
| Plover, Little Ringed | Borrelho-pequeno-de-coleira | Charadrius dubius | Charadriidae |
| Plover, Ringed | Borrelho-grande-de-coleira | Charadrius hiaticula | Charadriidae |
| Dotterel | Borrelho-ruivo | Charadrius morinellus | Charadriidae |
| Plover, European Golden | Tarambola-dourada | Pluvialis apricaria | Charadriidae |
| Plover, Grey | Tarambola-cinzenta | Pluvialis squatarola | Charadriidae |
| Lapwing, Northern | Abibe | Vanellus vanellus | Charadriidae |
| Stork, White | Cegonha-branca | Ciconia ciconia | Ciconiidae |
| Stork, Black | Cegonha-preta | Ciconia nigra | Ciconiidae |
| Cisticola, Zitting | Fuinha-dos-juncos | Cisticola juncidis | Cisticolidae |
| Dove, Rock | Pombo-das-rochas | Columba livia | Columbidae |
| Dove, Stock | Seixa | Columba oenas | Columbidae |
| Pigeon, Wood | Pombo-torcaz | Columba palumbus | Columbidae |
| Dove, Collared | Rola-turca | Streptopelia decaocto | Columbidae |
| Dove, Turtle | Rola-brava | Streptopelia turtur | Columbidae |
| Jackdaw, Western |
Gralha-de-nuca-cinzenta | Coleus monedula | Corvidae |
| Raven, Common | Corvo | Corvus corax | Corvidae |
| Crow, Carrion | Gralha-preta | Corvus corone | Corvidae |
| Magpie, Azure-winged | Charneco | Cyanopica cooki | Corvidae |
| Jay, Eurasian | Gaio | Garrulus glandarius | Corvidae |
| Magpie | Pega | Pica pica | Corvidae |
| Chough, Red-billed | Gralha-de-bico-vermelho | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | Corvidae |
| Cuckoo, Great Spotted | Cuco-rabilongo | Clamator glandarius | Cuculidae |
| Cuckoo, Common | Cuco | Cuculus canorus | Cuculidae |
| Bunting, Corn | Trigueirão | Emberiza calandra | Emberizidae |
| Bunting, Rock | Cia | Emberiza cia | Emberizidae |
| Bunting, Cirl | Escrevedeira-de-garganta-preta | Emberiza cirlus | Emberizidae |
| Bunting, Ortolan | Sombria | Emberiza hortulana | Emberizidae |
| Bunting, Reed | Escrevedeira-dos-caniços | Emberiza schoeniclus | Emberizidae |
| Waxbill, Common | Bico-de-lacre | Estrilda astrild | Estrildidae |
| Merlin | Esmerilhão | Falco columbarius | Falconidae |
| Falcon, Peregrine | Falcão-peregrino | Falco peregrinus | Falconidae |
| Hobby | Ógea | Falco subbuteo | Falconidae |
| Kestrel, Common | Peneireiro | Falco tinnunculus | Falconidae |
| Goldfinch | Pintassilgo | Carduelis carduelis | Fringillidae |
| Greenfinch | Verdilhão | Chloris chloris | Fringillidae |
| Chaffinch, Common | Tentilhão-comum | Fringilla coelebs | Fringillidae |
| Brambling | Tentilhão-montês | Fringilla montifringilla | Fringillidae |
| Linnet | Pintarroxo | Linaria cannabina | Fringillidae |
| Bullfinch | Dom-fafe | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | Fringillidae |
| Serin, European | Milheirinha | Serinus serinus | Fringillidae |
| Siskin | Lugre | Spinus spinus | Fringillidae |
| Pratincole, Collared | Perdiz-do-mar | Glareola pratincola | Glareolidae |
| Oystercatcher | Ostraceiro | Haematopus ostralegus | Haematopodidae |
| Martin, House | Andorinha-dos-beirais | Delichon urbicum | Hirundidae |
| Martin, Crag | Andorinha-das-rochas | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | Hirundidae |
| Martin, Sand | Andorinha-das-barreiras | Riparia riparia | Hirundidae |
| Swallow, Red-rumped | Andorinha-dáurica | Cecropis daurica | Hirundinidae |
| Swallow, Barn | Andorinha-das-chaminés | Hirundo rustica | Hirundinidae |
| Storm-petrel, European | Alma-de-mestre | Hydrobates pelagicus | Hydrobatidae |
| Storm-petrel, Wilson's | Casquilho | Oceanites oceanicus | Hydrobatidae |
| Shrike, Iberian Grey | Picanço-real | Lanius meridionalis | Laniidae |
| Shrike, Woodchat | Picanço-barreteiro | Lanius senator | Laniidae |
| Gull, Slender-billed | Gaivota-de-bico-fino | Chroicocephalus genei | Laridae |
| Gull, Black-headed | Guincho-comum | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | Laridae |
| Gull, Mediterranean | Gaivota-de-cabeça-preta | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus | Laridae |
| Gull, Audouin’s | Gaivota de Audouin | Ichthyaetus audouinii | Laridae |
| Gull, Lesser Black-backed | Gaivota-d'asa-escura | Larus fuscus | Laridae |
| Gull, Yellow-legged | Gaivota-de-patas-amarelas | Larus michahellis | Laridae |
| Kittiwake, Black-legged | Gaivota-tridáctila | Rissa tridactyla | Laridae |
| Warbler, Savi's | Cigarrinha-ruiva | Locustella luscinioides | Locustellidae |
| Warbler, Grasshopper | Cigarrinha-malhada | Locustella naevia | Locustellidae |
| Bee-eater, European | Abelharuco | Merops apiaster | Meropidae |
| Pipit, Tawny | Petinha-dos-campos | Anthus campestris | Motacillidae |
| Pipit, Rock | Pethina marítima | Anthus petrosus | Motacillidae |
| Pipit, Meadow | Petinha-dos-prados | Anthus pratensis | Motacillidae |
| Pipit, Richard’s | Petinha de Richard | Anthus richardi | Motacillidae |
| Pipit, Water | Petinha-ribeirinha | Anthus spinoletta | Motacillidae |
| Pipit, Tree | Petinha-das-árvores | Anthus trivialis | Motacillidae |
| Wagtail, White | Alvéola-branca | Motacilla alba | Motacillidae |
| Wagtail, Grey | Alvéola-cinzenta | Motacilla cinerea | Motacillidae |
| Wagtail, Yellow | Alvéola-amarela | Motacilla flava | Motacillidae |
| Scrub Robin, Rufous-tailed | Solitário | Cercotrichas galactotes | Muscicapidae |
| Robin, European | Pisco-de-peito-ruivo | Erithacus rubecula | Muscicapidae |
| Flycatcher, Pied | Papa-moscas-preto | Ficedula hypoleuca | Muscicapidae |
| Nightingale, Common | Rouxinol-comum | Luscinia megarhynchos | Muscicapidae |
| Bluethroat | Pisco-de-peito-azul | Luscinia svecica | Muscicapidae |
| Thrush, Blue Rock | Melro-azul | Monticola solitarius | Muscicapidae |
| Flycatcher, Spotted | Taralhão-cinzento | Muscicapa striata | Muscicapidae |
| Wheatear, Black-eared | Chasco-ruivo | Oenanthe hispanica | Muscicapidae |
| Wheatear, Northern | Chasco-cinzento | Oenanthe oenanthe | Muscicapidae |
| Redstart, Black | Rabirruivo | Phoenicurus ochruros | Muscicapidae |
| Redstart, Common | Rabirruivo-de-testa-branca | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | Muscicapidae |
| Whinchat | Cartaxo-nortenho | Saxicola rubetra | Muscicapidae |
| Stonechat, European | Cartaxo-comum | Saxicola rubicola | Muscicapidae |
| Oriole, Golden | Papa-figos | Oriolus oriolus | Oriolidae |
| Bustard, Little | Sisão | Tetrax tetrax | Otididae |
| Osprey | Águia-pesqueira | Pandion haliaetus | Pandionidae |
| Tit, Long-tailed | Chapim-rabilongo | Aegithalos caudatus | Paridae |
| Tit, Blue | Chapim-azul | Cyanistes caeruleus | Paridae |
| Tit, Crested | Chapim-de-poupa | Lophophanes cristatus | Paridae |
| Tit, Great | Chapim-real | Parus major | Paridae |
| Sparrow, House | Pardal | Passer domesticus | Passeridae |
| Sparrow, Spanish | Pardal-espanhol | Passer hispaniolensis | Passeridae |
| Sparrow, Tree | Pardal-montês | Passer montanus | Passeridae |
| Sparrow, Rock | Pardal-francês | Petronia petronia | Passeridae |
| Shag, European | Galheta | Phalacrocorax aristotelis | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Cormorant, Great | Corvo-marinho | Phalacrocorax carbo | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Partridge, Red-legged | Perdiz-comum | Alectoris rufa | Phasianidae |
| Quail, Common | Codorniz | Coturnix coturnix | Phasianidae |
| Flamingo, Greater | Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | Phoenicopteridae |
| Warbler, Western Bonelli’s | Felosa-de-papo-branco | Phylloscopus bonelli | Phylloscopidae |
| Chiffchaff, Common | Felosinha | Phylloscopus collybita | Phylloscopidae |
| Chiffchaff, Iberian | Felosinha-ibérica | Phylloscopus ibericus | Phylloscopidae |
| Warbler, Willow | Felosa-musical | Phylloscopus trochilus | Phylloscopidae |
| Woodpecker, Great Spotted | Pica-pau-malhado | Dendrocopos major | Picidae |
| Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted | Pica-pau-galego | Dendrocopos minor | Picidae |
| Wryneck | Torcicolo | Jynx torquilla | Picidae |
| Woodpecker, Iberian Green | Peto-real | Picus sharpei | Picidae |
| Weaver, Black-headed | Tecelão-de-cabeca-preta | Ploceus melanocephalus | Ploceidae |
| Grebe, Great Crested | Mergulhão-de-poupa | Podiceps cristatus | Podicipedidae |
| Grebe, Black-necked | Cagarraz | Podiceps nigricollis | Podicipedidae |
| Grebe, Little | Mergulhão-pequeno | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Podicipedidae |
| Shearwater, Cory’s | Cagarra | Calonectris borealis | Procellariidae |
| Shearwater, Great | Pardela-de-barrete | Puffinus gravis | Procellariidae |
| Shearwater, Sooty | Pardela-preta | Puffinus griseus | Procellariidae |
| Shearwater, Balearic | Fura-bucho das Baleares | Puffinus mauretanicus | Procellariidae |
| Accentor, Alpine | Ferreirinha-alpina | Prunella collaris | Prunellidae |
| Dunnock | Ferreirinha-comum | Prunella modularis | Prunellidae |
| Coot, Common | Galeirão | Fulica atra | Rallidae |
| Moorhen | Galinha-d'água | Gallinula chloropus | Rallidae |
| Swamp-hen, Purple | Caimão | Porphyrio porphyrio | Rallidae |
| Rail, Water | Frango-d'água | Rallus aquaticus | Rallidae |
| Stilt, Black-winged | Pernilongo | Himantopus himantopus | Recurvirostridae |
| Avocet | Alfaiate | Recurvirostra avosetta | Recurvirostridae |
| Firecrest | Estrelinha-real | Regulus ignicapilla | Regulidae |
| Sandpiper, Common | Maçarico-das-rochas | Actites hypoleucos | Scolopacidae |
| Turnstone | Rola-do-mar | Arenaria interpres | Scolopacidae |
| Sanderling | Pilrito-das-praias | Calidris alba | Scolopacidae |
| Dunlin | Pilrito-de-peito-preto | Calidris alpina | Scolopacidae |
| Knot, Red | Seixoeira | Calidris canutus | Scolopacidae |
| Sandpiper, Curlew | Pilrito-de-bico-comprido | Calidris ferruginea | Scolopacidae |
| Stint, Little | Pilrito-pequeno | Calidris minuta | Scolopacidae |
| Ruff | Combatente | Calidris pugnax | Scolopacidae |
| Stint, Temminck’s | Pilrito de Temminck | Calidris temminckii | Scolopacidae |
| Snipe, Common | Narceja-comum | Gallinago gallinago | Scolopacidae |
| Godwit, Bar-tailed | Fuselo | Limosa lapponica | Scolopacidae |
| Godwit, Black-tailed | Milherango | Limosa limosa | Scolopacidae |
| Snipe, Jack | Narceja-galega | Lymnocryptes minimus | Scolopacidae |
| Curlew, Eurasian | Maçarico-real | Numenius arquata | Scolopacidae |
| Whimbrel | Maçarico-galego | Numenius phaeopus | Scolopacidae |
| Phalarope, Grey | Falaropo-de-bico-grosso | Phalaropus fulicarius | Scolopacidae |
| Woodcock | Galinhola | Scolopax rusticola | Scolopacidae |
| Redshank, Spotted | Perna-vermelha-bastardo | Tringa erythropus | Scolopacidae |
| Sandpiper, Wood | Maçarico-de-dorso-malhado | Tringa glareola | Scolopacidae |
| Greenshank | Perna-verde-comum | Tringa nebularia | Scolopacidae |
| Sandpiper, Green | Maçarico-bique-bique | Tringa ochropus | Scolopacidae |
| Redshank, Common | Perna-vermelha-comum | Tringa totanus | Scolopacidae |
| Nuthatch, Eurasian | Trepadeira-azul | Sitta europaea | Sittidae |
| Skua, Arctic | Moleiro-pequeno | Stercorarius parasiticus | Stercorariidae |
| Skua, Pomarine | Moleiro do Árctico | Stercorarius pomarinus | Stercorariidae |
| Skua, Great | Alcaide | Stercorarius skua | Stercorariidae |
| Tern, Whiskered | Gaivina-dos-pauis | Chlidonias hybrida | Sternidae |
| Tern, Black | Gaivina-preta | Chlidonias niger | Sternidae |
| Tern, Gull-billed | Tagaz | Gelochelidon nilotica | Sternidae |
| Tern, Caspian | Garajau-grande | Hydroprogne caspia | Sternidae |
| Tern, Common | Gaivina | Sterna hirundo | Sternidae |
| Tern, Arctic | Gaivina do Árctico | Sterna paradisaea | Sternidae |
| Tern, Little | Chilreta | Sternula albifrons | Sternidae |
| Tern, Sandwich | Garajau | Thalasseus sandvicensis | Sternidae |
| Owl, Short-eared | Coruja-do-nabal | Asio flammeus | Strigidae |
| Owl, Little | Mocho-galego | Athene noctua | Strigidae |
| Owl, Eagle | Bufo-real | Bubo bubo | Strigidae |
| Owl, Tawny | Coruja-do-mato | Strix aluco | Strigidae |
| Starling, Spotless | Estorninho-preto | Sturnus unicolor | Sturnidae |
| Starling, Common | Estorninho-malhado | Sturnus vulgaris | Sturnidae |
| Gannet, Northern | Ganso-patola; Alcatraz | Morus bassanus | Sulidae |
| Whitethroat, Common | Papa-amoras | Curruca communis | Sylviidae |
| Warbler, Spectacled | Toutinegra-tomilheira | Curruca conspicillata | Sylviidae |
| Warbler, Western Orphean | Toutinegra-real | Curruca hortensis | Sylviidae |
| Warbler, Western Subalpine | Toutinegra-de-bigodes | Curruca iberiae | Sylviidae |
| Warbler, Sardinian | Toutinegra-dos-valados | Curruca melanocephalus | Sylviidae |
| Warbler, Dartford | Toutinegra-do-mato | Curruca undata | Sylviidae |
| Blackcap | Toutinegra-de-barrete | Sylvia atricapilla | Sylviidae |
| Warbler, Garden | Toutinegra-das-figueiras | Sylvia borin | Sylviidae |
| Spoonbill, Eurasian | Colhereiro | Platalea leucorodia | Threskiornithidae |
| Ibis, Glossy | Íbis-preta | Plegadis falcinellus | Threskiornithidae |
| Wren | Carriça | Troglodytes troglodytes | Troglodytidae |
| Redwing | Tordo-ruivo | Turdus iliacus | Turdidae |
| Blackbird | Melro-preto | Turdus merula | Turdidae |
| Thrush, Song | Tordo-pinto | Turdus philomelos | Turdidae |
| Fieldfare | Tordo-zornal | Turdus pilaris | Turdidae |
| Ouzel, Ring | Melro-de-colar | Turdus torquatus | Turdidae |
| Thrush, Mistle | Tordoveia | Turdus viscivorus | Turdidae |
| Owl, Barn | Coruja-das-torres | Tyto alba | Tytonidae |
| Hoopoe | Poupa | Upupa epops | Upupidae |
© 1995 - 2024 First Nature: a not-for-profit volunteer-run resource
Please help to keep this free resource online...