Birds in the Algarve

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...

Audouin's Gull

Azure-winged Magpie

Black Redstart

Black-eared Wheatear

Black-shouldered Kite

Bluethroat

Common Waxbill

Curlew Sandpiper

Eurasian Wryneck

Little Bustard

Southern Grey Shrike

Spectacled Warbler

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 English Common 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.

Sortable table of Species


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

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