With more than 480 recorded species of birds Germany is an interesting country for birdwatchers.
To the south in the Alps you will find many raptors and Mediterranean migrants. The Baltic Sea and the Waddenzee to the north is famous for waterfowl and waders. Central Germany with its forested uplands is home to many woodland birds and low-lying land and moors to the north offer birds like Grasshopper Warbler, Black Kite, Cranes, Bearded Tit just to name a few.
Many serious and knowledgeable Birdingpals are listed around the country and willing to help you get the most out of a visit to Germany. To make your birding even more pleasant, you should consider staying in small towns, where you will find many cozy old inns with great food and of course real beer.
Local Birdingpal Contacts
Local Birdwatchers
Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club.
Into birding since childhood years. There are some interesting habitats at nearby Kaiserstuhl area(Hoopoe, Bee-eater). Best time for visit, mid May to June.
D
Poley
Heidelberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg
Weekend
German/English
V
Schmidt
Mannheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg
Weekend
B
Belknap
Ansbach, Bavaria
Weekend
German/English
I work in Ansbach, and am here on weekdays, and even some weekends.
Otherwise, I go to Bad Kreuznach for the weekend. Both places offer birding in typical German/northern European woodland, maquis, field, and meadow. I have seen rarities around Bad Kreuznach, including a Hoopoe, and once, a few years ago in January, a Snowy Owl! Common birds in both Ansbach and Bad Kreuznach are Great Spotted Woodpeckers, several species of finches and titmice, kites, nuthatches, treecreepers, occasional Hen Harriers, cormorants (Kreuznach only), sawbills (Kreuznach only), Gray Herons, and numerous others. I've only been in Ansbach since the end of January 2008, and already I've discovered a wood containing at least one pair of Black Woodpeckers (Dryocopus martius), one of my favorite birds in Europe, and not that
frequently seen. I am American, but can speak enough German to get by.
W
Nezadal
Erlangen, Bavaria
Anytime
A
Hagenmaier
Munich, Bavaria
Anytime
German/English Spanish
E
Witting
Freising/Munich, Bavaria
Weekend
German/English
I'm a 42 year old man living in the north of Munich and spending most of the weekend watching birds at the spots mentioned next.
Inside the city of Munich the park at "Schloss Nymphenburg" can be quite productive. Interesting spots around Munich are the "Ismaninger Speichersee" which is about 20km northeast from Munich and good for Terns, Ducks, Gulls, Falcons and sometimes Waders. In the south of Munich there are two big lakes. The "Starnberger See" is especially in winter a good spot for loons, ducks, gulls and all kind of waterbirds. The "Ammersee" is interesting during the whole year and can produce an interesting mix of waders, ducks, gulls, terns, herons or raptors. You find interesting woods as well as reeds and moss-sides there. Little more south from Munich the "Murnauer Moos" is a very interesting moos-area about 60km from Munich. In late spring and early summer it is good for e.g. Corncrake, Montagues Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, Hobby, Stonechat, Scarlet Rosefinch and others.
When there is enough time it is also always a good idea in late spring or summer to visit serveral spots in the alps. I often go birdwatching around Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald. From Freising the most interesting spots are the "Ismaninger Speichersee" again and the "Echigner Stausee" about 30km east of Freising. It's a lake with large reeds and good for all kind of waterbirds and somtimes waders. In summer you will have a chance to wacht breeding Night Heron there too.
N
Model
Ingolstadt, Bavaria
Anytime
German/English Spanish
T
Hafen
Munich, Bavaria
Weekend
German/English
I was born in 1965 and started birding as a teenager. Apart from birding, I am interested in nature photography, hiking, kayaking and computer stuff (as long as a Mac is involved). I like to travel and
love especially the North. My favourite spots are Canada (B.C., Yukon), Alaska and Scandinavia. You can find some pictures from these places on my website www.natur-fotografieren.de.
D
Roy
Penzberg, Munich, Bavaria
Anytime
German/English
D
Conlin
Berlin
Anytime
English/German French
S
Bode
Berlin
Weekend
German/English
R
Nessing
Mecklenburg/Vorpommern/Brandenburg
Anytime
German/English
F
Mueller
Frankfurt, Hessen
Anytime
M
Schleuning
North Hessen
Weekend
German/English
H
Roland
Reichelsheim/Frankfurt, Hessen
Anytime
German/English
M
Deneke
Gifhorn/Vollbüttel, Niedersachsen
Anytime
German/English
R
Wynands
Hannover, Niedersachsen
Weekend
German/English French/Italian
Within an hour's driving distance in and around Hannover, a number of different habitats with their respective bird faunas can be found. Natural and artificial freshwater lakes and marshes, deciduous and pine forests, mixed grasslands, dry and moist heathland. Elevation range: 50...400 m above sea leavel.
G
Rotzoll
Hannover, Niedersachsen
Anytime
German/English
In the vicinity of Hannover there are several good birding areas that can be reached within 1 hour. To mention two of the best: "Steinhuder Meer" and "Meissendorfer Teiche", both wetland areas with well structured surroundings. For shorebird enthusiasts, even a visit to the coast (ca. 2 hour drive) is possible. Many other smaller sites closer to Hannover can be good as well. If I am in town I can offer to go birdwatching with visiting birders anytime.
D
Gruber
Hildesheim/Hannover, Niedersachsen
Anytime
German/English
M
Neumann
Westerstede, Niedersachsen
Anytime
German/English
J
Beninde
Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westfalia
Weekend
D
Beckmann
Duisburg on Rhine, North Rhine-Westphalia
Anytime
German/English some Dutch
I am a non-professional birder, actively birding in the Natura-2000 sanctuaries on the Rhine and on the Ruhr.
A
Nadirk
Münster, North Rhine-Westfalia
Anytime
German/English Dutch
J
Kriegs
Münster, Nord Rhein-Westfalen
Weekend
German/English little French/Russian
Münster is in the middle of an agricultural area. North of the city there is a large reserve for water birds. Waders roost during migration and many ducks are present throughout the year. Breeding birds include Little Owl and Bluethroat. Some recent observations can be found on our website: www.msorni.de
J
Azzopardi
Odenthal, North Rhine-Westphalia
Weekend
German/English
I am doing research on 2 reserves in Germany for a univeristy project. Anyone from Germany visiting these locations please report observations. The site is in English and operational, but still need some enhancements. Please feel free to visit http://www.eurobirding.net/
W
Steiger
Zülpich (Kreis Euskirchen), North Rhine-Westphalia
Weekend
B
Belknap
Bad Kreuznach, Rheinland-Pfalz
Anytime
German/English
I work in Ansbach, and am here on weekdays, and even some weekends.
Otherwise, I go to Bad Kreuznach for the weekend. Both places offer birding in typical German/northern European woodland, maquis, field, and meadow. I have seen rarities around Bad Kreuznach, including a Hoopoe, and once, a few years ago in January, a Snowy Owl! Common birds in both Ansbach and Bad Kreuznach are Great Spotted Woodpeckers, several species of finches and titmice, kites, nuthatches, treecreepers, occasional Hen Harriers, cormorants (Kreuznach only), sawbills (Kreuznach only), Gray Herons, and numerous others. I am American, but can speak enough German to get by.
E
Gloede-Solbach
Betzdorf, Rheinland-Pfalz
Weekend
D
Shirley
Bitburg, Rheinland-Pfalz
Weekend
English
A
Dapkins
Jettenbach, Rheinland-Pfalz
Anytime
English
O
Nuessen
Bremen, Lower Saxony
Weekend
German/English Spanish
C
Lange
Bremen, Saxony
Anytime
German/English
D
Orn
Dresden, Sachsen
Weekend
German/English French
The lakes to the north of Dresden together with the hills to the south make for good and varied birding and hiking.
T
Herfurth
Luebeck/Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein
Anytime
German/English French
If you plan to visit the North of Germany (for example Hamburg, Luebeck, Kiel or Rostock) you should write to me or give me a ring. I would really like to show you around and help you finding the species you would like to see.
C
Engelhardt
Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein
Anytime
German/English
Luebeck is situated close to the Baltic Sea shore and the Eastern Holstein Lake Area. Both hold a great variety of natural landscapes and birdlife. For more information, see my website www.look-for-birds.de
Professional Guides
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Available
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Local Information
Name
Description
Bayern
Club
Schleswig-Holstein
Club
Bavarian Birds
RBR
Birding Germany
Sites
Müritz
Parks
Vogelruf
Sites
MSOrni
Münster
Birding Hotspots around the world
Sites
Rolf Nessing's
Sites
European Butterflies
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Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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