Birdwatching in Portugal

Divided by the river Tagus, Portugal’s northern part is mountainous with plateaus and valleys, to the south it is warmer and drier with rolling plains and Algarve separated by mountains has a climate similar to coastal Spain.
This makes interesting birdwatching for a visitor with many of the birds found in Spain also found here such as Great Bustard, Azure-winged Magpie, Great-spotted Cuckoo, Booted eagle etc.
With more than 400 species of birds on record the local Birdingpals will make sure your visit to Portugal will be memorable. Being a small country it is also ideal for groups were not everyone is a birder, and you will find many delightful small inns and B&Bs with great facilities and food.

Become a Birding Pal Upcoming Trips Hire a Professional Guide Bird Forum Lodging recomended by Birding PalsInteresting links to site about birdingContact us. MENU

Local Birdingpal Contacts
Local Birdwatchers
Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away.
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.


Initial Last Name Area Available Language
J Tavares Faro, Algarve Anytime Portuguese/English
Spanish
Biologist and illustrator, worked as an ornithologist since 1999, studying, surveying, radiotracking and satellite monitoring tracking from Rufous Bush Chats and Spectacled Warblers to Little Bustards, seabirds of the Northern Atlantic (NW Atlantic and Portuguese waters incl. Azores and ca. Madeira) and more recently Bonelli's Eagles. Nowadays, living in Faro, just a bicycle ride away from some great birding spots like Ludo and Quinta do Lago, and a car lift away from Sagres, Lagoa dos Salgados and Castro Marim.
R Carato Castelo Branco, Beira Baixa Weekend
R Chincalece Macedo de Cavaleiros, Braganca Anytime
J Simao Almada, Estremadura Anytime
D Duarte Lisboa Anytime Portuguese/English
Spanish/French
Nature and wildlife fan! Professional photographer!
J Nunes Funchal, Madeira Anytime English/Portuguese
French/Spanish
P Mota Porto, North Anytime Portuguese/English
Spanish/French
All around Portugal, specially North
M David Almada, Setúbal Weekend
C Noivo Torres Novas Weekend Portuguese/Spanish
French/English
German

Professional Guides
If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services.


Initial Last Name Area Available Language
G Schreier Faro, Algarve Anytime English/German
basic Portuguese
J & P Taylor/Dedicoat Tavira, Eastern Algarve Anytime English
J Jara Lisbon Anytime Portuguese/English
French/Spanish
D Leitão Santarém Anytime Portuguese/English

Local Information
Name Description
Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves Birdlife partner
Birds of the Madeira Archipelago Sites
Fórum Aves(Birdwatching in Portugal, incl. Azores and Madeira) Forum
Birding Azores Latest sights
Birding Hotspots around the world Sites
Aves em Portugal Photos
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Portugal
Local weather Yahoo
Electronic maps MapQuest
Find lowest prices for field guides, books, maps etc.
Field guides recommended by Birdingpals
Printable bird check list
Trip Reports from Portugal

Last update 10/01/2010