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.
Local Birdingpal Contacts
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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. | ||||||
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Initial | Last Name | Area | Available | Language |
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| J | Tavares | Faro, Algarve | Anytime | Portuguese/English Spanish |
| Professional ornithologist (worked with mediterranean passerines, Llittle Bustard, seabirds and presently Bonelli's Eagle), birdwatcher since 1998. General knowledge about bird spots in southern Portugal. Now living very close to Ria Formosa Natural Park (estuarine) and working in the "serras" (low mountains that border the upper limit of the region - mainly woodland and scrubland). I live almost next to Faro's airport, and the visitor would inclusively have the oportunity to acompany me in a day's work with Bonelli's Eagle. Former birding pal, I have taken my name out of the list previously because I was working at sea (Newfoundland, Azores). | ||||||
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| R | Carato | Castelo Branco, Beira Baixa | Weekend | |
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| R | Chincalece | Macedo de Cavaleiros, Braganca | Anytime | |
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| J | Simao | Almada, Estremadura | Anytime | |
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| J | Nunes | Funchal, Madeira | Anytime | English/Portuguese French/Spanish |
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| P | Mota | Porto, North | Anytime | Portuguese/English Spanish/French |
| All around Portugal, specially North | ||||||
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| M | David | Almada, Setúbal | Weekend | |
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| C | Noivo | Torres Novas | Weekend | Portuguese/Spanish French/English German |
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Professional Guides | ||||||
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| Initial | Last Name | Area | Available | Language |
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| G | Schreier | Faro, Algarve | Anytime | English/German basic Portuguese |
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| J & P | Taylor/Dedicoat | Tavira, Eastern Algarve | Anytime | English |
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| J | Jara | Lisbon | Anytime | Portuguese/English French/Spanish |
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| D | Leitão | Santarém | Anytime | Portuguese/English |
Local Information
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| Name | Description
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| Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves | Birdlife partner |
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| Birds of the Madeira Archipelago | Sites |
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| Fórum Aves(Birdwatching in Portugal, incl. Azores and Madeira) | Forum |
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| Birding Hotspots around the world | Sites |
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| Aves em Portugal | Photos |
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| Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | Portugal |
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| Local weather | Yahoo |
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| Electronic maps | MapQuest |
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| Find lowest prices for field guides, books, maps etc. | |
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| Printable bird check list | |
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| Trip Reports from Portugal |
Last update 18/06/2009