Birds in the Algarve - arranged by scientific names
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 scientific 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.
Sort Table by...
| Goshawk | Açor | Accipiter gentilis | Accipitridae |
| Sparrowhawk, Eurasian | Gavião | Accipiter nisus | 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 |
| Sandpiper, Common | Maçarico-das-rochas | Actites hypoleucos | Scolopacidae |
| Tit, Long-tailed | Chapim-rabilongo | Aegithalos caudatus | Paridae |
| Skylark | Laverca | Alauda arvensis | Alaudidae |
| Razorbill | Torda-mergulheira | Alca torda | Alcidae |
| Kingfisher, Common | Guarda-rios | Alcedo atthis | Alcedinidae |
| Partridge, Red-legged | Perdiz-comum | Alectoris rufa | Phasianidae |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Swift, Common | Andorinhão-preto | Apus apus | Apodidae |
| Swift, Alpine | Andorinhão-real | Apus melba | Apodidae |
| Swift, Pallid | Andorinhão-pálido | Apus pallidus | Apodidae |
| Eagle, Spanish Imperial | Águia-imperial | Aquila adalberti | Accipitridae |
| Eagle, Golden | Águia-real | Aquila chrysaetos | Accipitridae |
| Eagle, Bonelli’s | Águia perdligueira | Aquila fasciata | Accipitridae |
| Egret, Great White | Garça-branca-grande | Ardea alba | Ardeidae |
| Heron, Grey | Garça-real | Ardea cinerea | Ardeidae |
| Heron, Purple | Garça-vermelha | Ardea purpurea | Ardeidae |
| Turnstone | Rola-do-mar | Arenaria interpres | Scolopacidae |
| Owl, Short-eared | Coruja-do-nabal | Asio flammeus | Strigidae |
| Owl, Little | Mocho-galego | Athene noctua | Strigidae |
| Pochard, Common | Zarro | Aythya ferina | Anatidae |
| Duck, Tufted | Negrinha | Aythya fuligula | Anatidae |
| Duck, Ferruginous | Pêrra | Aythya nyroca | Anatidae |
| Owl, Eagle | Bufo-real | Bubo bubo | Strigidae |
| Egret, Cattle | Carraceiro | Bubulcus ibis | Ardeidae |
| Stone-curlew | Alcaravão | Burhinus oedicnemus | Burhinidae |
| Buzzard, Common | Águia-d’asa-redonda | Buteo buteo | Accipitridae |
| Lark, Greater Short-toed | Calhandrinha-comum | Calandrella brachydactyla | Alaudidae |
| Lark, Lesser Short-toed | Calhandrinha-das-marismas | Calandrella rufescens | Alaudidae |
| 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 |
| Shearwater, Cory’s | Cagarra | Calonectris borealis | Procellariidae |
| Nightjar, Red-necked | Noitibó-de-nuca-vermelha | Caprimulgus ruficollis | Caprimulgidae |
| Goldfinch | Pintassilgo | Carduelis carduelis | Fringillidae |
| Swallow, Red-rumped | Andorinha-dáurica | Cecropis daurica | Hirundinidae |
| Scrub Robin, Rufous-tailed | Solitário | Cercotrichas galactotes | Muscicapidae |
| 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 |
| Tern, Whiskered | Gaivina-dos-pauis | Chlidonias hybrida | Sternidae |
| Tern, Black | Gaivina-preta | Chlidonias niger | Sternidae |
| Greenfinch | Verdilhão | Chloris chloris | Fringillidae |
| Gull, Slender-billed | Gaivota-de-bico-fino | Chroicocephalus genei | Laridae |
| Gull, Black-headed | Guincho-comum | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | Laridae |
| Stork, White | Cegonha-branca | Ciconia ciconia | Ciconiidae |
| Stork, Black | Cegonha-preta | Ciconia nigra | Ciconiidae |
| 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 |
| Cisticola, Zitting | Fuinha-dos-juncos | Cisticola juncidis | Cisticolidae |
| Cuckoo, Great Spotted | Cuco-rabilongo | Clamator glandarius | Cuculidae |
| Jackdaw, Western |
Gralha-de-nuca-cinzenta | Coleus monedula | Corvidae |
| Dove, Rock | Pombo-das-rochas | Columba livia | Columbidae |
| Dove, Stock | Seixa | Columba oenas | Columbidae |
| Pigeon, Wood | Pombo-torcaz | Columba palumbus | Columbidae |
| Raven, Common | Corvo | Corvus corax | Corvidae |
| Crow, Carrion | Gralha-preta | Corvus corone | Corvidae |
| Quail, Common | Codorniz | Coturnix coturnix | Phasianidae |
| Cuckoo, Common | Cuco | Cuculus canorus | Cuculidae |
| 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 |
| Tit, Blue | Chapim-azul | Cyanistes caeruleus | Paridae |
| Magpie, Azure-winged | Charneco | Cyanopica cooki | Covidae |
| Martin, House | Andorinha-dos-beirais | Delichon urbicum | Hirundidae |
| Woodpecker, Great Spotted | Pica-pau-malhado | Dendrocopos major | Picidae |
| Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted | Pica-pau-galego | Dendrocopos minor | Picidae |
| Egret, Little | Garça-branca-pequena | Egretta garzetta | Ardeidae |
| Kite, Black-winged | Peneireiro-cinzento | Elanus caeruleus | Accipitridae |
| 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 |
| Robin, European | Pisco-de-peito-ruivo | Erithacus rubecula | Muscicapidae |
| 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 |
| Flycatcher, Pied | Papa-moscas-preto | Ficedula hypoleuca | Muscicapidae |
| Puffin | Papagaio-do-mar | Fratercula arctica | Alcidae |
| Chaffinch, Common | Tentilhão-comum | Fringilla coelebs | Fringillidae |
| Brambling | Tentilhão-montês | Fringilla montifringilla | Fringillidae |
| Coot, Common | Galeirão | Fulica atra | Rallidae |
| Lark, Crested | Cotovia-de-poupa | Galerida cristata | Alaudidae |
| Lark, Thekla | Cotovia-escura | Galerida theklae | Alaudidae |
| Snipe, Common | Narceja-comum | Gallinago gallinago | Scolopacidae |
| Moorhen | Galinha-d'água | Gallinula chloropus | Rallidae |
| Jay, Eurasian | Gaio | Garrulus glandarius | Corvidae |
| Tern, Gull-billed | Tagaz | Gelochelidon nilotica | Sternidae |
| Pratincole, Collared | Perdiz-do-mar | Glareola pratincola | Glareolidae |
| Vulture, Griffon | Grifo | Gyps fulvus | Accipitridae |
| Vulture, Griffon, Rüppell's | Grifo-pedres | Gyps rueppellii | Accipitridae |
| Oystercatcher | Ostraceiro | Haematopus ostralegus | Haematopodidae |
| Eagle, Booted | Águia-calçada | Hieraaeteus pennatus | Accipitridae |
| Stilt, Black-winged | Pernilongo | Himantopus himantopus | Recurvirostridae |
| Warbler, Melodious | Felosa-poliglota | Hippolais polyglotta | Acrocephalidae |
| Swallow, Barn | Andorinha-das-chaminés | Hirundo rustica | Hirundinidae |
| Storm-petrel, European | Alma-de-mestre | Hydrobates pelagicus | Hydrobatidae |
| Tern, Caspian | Garajau-grande | Hydroprogne caspia | Sternidae |
| Gull, Mediterranean | Gaivota-de-cabeça-preta | Ichthyaetus melanocephalus | Laridae |
| Gull, Audouin’s | Gaivota de Audouin | Ichthyaetus audouinii | Laridae |
| Warbler, Western Olivaceous | Felosa-pálida | Iduna opaca | Acrocephalidae |
| Bittern, Little | Garçote | Ixobrychus minutus | Ardeidae |
| Wryneck | Torcicolo | Jynx torquilla | Picidae |
| Shrike, Iberian Grey | Picanço-real | Lanius meridionalis | Laniidae |
| Shrike, Woodchat | Picanço-barreteiro | Lanius senator | Laniidae |
| Gull, Lesser Black-backed | Gaivota-d'asa-escura | Larus fuscus | Laridae |
| Gull, Yellow-legged | Gaivota-de-patas-amarelas | Larus michahellis | Laridae |
| Godwit, Bar-tailed | Fuselo | Limosa lapponica | Scolopacidae |
| Godwit, Black-tailed | Milherango | Limosa limosa | Scolopacidae |
| Linnet | Pintarroxo | Linaria cannabina | Fringillidae |
| Warbler, Savi's | Cigarrinha-ruiva | Locustella luscinioides | Locustellidae |
| Warbler, Grasshopper | Cigarrinha-malhada | Locustella naevia | Locustellidae |
| Tit, Crested | Chapim-de-poupa | Lophophanes cristatus | Paridae |
| Woodlark | Cotovia-dos-bosques | Lullula arborea | Alaudidae |
| Nightingale, Common | Rouxinol-comum | Luscinia megarhynchos | Muscicapidae |
| Bluethroat | Pisco-de-peito-azul | Luscinia svecica | Muscicapidae |
| Snipe, Jack | Narceja-galega | Lymnocryptes minimus | Scolopacidae |
| Gadwall | Frisada | Mareca strepera | Anatidae |
| Scoter, Common | Negrola | Melanitta nigra | Anatidae |
| Bee-eater, European | Abelharuco | Merops apiaster | Meropidae |
| Kite, Black | Milhafre-preto | Milvus migrans | Accipitridae |
| Kite, Red | Milhafre-real | Milvus milvus | Accipitridae |
| Thrush, Blue Rock | Melro-azul | Monticola solitarius | Muscicapidae |
| Gannet, Northern | Ganso-patola; Alcatraz | Morus bassanus | Sulidae |
| Wagtail, White | Alvéola-branca | Motacilla alba | Motacillidae |
| Wagtail, Grey | Alvéola-cinzenta | Motacilla cinerea | Motacillidae |
| Wagtail, Yellow | Alvéola-amarela | Motacilla flava | Motacillidae |
| Flycatcher, Spotted | Taralhão-cinzento | Muscicapa striata | Muscicapidae |
| Vulture, Egyptian | Britango | Neophron percnopterus | Accipitridae |
| Pochard, Red-crested | Pato-de-bico-vermelho | Netta rufina | Anatidae |
| Curlew, Eurasian | Maçarico-real | Numenius arquata | Scolopacidae |
| Whimbrel | Maçarico-galego | Numenius phaeopus | Scolopacidae |
| Night-Heron | Goraz | Nycticorax nycticorax | Ardeidae |
| Storm-petrel, Wilson's | Casquilho | Oceanites oceanicus | Hydrobatidae |
| Wheatear, Black-eared | Chasco-ruivo | Oenanthe hispanica | Muscicapidae |
| Wheatear, Northern | Chasco-cinzento | Oenanthe oenanthe | Muscicapidae |
| Oriole, Golden | Papa-figos | Oriolus oriolus | Oriolidae |
| Osprey | Águia-pesqueira | Pandion haliaetus | Pandionidae |
| 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 |
| Honey-buzzard | Butio-vespeiro | Pernis apivorus | Accipitridae |
| Sparrow, Rock | Pardal-francês | Petronia petronia | Passeridae |
| Shag, European | Galheta | Phalacrocorax aristotelis | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Cormorant, Great | Corvo-marinho | Phalacrocorax carbo | Phalacrocoracidae |
| Phalarope, Grey | Falaropo-de-bico-grosso | Phalaropus fulicarius | Scolopacidae |
| Flamingo, Greater | Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | Phoenicopteridae |
| Redstart, Black | Rabirruivo | Phoenicurus ochruros | Muscicapidae |
| Redstart, Common | Rabirruivo-de-testa-branca | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | Muscicapidae |
| 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 |
| Magpie | Pega | Pica pica | Corvidae |
| Woodpecker, Iberian Green | Peto-real | Picus sharpei | Picidae |
| Spoonbill, Eurasian | Colhereiro | Platalea leucorodia | Threskiornithidae |
| Ibis, Glossy | Íbis-preta | Plegadis falcinellus | Threskiornithidae |
| Weaver, Black-headed | Tecelão-de-cabeca-preta | Ploceus melanocephalus | Ploceidae |
| Plover, European Golden | Tarambola-dourada | Pluvialis apricaria | Charadriidae |
| Plover, Grey | Tarambola-cinzenta | Pluvialis squatarola | Charadriidae |
| Grebe, Great Crested | Mergulhão-de-poupa | Podiceps cristatus | Podicipedidae |
| Grebe, Black-necked | Cagarraz | Podiceps nigricollis | Podicipedidae |
| Swamp-hen, Purple | Caimão | Porphyrio porphyrio | Rallidae |
| Accentor, Alpine | Ferreirinha-alpina | Prunella collaris | Prunellidae |
| Dunnock | Ferreirinha-comum | Prunella modularis | Prunellidae |
| Martin, Crag | Andorinha-das-rochas | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | Hirundidae |
| Shearwater, Great | Pardela-de-barrete | Puffinus gravis | Procellariidae |
| Shearwater, Sooty | Pardela-preta | Puffinus griseus | Procellariidae |
| Shearwater, Balearic | Fura-bucho das Baleares | Puffinus mauretanicus | Procellariidae |
| Chough, Red-billed | Gralha-de-bico-vermelho | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | Corvidae |
| Bullfinch | Dom-fafe | Pyrrhula pyrrhula | Fringillidae |
| Rail, Water | Frango-d'água | Rallus aquaticus | Rallidae |
| Avocet | Alfaiate | Recurvirostra avosetta | Recurvirostridae |
| Firecrest | Estrelinha-real | Regulus ignicapilla | Regulidae |
| Martin, Sand | Andorinha-das-barreiras | Riparia riparia | Hirundidae |
| Kittiwake, Black-legged | Gaivota-tridáctila | Rissa tridactyla | Laridae |
| Whinchat | Cartaxo-nortenho | Saxicola rubetra | Muscicapidae |
| Stonechat, European | Cartaxo-comum | Saxicola rubicola | Muscicapidae |
| Woodcock | Galinhola | Scolopax rusticola | Scolopacidae |
| Serin, European | Milheirinha | Serinus serinus | Fringillidae |
| Nuthatch, Eurasian | Trepadeira-azul | Sitta europaea | Sittidae |
| Shoveler | Pato-colhereiro | Spatula clypeata | Anatidae |
| Garganey | Marreco | Spatula querquedula | Anatidae |
| Siskin | Lugre | Spinus spinus | Fringillidae |
| Skua, Arctic | Moleiro-pequeno | Stercorarius parasiticus | Stercorariidae |
| Skua, Pomarine | Moleiro do Árctico | Stercorarius pomarinus | Stercorariidae |
| Skua, Great | Alcaide | Stercorarius skua | Stercorariidae |
| Tern, Common | Gaivina | Sterna hirundo | Sternidae |
| Tern, Arctic | Gaivina do Árctico | Sterna paradisaea | Sternidae |
| Tern, Little | Chilreta | Sternula albifrons | Sternidae |
| Dove, Collared | Rola-turca | Streptopelia decaocto | Columbidae |
| Dove, Turtle | Rola-brava | Streptopelia turtur | Columbidae |
| Owl, Tawny | Coruja-do-mato | Strix aluco | Strigidae |
| Starling, Spotless | Estorninho-preto | Sturnus unicolor | Sturnidae |
| Starling, Common | Estorninho-malhado | Sturnus vulgaris | Sturnidae |
| Blackcap | Toutinegra-de-barrete | Sylvia atricapilla | Sylviidae |
| Warbler, Garden | Toutinegra-das-figueiras | Sylvia borin | Sylviidae |
| Grebe, Little | Mergulhão-pequeno | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Podicipedidae |
| Shelduck, Common | Tadorna | Tadorna tadorna | Anatidae |
| Bustard, Little | Sisão | Tetrax tetrax | Otididae |
| Tern, Sandwich | Garajau | Thalasseus sandvicensis | Sternidae |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Lapwing, Northern | Abibe | Vanellus vanellus | Charadriidae |
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