Portugal’s mix of Atlantic coast, rocky islands, river estuaries and inland hills supports a wide variety of birdlife, from coastal gulls to mountain passerines. Coastal wetlands, pine woods and offshore islets each host different species throughout the year.
There are 50 Birds of Portugal, ranging from Audouin’s Gull to Zino’s Petrel; for each species we list Scientific name,Status,Where found (region/habitat) — you’ll find below.
Where in Portugal should I go to see rare seabirds like Zino’s Petrel?
Zino’s Petrel is largely confined to Madeira and is usually encountered via guided night watches and protected cliff trails; Audouin’s Gull is more coastal, often seen around Algarve lagoons and offshore islets. Look for seasonal boat trips and local birding groups for the best chances.
How does the list help me identify and locate each species quickly?
Each entry shows the Scientific name,Status,Where found (region/habitat) so you can match field-guide names, check rarity or migratory notes, and head to the right region and habitat type to find the bird.
Birds of Portugal
| Common name | Scientific name | Status | Where found (region/habitat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Resident and winter visitor | Mainland, coastal lagoons, marshes |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | Resident and winter visitor | Mainland, wetlands, estuaries, rivers |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | Resident | Mainland, coastal cliffs, estuaries, rocky shores |
| European Shag | Phalacrocorax aristotelis | Resident coastal breeder | Mainland coasts, Madeira, rocky cliffs |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | Breeding migrant and winter visitor | Mainland, marshes, estuaries |
| Eurasian Spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | Passage migrant and winter visitor | Mainland, coastal lagoons, marshes |
| Greater Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | Passage migrant and winter visitor (occasional breeder) | Mainland coastal lagoons and saltpans |
| Eurasian Oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus | Resident and passage migrant | Mainland coasts, estuaries, tidal flats |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Passage migrant and winter visitor | Mainland, rocky shores, sandy beaches |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | Passage migrant and winter visitor | Mainland sandy beaches, tidal zones |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | Passage migrant and breeding visitor | Mainland rivers, lakes, wetlands |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | Passage migrant and winter visitor | Mainland coasts, estuaries, agricultural fields |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa | Passage migrant and winter visitor | Mainland wetlands, saltpans, estuaries |
| Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Breeding migrant and passage visitor | Mainland sandy beaches, saltpans, estuaries |
| Yellow-legged Gull | Larus michahellis | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland coasts, estuaries, urban areas |
| Audouin’s Gull | Ichthyaetus audouinii | Passage migrant and scarce coastal breeder | Mainland south coast, islands, saltpans |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | Passage migrant and summer visitor | Mainland coasts, estuaries, beaches |
| Northern Gannet | Morus bassanus | Passage migrant and winter visitor | Offshore waters, coastal cliffs, islands |
| Cory’s Shearwater | Calonectris borealis | Breeding resident | Azores, Madeira, offshore colonies |
| Manx Shearwater | Puffinus puffinus | Breeding visitor and passage migrant | Azores, coastal islets, offshore |
| Bulwer’s Petrel | Bulweria bulwerii | Breeding and passage visitor | Azores, Madeira, offshore rocky islets |
| Monteiro’s Storm-petrel | Hydrobates monteiroi | Breeding endemic | Azores (restricted islands), offshore waters |
| Zino’s Petrel | Pterodroma madeira | Endemic breeder, critically local | Madeira mountains and offshore waters |
| Common Buzzard | Buteo buteo | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland woodlands, agricultural mosaic, mountains |
| Booted Eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus | Breeding migrant and passage visitor | Mainland scrub, woodlands, open country |
| Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland farmland, cliffs, urban areas |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland cliffs, coastal cliffs, urban areas |
| Trocaz Pigeon | Columba trocaz | Endemic resident | Madeira laurel forests (laurisilva) |
| Common Wood Pigeon | Columba palumbus | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland woodlands, farmland, parks |
| European Turtle Dove | Streptopelia turtur | Passage migrant and summer visitor (declining) | Mainland farmland hedges, open woods |
| Common Swift | Apus apus | Breeding migrant | Mainland towns, cliffs, urban areas |
| Pallid Swift | Apus pallidus | Breeding migrant and passage visitor | Mainland south, coastal cliffs, urban areas |
| Eurasian Hoopoe | Upupa epops | Breeding migrant and passage visitor | Mainland open country, orchards, parkland |
| European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster | Passage migrant and summer visitor | Mainland open country, river valleys, steppes |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland woodlands, parks, gardens |
| Madeira Firecrest | Regulus madeirensis | Endemic resident | Madeira laurel forest, mountains |
| European Robin | Erithacus rubecula | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland gardens, woodlands, hedgerows |
| Common Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | Breeding migrant and passage visitor | Mainland scrub, thick hedgerows, riparian woodland |
| Iberian Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus ibericus | Resident and breeding visitor (Iberia) | Mainland oak woodlands, hills |
| Sardinian Warbler | Curruca melanocephala | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland Mediterranean scrub, coastal garrigue |
| Blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | Breeding visitor and passage migrant | Mainland woodlands, gardens, parks |
| Eurasian Jay | Garrulus glandarius | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland oak woodland, cork oak forests |
| Iberian Magpie | Cyanopica cooki | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland western Iberia, cork oak countryside |
| Carrion Crow | Corvus corone | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland farmland, towns, coastal areas |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland mountains, cliffs, coastal headlands |
| Southern Grey Shrike | Lanius meridionalis | Resident and passage migrant | Mainland open country, scrub, agricultural land |
| European Stonechat | Saxicola rubicola | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland heathland, coastal dunes, farmland |
| European Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland farmland, hedgerows, gardens |
| Common Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs | Resident and breeding visitor | Mainland woodlands, parks, gardens |
| Azores Bullfinch | Pyrrhula murina | Endemic resident | Azores (São Miguel), laurel forest |
Images and Descriptions
Little Egret
Slender white heron 55–65 cm with black bill, long black legs and yellow feet. Wades shallow water for fish and invertebrates; common on coastal estuaries and inland wetlands year-round, increasing since mid-20th century expansion.
Grey Heron
Large grey heron about 90–100 cm with long neck and yellow bill. Stands motionless while hunting fish, amphibians and small mammals. Widespread across Portugal’s rivers, marshes and coastal lagoons; conspicuous and often seen singly.
Great Cormorant
Large black seabird 70–90 cm with long neck and hooked bill. Dries wings on rocks after diving for fish. Common on coasts and reservoirs; forms daytime roosts and colonies on offshore islets and coastal cliffs.
European Shag
Smaller cormorant with glossy green-black plumage and slender bill. Breeds on sea cliffs and offshore stacks, often seen in small groups diving for fish. More coastal and cliff-associated than Great Cormorant.
Great Egret
Tall white heron 90–100 cm with long S-shaped neck and yellow bill. Feeds in shallow water on fish and frogs; increasingly regular breeder and frequent visitor to wetlands across Portugal.
Eurasian Spoonbill
Large white wader with spatulate bill used to sweep for small aquatic prey. Found in flocks in tidal flats and saltpans, especially during migration and winter, occasional summer breeder in southern wetlands.
Greater Flamingo
Large pink wader 120–150 cm with long legs and curved bill. Filters brine shrimp and algae in shallow lagoons; irregular but predictable in saltmarshes and estuaries, sometimes forms several-hundred-strong flocks.
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Striking black-and-white shorebird with bright orange bill used to open shellfish. Vocal and territorial on rocky shores and mudflats; common breeder on sandy islands and estuaries along Portugal’s coastline.
Ruddy Turnstone
Compact wader 22–25 cm with orange legs and patterned plumage. Bold, flips stones and seaweed to find invertebrates. Regular on rocky coasts and sandy beaches during migration and winter.
Sanderling
Small plump sandpiper that runs with surf, pale non-breeding plumage. Feeds on crustaceans and worms on the shore. Common migrant along Atlantic coast and in winter on exposed beaches.
Common Sandpiper
Small brown-and-white wader with distinctive bobbing tail. Forages on mud and rocks for insects and crustaceans. Regular spring and autumn migrant; breeds along inland streams and reservoirs.
Whimbrel
Large curlew with long down-curved bill and striped head. Probes soft mud for invertebrates and roosts in flocks on tidal flats. Regular spring and autumn migrant; visible on coastlines.
Black-tailed Godwit
Tall wader with long bill and straight posture; breeding plumage rusty. Feeds in shallow water on worms and molluscs. Regular passage migrant; uses coastal marshes and inland rice fields.
Kentish Plover
Small pale plover with black forehead band in breeding males. Uses open sandy flats and saltmarsh pools for nesting; common in summer on south and west coasts.
Yellow-legged Gull
Large gull with yellow legs and robust bill. Opportunistic feeder in coastal and urban areas; common breeder on cliffs and rooftops, abundant year-round along Portugal’s shoreline.
Audouin’s Gull
Medium-sized gull with slender build and dark eye ring. Specialist on small fish inshore; rare but regular along southern coasts and islands, occasional breeding in rocky islets.
Sandwich Tern
Slender tern with shaggy crest and black bill with yellow tip. Dives for fish in coastal waters; nests on sandy spits and islands. Migratory flocks common in spring and late summer.
Northern Gannet
Large white seabird with black wingtips and long pointed bill. Spectacular plunge-diver reaching high speed for fish. Seen offshore and near colonies on islands; numbers peak in winter and migration.
Cory’s Shearwater
Large shearwater with brown upperparts and pale underwing panel. Nocturnal colony habits, glides along ocean swells feeding on fish and squid. Major breeder in Azores and Madeira; visible offshore from boats.
Manx Shearwater
Small dark shearwater with silent gliding flight and long migrations. Nocturnal burrow nester on islands; common offshore in migration, often seen in summer near breeding colonies.
Bulwer’s Petrel
Slender dark seabird with long wings and fluttering flight. Nocturnal breeder on islands, forages at sea for squid and small fish. Locally common around Macaronesian islands and nearby waters.
Monteiro’s Storm-petrel
Small dark storm-petrel with fluttering, moth-like flight. Endemic breeder in specific Azores islets; nocturnal, nests in rock crevices, primarily feeds on planktonic prey on ocean surface.
Zino’s Petrel
Rare gadfly petrel with slim profile and dark upperparts. Breeds in high mountain laurisilva cliffs, extremely local and nocturnal. One of Europe’s rarest seabirds, sought by birders on Madeira.
Common Buzzard
Medium-large raptor with broad wings and variable plumage. Soars on thermals hunting small mammals and birds. Widespread and adaptable across mainland Portugal in open country and woodland edges.
Booted Eagle
Medium eagle with variable dark or pale morphs and compact wings. Migratory but breeds in Iberian woodlands; perches in trees and hunts small birds and reptiles during summer.
Common Kestrel
Small falcon often hovering while hunting rodents and large insects. Rusty back and dark streaking with long tail. Frequent across open countryside and towns, a familiar raptor year-round.
Peregrine Falcon
Powerful falcon with dark head and barred underparts. High-speed aerial predator of birds, nests on cliffs and tall buildings. Scattered breeder along coasts and river valleys; seen hunting over estuaries.
Trocaz Pigeon
Large pigeon endemic to Madeira with grey-brown plumage and paler head. Lives in laurel forest feeding on fruit and seeds; shy but approachable in protected woodlands, important endemic for Madeira birding.
Common Wood Pigeon
Large grey pigeon with white neck patches and rolling flight. Feeds on crops, seeds and fruit; abundant and widespread across woodlands, fields and urban green spaces.
European Turtle Dove
Elegant dove with warm plumage and black-and-white neck patch. Long-distance migrant returning to breed in scrub and orchards; populations have declined but still seen during migration and summer.
Common Swift
Black, cigar-shaped aerial insectivore spends most life on wing. Nests in buildings and under eaves, arrives April–May and departs in autumn. Spectacular screaming flocks near towns and cities during breeding season.
Pallid Swift
Similar to Common Swift but paler underwing and warmer brown tones. Favors southern Portugal and coastal cliffs for nesting; agile aerial insectivore often alongside Common Swift during migration.
Eurasian Hoopoe
Distinctive crested bird with pinkish body and black-and-white wings. Probes soil for insects with long curved bill. Irregular breeder and migrant across lowland farmland and gardens.
European Bee-eater
Colorful slender bird with green, blue and chestnut plumage. Feeds on flying insects captured in aerial sallies, nests colonially in sandy banks. Spectacular migrant in spring and early summer.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Medium woodpecker with black-and-white plumage and red under-tail; males have red nape. Drums and probes trees for insects and nests in cavities. Common in mature woods and large gardens.
Madeira Firecrest
Tiny energetic bird with vivid orange crest and black-and-white head pattern. Active flier flitting through canopy, gleans insects from leaves and branches. Restricted to Madeira’s laurisilva, a sought-after endemic.
European Robin
Familiar small bird with orange-red face and chest. Perches upright and flicks tail while feeding on insects and berries. Common and tame in gardens and woodlands year-round.
Common Nightingale
Warm brown singer famed for rich, reeling song delivered from dense cover. Skulking insectivore that breeds in spring and summer in lowland scrub; prized by birdwatchers for vocal displays.
Iberian Chiffchaff
Small warbler similar to Common Chiffchaff but warmer tones and distinct song. Breeds across Iberian Peninsula including Portugal, favors cork oak and pine edge habitats; insect gleaner often heard before seen.
Sardinian Warbler
Small black-capped warbler with grey body and red eye-ring. Bold in scrubby coastal habitats, feeds on insects and berries. Common across southern Portugal and on many coastal slopes.
Blackcap
Medium warbler with grey head; males have black cap. Melodious song and adaptable diet of insects and fruit. Widespread breeder and winter visitor in gardens and hedgerows across Portugal.
Eurasian Jay
Colorful corvid with pale face, pinkish-brown body and blue wing patches. Noisy and secretive, caches acorns and disperses oaks; common in mature woodlands and forested hills.
Iberian Magpie
Smart, long-tailed crow with blue wings and rufous back. Social, often in family groups in oak woodlands; restricted to Iberian Peninsula and a characteristic sight in rural Portugal.
Carrion Crow
Stout black corvid with glossy plumage and heavy bill. Omnivorous and adaptable, forages on fields and in urban areas; common and conspicuous across much of Portugal.
Common Raven
Large all-black corvid with deep croak and soaring flight. Intelligent, often seen in uplands and cliff areas; nests on crags and forages widely over moorland and farmland.
Southern Grey Shrike
Predatory passerine that impales prey on thorns; grey back, white underparts and black mask. Favors open, brushy habitats across southern and central Portugal; conspicuous perched hunter.
European Stonechat
Small perching passerine with upright stance; males show dark head and orange breast. Perches on gorse and fences, hawks insects; common in open shrubland and coastal dunes.
European Goldfinch
Small finch with red face, black-and-white head and yellow wing patch. Feeds on thistle and seed heads, forms lively flocks outside breeding season; popular in gardens and farmland.
Common Chaffinch
Plump finch with blue-grey head in males and warm rufous breast. Eats seeds and insects, often seen on bird feeders. Widespread breeder across forests and urban green spaces.
Azores Bullfinch
Rare, stout finch endemic to São Miguel with black cap and pinkish underparts. Confined to remnant laurisilva patches, feeds on buds and seeds. Conservation-dependent and the Azores’ most sought-after endemic.
