Belgium’s Native Animals: The Complete List

Belgium may be small, but its mix of coast, heathland, forests and rivers supports a wide variety of wildlife you can spot year-round. From coastal dunes to the Ardennes, familiar and shy species share a surprisingly rich set of habitats across provinces and protected areas.

There are 53 Belgium’s native animals, ranging from Barn owl to Wood mouse. Each entry is organized with Scientific name, Conservation status, Habitat / where to see — details you’ll find below.

Where are the best places in Belgium to observe these animals?

Look for species in their typical habitats: waders and seabirds along the coast and the Zwin reserve, woodland birds and mammals in the Ardennes, and heathland specialists in Flanders. Visit reserves, nature parks like Hoge Kempen, or local hides at dawn and dusk, and check seasonal guides or local rangers for recent sightings and access rules.

What should I know about the conservation status of these species?

Some entries are common, others are vulnerable or legally protected; the Conservation status column flags those concerns. Supporting habitat protection, avoiding disturbance, reporting sightings to local citizen-science projects, and following reserve guidelines are practical ways to help.

Belgium’s Native Animals

Images and Descriptions

Red fox

Adaptable omnivore commonly seen in fields, parks and urban edges. Hunts rodents and scavenges; clever and nocturnal, often spotted at dawn or dusk in suburbs and countryside.

European hedgehog

Spiny insectivore that forages at night in gardens and hedgerows. Builds nests in leaf litter, facing local declines from roads, pesticides and habitat loss.

Roe deer

Small, graceful deer common along woodland edges and hedgerows. Often seen at dawn and dusk browsing shrubs and young trees.

Wild boar

Large omnivore that roots for food, causing distinctive ground disturbance. Increasingly widespread in forests, often nocturnal and elusive.

European badger

Stocky, burrowing mammal living in social setts. Omnivorous diet; usually active at night and occasionally seen near roads and hedgerows.

Eurasian otter

Semi-aquatic predator feeding on fish and crustaceans. Secretive but recovering after pollution-era declines; look for tracks, spraints and night activity near clean waterways.

Eurasian beaver

Large, dam-building rodent reintroduced and now establishing populations. Creates ponds and wetland habitats, leaving gnawed trees and lodges visible along rivers.

European mole

Subterranean insectivore famous for molehills across lawns and meadows. Rarely seen above ground but leaves distinctive mounds.

Common pipistrelle

Tiny, widespread bat that hunts small insects at dusk. Roosts in roofs and tree cavities, common in towns and countryside.

Brown long-eared bat

Distinctive long-eared bat that gleans insects from foliage and buildings. Slow flyer often roosting in attics and tree cavities.

Red deer

Large deer species present in bigger forest blocks. Males roar during autumn rut; more secretive and confined to large woodlands.

European hare

Fast-running herbivore of open fields and arable land. Often seen at dawn and dusk, uses speed and camouflage to evade predators.

Pine marten

Arboreal mustelid that hunts small mammals and birds. Agile climber sometimes encountered near forest edges and old orchards.

Wood mouse

Nocturnal small rodent with large eyes and tail. Common in fields, hedgerows and buildings, important prey for owls and foxes.

Mute swan

Large white waterbird nesting on lakes and rivers. Familiar in parks and waterways, fiercely territorial when nesting.

Mallard

Common dabbling duck found in city ponds and rural wetlands. Adaptable omnivore and frequent visitor to feeding sites.

Common kingfisher

Small, brilliantly colored bird that dives for small fish. Best seen from quiet riverbanks at dawn or dusk.

Common buzzard

Medium-sized raptor frequently perched on posts and soaring over fields, hunting small mammals and carrion.

Eurasian sparrowhawk

Agile small hawk preying on passerines; darts through trees and is often seen pursuing birds in suburban areas.

Barn swallow

Iconic fork-tailed swallow that nests in barns and under eaves. Migratory breeder returning in spring to raise young.

Eurasian coot

Black waterbird with white frontal shield common on ponds and reedbeds, often seen swimming and diving for vegetation.

Great cormorant

Large black fish-eating bird often seen drying wings on posts; fishes along coasts and inland waters.

Black-headed gull

Small gull with dark summer head; common on beaches, mudflats and inland waters, noisy in colonies.

Eurasian oystercatcher

Black-and-white shorebird with bright orange bill specialized in feeding on shellfish on tidal flats and sandy shores.

Common tern

Elegant, cliff-nesting seabird that dives for small fish. Breeds in colonies on shingle and islands near the coast.

European robin

Familiar orange-breasted songbird often seen in gardens. Bold around people and sings through much of the year.

Great tit

Bold, adaptable cavity-nesting bird visiting feeders. Vocal and common in parks, woodlands and suburban gardens.

Eurasian blue tit

Small colorful tit frequent at feeders and nesting boxes, quick and lively in deciduous trees.

Common chaffinch

Colorful finch with a varied song that inhabits hedgerows and parks, common across Belgium.

Eurasian wren

Tiny, energetic singer preferring dense cover. Often heard more than seen, popping around low vegetation.

Barn owl

Silent nocturnal hunter of rodents that nests in barns and church towers. Vulnerable to habitat loss but still breeding locally.

Little grebe

Small diving waterbird that skulks among reeds, often seen as small floating balls with rapid dives.

Common sandpiper

Wading bird bobbing along muddy shores, nests on stones and pebbles near fresh water.

Common blackbird

Familiar melodious songster; males glossy black and common in towns and countryside, often feeding on the ground.

Common frog

Brown-green frog appearing en masse in spring to breed in ponds. Common in gardens, hedgerows and woodland pools.

Common toad

Stout, warty amphibian migrating to ponds for spawning. Nocturnal and often found under cover in gardens.

Smooth newt

Small aquatic newt; males show bright colors in breeding season. Found in garden ponds and quiet pools.

Fire salamander

Black amphibian with yellow markings, secretive and active at night. Females give birth to larvae in streams.

Grass snake

Non-venomous water snake with yellow collar, often near water feeding on frogs and fish; shy but sometimes seen basking.

Common lizard

Small brown lizard that basks on rocks and tolerates cooler climates by giving live birth to young.

Slow worm

Legless lizard resembling a snake, feeds on slugs and worms, commonly found in gardens and hedgerows.

European eel

Catadromous fish that spawns in the Sargasso Sea. Numbers have plunged; adults live in rivers and estuaries before migrating to sea.

Brown trout

Native trout of clean upland rivers, prized by anglers; shows variable life histories including migratory and resident forms.

Northern pike

Ambush predator with large mouth, lurking among vegetation to snap up fish; common target for anglers.

European perch

Striped freshwater fish common in lakes and canals, often caught by anglers and feeding on smaller fish and invertebrates.

Roach

Hardy schooling fish typical of slow waters and canals, common across Belgium’s inland waters.

Tench

Olive-green bottom-dweller tolerant of low oxygen conditions, frequent in weedy, slow-moving waters.

Stag beetle

Large dark beetle with impressive mandibles in males. Larvae develop in decaying wood; protected and cherished in gardens and woods.

European honey bee

Familiar pollinator forming colonies; both wild and managed populations play a crucial role in pollination of crops and wildflowers.

Common blue

Small blue butterfly found on clover-rich grasslands. Males brightly colored; caterpillars feed on legumes and other wildflowers.

Small tortoiseshell

Vibrant orange-black butterfly whose caterpillars feed on nettles. Common in gardens and hedgerows, often seen basking.

Emperor dragonfly

Large, colorful dragonfly that patrols ponds and lakes. Strong flier often hovering over open water catching insects.

White-clawed crayfish

Native freshwater crayfish now threatened by disease and invasive crayfish. Survives in a few clean, well-oxygenated streams and rivers.

Native Animals in Other Countries