Malta’s compact islands are a surprising hotspot for birdwatching, where seabirds, passage migrants and a few year-round residents use cliffs, marshes and coastal fields as stopovers or breeding sites. Short walks and a few hides make many species easy to observe without long treks.
There are 50 Birds of Malta, ranging from Audouin’s Gull to Yellow-legged Gull. For each species the list shows Scientific name,Status & habitat,Months present so you can plan visits and confirm sightings — residents, regular migrants and notable vagrants you’ll find below.
When is the best time to see the most species in Malta?
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) migration peaks are the richest times for numbers and variety; winter brings gulls and some seaducks, while summer highlights breeding terns and shearwaters. Check the Months present column to target specific groups.
How should I use the Scientific name,Status & habitat,Months present columns in the list?
Use the Scientific name to avoid confusion with similar common names, Status & habitat to choose the right sites (salt pans, cliffs, farmland), and Months present to time trips or report rare records — together they make planning and identification quicker and more reliable.
Birds of Malta
| Name | Scientific name | Status & habitat | Months present |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | Resident, towns/cliffs/urban | Jan–Dec |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Resident, gardens/farmland | Jan–Dec |
| European Turtle-Dove | Streptopelia turtur | Summer visitor and breeder, scrub/farmland | Mar–Sep |
| Common Swift | Apus apus | Summer visitor, towns/cliffs | Apr–Sep |
| European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster | Passage migrant, open country/cliffs | Apr–Jun; Aug–Sep |
| Eurasian Hoopoe | Upupa epops | Passage migrant and occasional breeder, scrub/gardens | Mar–May; Aug–Sep |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | Scarce visitor, coastal freshwater sites | Oct–Mar mainly |
| Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | Resident, farmland/urban/cliffs | Jan–Dec |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | Passage and scarce breeder, cliffs/urban | Feb–Oct |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Passage and occasional winter visitor, coastal waters | Mar–May; Aug–Oct (sometimes year-round) |
| Yellow-legged Gull | Larus michahellis | Resident breeder, coasts/harbours/urban | Jan–Dec |
| Audouin’s Gull | Ichthyaetus audouinii | Scarce visitor, offshore/coastal | Mar–Nov mainly |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons | Summer visitor and breeder, sandy beaches/saltpans | Apr–Aug |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis | Passage and winter offshore, coastal | Mar–Nov |
| Scopoli’s Shearwater | Calonectris diomedea | Pelagic migrant, offshore waters | Mar–Nov |
| European Storm-petrel | Hydrobates pelagicus | Pelagic visitor, offshore at night/dawn | Apr–Oct |
| Greater Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus | Passage and winter visitor, lagoons/saltpans | Sep–Mar |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus | Passage and occasional breeder, shallow wetlands | Mar–Oct |
| Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Breeding summer visitor, sandy beaches/saltpans | Mar–Sep |
| Little Stint | Calidris minuta | Passage migrant, mudflats/saltpans | Apr–May; Jul–Oct |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | Passage migrant, rocky shores/mudflats | Mar–May; Aug–Oct |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | Passage and winter, rocky shores/freshwater | Mar–Nov |
| Common Redshank | Tringa totanus | Winter visitor and passage, mudflats/saltpans | Sep–Mar |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Resident, freshwater pools/saltpans | Jan–Dec |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus | Winter visitor and passage, coastal waters | Oct–Mar |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Resident and winter visitor, coasts/saltpans | Jan–Dec |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | Passage and occasional breeder, farmland/fields | Mar–Nov |
| Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | Passage and winter visitor, marshes/saltpans | Aug–Apr |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | Resident, reedbeds/freshwater pools | Jan–Dec |
| Eurasian Coot | Fulica atra | Resident and winter visitor, pools/saltpans | Jan–Dec |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Resident and winter visitor, wetlands/coastal lakes | Jan–Dec |
| Northern Shoveler | Spatula clypeata | Winter visitor, shallow brackish pools/saltpans | Oct–Mar |
| Garganey | Spatula querquedula | Spring passage migrant, wetlands/saltpans | Mar–May |
| Common Buzzard | Buteo buteo | Passage and winter visitor, farmland/cliffs | Sep–Apr |
| Eurasian Sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | Passage and scarce breeder, woodland/urban edge | Sep–Apr |
| European Robin | Erithacus rubecula | Winter visitor and passage, gardens/woodland | Sep–Apr |
| Common Nightingale | Luscinia megarhynchos | Passage and breeding, dense scrub/garrigue | Mar–Jun |
| Sardinian Warbler | Curruca melanocephala | Resident and breeding, scrub/garrigue | Jan–Dec |
| Blackcap | Sylvia atricapilla | Passage and winter visitor, gardens/scrub | Sep–Apr |
| Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | Passage and winter, scrub/woodland | Sep–Apr |
| Willow Warbler | Phylloscopus trochilus | Passage migrant, scrub/woodland | Mar–May; Aug–Oct |
| Great Tit | Parus major | Resident, gardens/woodland | Jan–Dec |
| Blue Tit | Cyanistes caeruleus | Resident, gardens/woodland | Jan–Dec |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Resident, towns/villages | Jan–Dec |
| Spanish Sparrow | Passer hispaniolensis | Passage and local breeder, rural/agricultural | Mar–Nov |
| European Greenfinch | Chloris chloris | Resident and winter visitor, gardens/farmland | Jan–Dec |
| European Goldfinch | Carduelis carduelis | Resident and passage, gardens/farmland | Jan–Dec |
| Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Passage and winter visitor, towns/farmland | Oct–Mar |
| Northern Wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | Passage migrant, open ground/coastal | Mar–May; Aug–Oct |
| Common Whitethroat | Sylvia communis | Passage and occasional breeder, scrub/garrigue | Mar–May; Aug–Oct |
Images and Descriptions
Rock Dove
Feral urban pigeon derived from wild Rock Dove; common across Malta in towns, harbours and coastal cliffs. Very numerous and familiar, often in flocks on rooftops and quays; local feral populations show varied plumage but typical grey form common.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Pale grey dove with distinctive black neck collar; very common in towns, villages and agricultural areas. Expanding population since arrival; often feeds in flocks on seeds and scraps, nests on buildings and trees and is easily seen year-round.
European Turtle-Dove
Graceful mottled dove arriving in spring to breed in scrub, hedges and farmland. Numbers have declined severely but migrants and summer breeders still occur; listen for its purring ‘tur-tur’ call and spot at dawn or dusk in quieter countryside.
Common Swift
Aerial specialist spending most of its life on the wing; arrives in spring and nests in buildings and cliffs. Extremely common in summer over towns, feeding on flying insects at high speed; distinctive screaming calls and scythe-shaped wings.
European Bee-eater
Flashy colourful migrant with cinnamon, green and blue plumage; flies through in spring and autumn in small flocks. Seen perched on wires or hawking bees and wasps from vantage points; occasional local breeding attempts have happened.
Eurasian Hoopoe
Striking crest-bearing bird with black-and-white wings and cinnamon body; passes through and sometimes breeds in scrubby areas and gardens. Feeds on ground insects with long curved bill; conspicuous slow flight and distinctive ‘hoop-hoop’ call.
Common Kingfisher
Small vivid blue-and-orange fishing bird found at coastal ponds and small streams. Scarce but regular in winter and during passage, perches low and dives for fish; look for rapid flashes and high-pitched calls near reed-fringed waters.
Common Kestrel
Small falcon often seen hovering over fields hunting insects and small mammals. Widespread resident in Malta, common in farmland, roadsides and cliffs; recognizable by hovering behavior, reddish back and pale underparts with dark streaks.
Peregrine Falcon
Powerful fast raptor occasionally breeding on cliffs and buildings; appears during migration and winter. Seldom seen but notable for high-speed stoops at prey; best viewed along coastal cliffs and from promontories during migration.
Osprey
Large fish-eating raptor seen during migration over coastal waters, occasionally wintering. Recognisable by white underparts, dark eye-stripe and direct flight; watches for fish then plunges feet-first to catch prey. Best seen from headlands and seabird-watch boats.
Yellow-legged Gull
Large common gull around harbours, coasts and landfill sites; breeds on cliffs and urban rooftops. Abundant year-round, bold scavenger and frequent at fish markets; adults show yellow legs and heavy bill with red spot.
Audouin’s Gull
A medium-sized Mediterranean gull seen offshore and at harbours during migration and summer. Scarce but regular in Maltese waters; fine pale plumage and dark eye-markings distinguish adults. Best sought from seawatches and rocky coastlines.
Little Tern
Tiny pale tern that nests on sandy beaches and saltpans; summer visitor in Malta and occasional breeder. Elegant hovering feeding style and a black forehead patch; vulnerable to disturbance so breed sites are monitored and protected.
Sandwich Tern
Large tern with shaggy crest and black bill tipped yellow; common offshore in spring and autumn passage and winters in small numbers. Often seen in flocks feeding on small fish; best observed from headlands and harbours.
Scopoli’s Shearwater
A large Mediterranean shearwater seen off Malta in spring-autumn, gliding low over waves. Commoner offshore on passage and during local pelagic watches; dark upperparts, pale underwing patch and stiff-winged flight make it conspicuous at sea.
European Storm-petrel
Tiny dark seabird which boots over the sea surface, often seen on pelagic trips at night and dawn. Regular offshore in Maltese waters during warm months; distinctive fluttering flight and white rump patch help identification.
Greater Flamingo
Tall pink wading bird increasingly regular in Maltese saltpans and lagoons during migration and winter. Often in small flocks feeding by filtering brackish water; striking long legs and curved bill make it easy to spot at shorelines.
Black-winged Stilt
Leggy black-and-white wader frequenting shallow brackish pools and saltpans. Regular on passage and sometimes breeds locally; notable for long pink legs and delicate bill, probes for invertebrates in shallow water and is highly conspicuous.
Kentish Plover
Small pale plover that nests on sandy beaches and saltpans, common in spring and summer. Local breeder at selected beaches; watch for tiny white-faced birds running along the shore and distinctive broken calls.
Little Stint
Tiny, active wader seen in spring and autumn migration on mudflats and saltpans. Slim, dark-legged sandpiper with fast feeding manner; common passage migrant and easy to overlook among mixed flocks of small calidrids.
Whimbrel
Large curved-billed wader arriving on passage in spring and autumn; often on rocky shores and mudflats. Characteristic long downcurved bill and bubbling call in flight; seen in small flocks during migration along the coast.
Common Sandpiper
Confiding small wader that bobs its tail while probing shorelines; regular on passage and in winter at streams, ponds and coasts. Common along rocky coastlines and inland freshwater, often solitary with distinctive flight pattern.
Common Redshank
Medium wader with red legs and loud piping calls; winters on Maltese mudflats and saltpans in variable numbers. Feeds on crustaceans and worms, conspicuous and easy to identify at close range on shallow coastal pools.
Little Grebe
Small diving waterbird found in freshwater and saline pools; resident in Malta’s larger ponds and marshes. Secretive but often visible when swimming or diving; shows compact shape, chestnut neck in breeding season and rapid surface dives.
Great Crested Grebe
Elegant diving bird with ornate head plumes in breeding season; regular winter visitor on calm coastal waters and reservoirs. Seen swimming with characteristic undulating motion and performing occasional courtship displays in spring where numbers permit.
Little Egret
Slender white heron increasingly common around Malta’s lagoons, saltpans and rocky shores. Hunts in shallow water for fish and invertebrates, stands motionless then strikes; locally widespread and often seen feeding near shorelines and wetlands.
Cattle Egret
Small stocky white heron often near livestock and tractors in fields; passage migrant and occasional breeder in Malta. Forages for insects flushed by grazing animals and appears in farmland, saltpans margins and loose groups in migration.
Glossy Ibis
Dark iridescent ibis with long down-curved bill; recorded on migration and in winter at marshes and saltpans. Often seen feeding in shallow water probing for invertebrates; sightings have become more regular in recent years.
Common Moorhen
Common waterbird of reed-fringed ponds and marshes; resident in Malta’s freshwater habitats. Dark plumage with red frontal shield and white flank stripes, walks on floating vegetation and feeds on plants, invertebrates and small fish.
Eurasian Coot
Black diving waterbird common on larger freshwater pools and some brackish lagoons; year-round presence with numbers increasing in winter. White frontal shield and lobed toes distinguish it; dives for plant material and small animals.
Mallard
Familiar dabbling duck common in freshwater ponds, lagoons and occasionally coastal pools; resident with influxes in winter. Males show iridescent green head in breeding plumage, often seen in mixed flocks and attracted to public feeding.
Northern Shoveler
Distinctive large-billed dabbling duck seen in winter on shallow brackish pools and saltpans. Males show green head and spatulate bill; feeds by filtering surface water, occurs annually though in modest numbers.
Garganey
Small dabbling duck of spring passage that frequents shallow wetlands and flooded fields. Males in breeding plumage show distinctive white head stripe; passage numbers vary but species is a sought-after migrant in Malta.
Common Buzzard
Broad-winged raptor seen on migration and in winter perched on poles or circling above fields. Variable plumage, commoner in cooler months, hunts rodents and small birds; visible from inland countryside and headlands.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Small forest-dwelling hawk that moves through Malta on migration and sometimes breeds in scrub and gardens. Fast agile flight through trees hunting small birds, often seen near wooded valleys and suburban areas.
European Robin
Familiar red-breasted songbird more common in winter, visiting gardens and wooded garrigue. Bold and inquisitive, often perches near paths and feeds on invertebrates and berries; appreciated by birdwatchers for its approachable nature.
Common Nightingale
Powerful singing thrush-like passerine that passes through and breeds in scrubby garrigue and hedgerows. Elusive by sight but heard at dawn and dusk; prized for its rich melodious song during spring and early summer.
Sardinian Warbler
Common noisy warbler of Mediterranean scrub with grey body and black head in males; resident throughout Malta in garrigue and coastal scrub. Bold and active, often seen and heard in dense vegetation and garden hedges.
Blackcap
Discreet warbler visiting gardens and scrub during migration and winter; male has black cap, females brown. Common on passage, sings melodiously, often seen in hedgerows and wooded areas searching for insects and berries.
Chiffchaff
Small greenish warbler that drops through Malta on migration and winters in small numbers in scrub and gardens. Often detected by its repetitive ‘chiff-chaff’ song and tail-wagging behavior while gleaning insects among foliage.
Willow Warbler
Graceful pale warbler seen on spring and autumn passage in Malta’s garrigue and woods. Longer winged and paler than chiffchaff, sings a descending melodious phrase; common passage migrant and sometimes seen in mixed warbler flocks.
Great Tit
Common garden and woodland bird with bold black head and yellow underparts; resident across Malta in trees and parks. Visits feeders, vocal and adaptable, often seen year-round in urban and rural settings.
Blue Tit
Small colourful tit with blue cap and yellow belly; widespread in Maltese gardens and wooded valleys. Active and acrobatic on feeders and tree branches, resident year-round and more common where mature trees occur.
House Sparrow
Towns’ common small brown passer, abundant around houses, gardens and farmyards. Males show grey crown and black bib; social and noisy, often nesting in buildings and feeding on scraps and seeds, familiar to residents across Malta.
Spanish Sparrow
Chunky sparrow of farmland and villages, occurs as passage migrant and breeds locally in agricultural areas. Males show streaked crown and chestnut nape; often in loose flocks and sometimes hybridises with House Sparrow in Malta.
European Greenfinch
Plump green-and-yellow finch common in gardens, orchards and hedgerows; resident with higher numbers in winter. Feeds on seeds and visits feeders, gregarious in non-breeding season and conspicuous by song and flight calls.
European Goldfinch
Bright red-faced finch with black-and-yellow wings; common in gardens, scrub and farmland. Often forms loose flocks, feeds on thistle and weed seeds, and is attracted to nyjer and seed feeders in towns and countryside.
Common Starling
Glossy iridescent passer that gathers in flocks on farmland and urban areas in winter. Common passage and winter visitor, forages on ground for insects and seeds; impressive murmuration flocks sometimes visible during migration.
Northern Wheatear
Smart small passer seen on migration, perching on walls and rocks across open countryside and coasts. Spring and autumn migrant in Malta, males have pale plumage and upright stance; common and conspicuous on passage.
Common Whitethroat
Active grey-backed warbler of spring and autumn passage, often seen in dense scrub and hedges. Males show rufous throat in breeding season; common migrant and sometimes breeds in favourable scrubby sites.
