Birdwatching in Greece

Greece Travel Secrets explores the best areas for Birdwatching in Greece including the Prespa Lakes, Evros River Delta, Dadia Forest and Mesolongi.

Greece is not just a popular destination for tourists, it is just as popular with migrating birds. For those birds which want to fly over the Eastern Mediterranean, it makes an ideal route, enabling the migrants from Central and Eastern Europe to fly across the mainland, or down through the islands, and then across to Crete from where it is a short flight to North Africa.

Dalmatian Pelican

Birdwatching in Greece: The Prespa Lakes

There are several places in the country which are vital breeding grounds for birds, some of them seriously endangered. For example, the Prespa Lakes near the Albanian border are one of the few remaining areas in Europe where the Dalmatian pelican breeds, a bird which is regarded as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Council for Bird Preservation. There are less than 1000 pairs worldwide, and almost 20% of these nest in the Prespa Lakes.

Also see our page about Birdwatching on Lesbos

So too does the White Pelican – the only place in Greece where it can be found. Other important species there include the pygmy cormorant (also ‘vulnerable’), the rare goosander, and magnificent raptors such as the golden eagle, short-toed eagle and the booted eagle.

Birdwatching in Greece: Evros River Delta

Even more important for Greece’s bird population is the Evros River Delta, east of Alexandroupolis and close to the Turkish border. This is a politically sensitive area but is a haven for wintering ducks and geese, with as many as 100,000 birds there at one time. Over 75% of Greece’s 408 species of birds have been seen in the Evros Delta. These include more pygmy cormorants, ordinary cormorants, white pelicans, herons, egrets, storks and any number of waders. Sea eagles can also be seen here.

Birdwatching in Greece: The Dadia Forest

If you are especially interested in birds of prey you should head north from the Evros Delta and into the Dadia Forest, where no less than 36 of Europe’s 39 species of raptors have been spotted. Twenty-six of those species are known to live and nest in the pine forests on the slopes of the Evros Mountains. These include Greece’s rarest bird of prey, the sea eagle, one of the rarest in Europe, the black vulture, and others such as the griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, golden eagle and the Levant sparrowhawk.

Birdwatching in Greece: Mesolongi Wetlands

On the western coast of mainland Greece, the wetlands around Mesolongi are among the most important in Greece. These are created by rivers such as the Acheloos and Evinos, which flow down from the mountains and between them have created a vast series of lagoons, mud flats, marshes and reed beds.

Almost 300 species of birds have been observed here, and in winter there are vast numbers of coots (an estimated 30,000) and ducks (over 20,000). One important species here is the slender-billed curlew, which is endangered in Russia, where it nests, and Mesolongi is a vital stopping-off point on its migratory journey to its winter home in North Africa. 

A wide range of raptors has also been seen here, including the rare sea eagle and black vulture, while the sheer variety of the terrain makes it one of the most fascinating places in Greece for those interested in ornithology.

Birdwatching in Greece: Axios Delta National Park

Read this piece about where you can go birdwatching just a short distance from the centre of Thessaloniki:

https://www.greece-is.com/the-axios-delta-national-park-birdwatching-on-thessalonikis-doorstep/

Our Pick of the Guides to Greece

Rough-Guide-Greece-2022.png

Other Outdoors Pages

  • The Evros Delta National Park is one of the most important wetlands in the whole of Europe, and a magnet for birdwatchers, with nearby accommodation.

    Evros Delta National Park in Thrace, Greece

    The Evros Delta National Park is one of the most important wetlands in the whole of Europe, and a magnet for birdwatchers, with nearby accommodation.

  • The Dadia Forest in eastern Greece is famous for wildlife, especially birds, with accommodation and information available at the Dadia Ecotourism Centre.

    Dadia Forest Reserve and Ecotourism Centre

    The Dadia Forest in eastern Greece is famous for wildlife, especially birds, with accommodation and information available at the Dadia Ecotourism Centre.

  • Greece Travel Secrets goes hiking in southwest Crete with Ramblers Walking Holidays based in Paleohora and hiking the E4 footpath and to Anidri and Azogires.

    Hiking in Southwest Crete

    Greece Travel Secrets goes hiking in southwest Crete with Ramblers Walking Holidays based in Paleohora and hiking the E4 footpath and to Anidri and Azogires.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. 10 Historic Tavernas in Athens and Piraeus

    These places win us over with their authenticity, unpretentious atmosphere, and dishes that, though simple, are crafted with precision and care.

    Read More

  2. Next Stop: Ancient Thessaloniki

    The “open museums” unveiled by the operation of the metro – Guided tours begin in January.

    Read More

  3. Syros: A Culinary Tapestry

    The gastronomic identity of Syros is a blend of romance, nostalgia, and a hint of drama – a rich mosaic of international flavors imbued with urban sophistication.

    Read More

  4. Thessaloniki Metro: A New Era on Track

    Thirty years after the first plans were announced, a new subway system is changing not just how residents get around town but how they experience their city, too.

    Read More

  5. A Day Trip to Mount Parnassos

    Busy schedules don’t always allow for extended getaways, but Mount Parnassos and its enchanting landscapes are perfect for a refreshing day trip.

    Read More

  6. 3 Museums Showcasing Athens’ Industrial Heritage

    Step beyond the well-trodden paths of Athens’ iconic landmarks and explore a different side of the Greek capital by visiting three lesser-known industrial museums.

    Read More

  7. Greece’s November 20 Strike to Disrupt Ferry Services and Public Transport

    A 24-hour nationwide strike is set to disrupt transportation in Athens and travel across Greece on Wednesday, November 20, as public transport and ferry employees join a general strike organized by Gr…

    Read More

  8. Museum of Modern Greek Culture

    A New Cultural Jewel in Plaka

    Read More

  9. Zakynthos: Greek Draft Law Plans Ticket Requirement for Navagio Beach

    Visitors to Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) on the island of Zakynthos will be required to purchase tickets for entrance once it reopens to the public, according to a new draft law proposed by the Gre…

    Read More

  10. Musicians Ex Machina Breathe New Life into Greece’s Mountain Villages

    A band of motorcycle-riding musicians is sending a powerful, melodic message from Greece's remote mountain villages that are at risk of being left deserted.

    Read More