How Many Of These Places Are On Your Travel List?
Bird watching is a wonderful hobby for wildlife and travel lovers. Whether you're a seasoned watcher or a complete newbie, there are many breathtaking places in the world to catch sight of birds in their natural habitat, from the rare puffin to the spectacular pink flamingo. To help you catch (sight) of 'em all, here are the 20 best destinations for bird watching the world has to offer.
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1. Bhutan
Bhutan is a country in the Himalayas. The country's conservation projects, which protect its forests from deforestation, ensure that bird species thrive here like nowhere else. Chestnut-breasted partridges and emerald cuckoos are just some of the spectacles it has to offer.
2. Costa Rica
Monteverde Cloud Forest and Tortuguero National Park are just some of the world-class bird-watching spots Costa Rica has to offer. Tropical delights like quetzals, toucans, and macaws reside here.
3. The Gambia
The Gambia is a country in West Africa known for its vast nature reserves. Abuko National Park is home to over 300 bird species, including violet turacos, yellow-breasted apalis, and kingfishers.
Siegfried Poepperl on Unsplash
4. Manu National Park
With over 1,000 species of birds, Peru's Manu National Park has the highest biodiversity of any protected area in the world. Although humans aren't allowed entry to much of it, there is spectacular bird watching around the perimeter where you can spot violetears, Amazonian umbrellabird, and Andean cock-of-the-rocks to name a few.
5. Pantanal
Pantanal in Brazil is the largest natural wetland in the world. The stunning area is home to over 600 species of birds, including hyacinth macaws, jabirus, and rufescent tiger herons, but remember to visit in the dry season between July and October.
6. Everglades National Park
Florida's Everglades National Park is made up of a variety of terrain, including swamps, rocklands, marl prairies, and marshes. Look down on the ground to see storks and herons foraging for food and gaze up to spot birds of prey, ominously circling above.
7. Bosque del Apache
New Mexico's Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge is home to almost 400 bird species, including the snow goose, waterfowl, various birds of prey, and the threatened yellow-billed cuckoo. Drive the auto tour loop or hike one of the trails to spot them.
Frank Schulenburg on Wikimedia
8. Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands offer some of the best wildlife spotting in the world. Many of the bird species here are unique to the area and have little fear of humans, allowing you to get up close and personal. The Galápagos penguin and Galápagos hawk are just a couple of examples.
9. Iguazu National Park
Argentina's Iguazu National Park is an area of subtropical rainforest packed with diverse wildlife. Striking macaws, toucans, and tanagers are just some of the 150 species you can find.
10. The Camargue
The Camargue is a wetland in coastal France that's home to pink flamingoes, egrets, and pied avocets among many others. Go in the spring to glimpse the migratory birds returning from their sojourn in Africa.
11. The Aleutian Islands
The Aleutian Islands are a chain of volcanic islands off the coast of Alaska. In the summer, you can see puffins and guillemots, while loons and parakeets can be seen all year. Bogoslof Island is particularly special because it's a breeding ground for hundreds of species of marine birds.
12. Papua New Guinea
Because this island in Oceania is relatively isolated, it's practically untouched by humans, allowing wildlife to thrive. About 760 bird species, many of which are endemic, reside here, including ribbon-tailed astrapia, birds of paradise, and rare yellow-eyed starlings.
Francesco Veronesi from Italy on Wikimedia
13. New Zealand
New Zealand is home to over 200 species of birds, almost half of which are endemic. Stewart Island and Otago Peninsula are some of the best places to bird watch. You can spot albatrosses and yellow-eyed penguins, to name a few.
14. Jamaica
Jamaica is one of the safest and most accessible places to go bird watching. What's more, it also houses a greater variety of endemic bird species than any other country in the West Indies. Among them are chestnut-bellied cuckoos, Jamaican blackbirds, and the crested quail-dove.
15. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uganda that's renowned for its biologically diverse rainforest. 350 bird species can be found here, including the black bee-eater, regal sunbird, and mountain oriole.
16. Trinidad
The lush Caribbean island of Trinidad is known for its diverse population of birds. Bird watchers flock to Asa Wright Nature Centre, Caroni Bird Sanctuary, and Nariva Swamp to view the over 480 bird species that reside on the island, including the savanna hawk, wattled jacana, and barred antshrike.
Francesco Veronesi on Wikimedia
17. Andalusia
Andalusia in Southern Spain is one of the best places to go bird watching in Europe. In Doñana National Park, you may find the endangered Spanish imperial eagle and the rare red-necked nightjar, while the wetlands are home to flamingos, herons, and egrets.
18. Bale Mountains
Ethiopia's Bale Mountains are characterized by their breathtaking waterfalls cut into the volcanic rock. There are several bird species unique to the area, including the yellow-bellied swee, Salvadori’s seedeater, and collared sunbird.
19. Los Llanos
Los Lanos in the Colombian Andes is a large tropical grassland that harbors over 700 species of birds, representing 36 percent of all of the country's bird species. The scarlet ibis, roseate spoonbill, and capped heron are just a few of them.
20. Hokkaido
The lush and mountainous island of Hokkaido, Japan, is known for its natural hot springs, volcanoes, and yes, birds. Over 300 species reside here, including the white-tailed eagle, oriental greenfinch, and Japanese pygmy woodpecker.
