SeasonMap

Birdlife season, month by month around the world

Puffins on the cliffs, cranes on the marsh — the weeks the birds are in.

70 destinations on SeasonMap, ranked within each month by the comfort score — because the point is not only where the season is on, but whether the weather is worth the trip while it is.

← All seasons · The world's calendar

When it is on

Number of destinations with birdlife season on in that month. Windows move a little each year.

Birdlife season in January

  1. 🇳🇿 Napier, New ZealandGannets at Cape Kidnappers · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)One of the few mainland gannet colonies in the world sits on the cliffs south of the bay.91climate
  2. 🇰🇪 Nairobi, KenyaMigrant bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Palearctic migrants arrive with the short rains and stay into April, which is when the national park, the Athi plains and the Rift lakes an hour away hold the most species.90climate
  3. 🇵🇪 Paracas, PeruSea lion pups on the Ballestas · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)The sea lion colonies pup over the southern summer and the noise off the rocks carries across the water.90climate
  4. Dakhla, Western SaharaWaders on the lagoon · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)The shallows fill with flamingos, spoonbills and waders wintering down the Atlantic flyway, and they are visible from the same water the kites use.90climate
  5. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaPenguins at Punta Tombo · 1 Sep – 31 MarMagellanic penguins hold the colony south of town from September, chicks on the ground by December and the whole lot gone by April.87climate
  6. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.86climate
  7. 🇹🇼 Tainan, TaiwanBlack-faced spoonbills at Qigu · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoons and old salt pans north of the city hold the largest share of the world's black-faced spoonbills every winter.85climate
  8. 🇸🇳 Saint-Louis, SenegalDjoudj bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Djoudj, an hour north, is the first fresh water millions of European migrants meet after the Sahara.85climate
  9. 🇬🇲 Kololi, GambiaBirdwatching season · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Kotu bridge and the Bijilo woods are the easiest birding in West Africa and they are five minutes from the hotels.84climate
  10. 🇦🇷 El Calafate, ArgentinaFlamingos on Laguna Nimez · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The reserve on the edge of town fills with Chilean flamingos, black-necked swans and upland geese through the southern spring and summer.83climate
  11. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaSeabird nesting season · 1 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)Sooty terns, noddies and tropicbirds come back to nest from spring, some of them on the ground beside the road.83climate
  12. 🇵🇹 Tavira, PortugalWaders on the Ria Formosa · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon fills with wintering waders from October: flamingos on the salt pans, spoonbills, avocets and the resident storks nesting on every chimney by February.82climate
  13. Stanley, Falkland IslandsPenguin breeding season · 1 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)King, gentoo and Magellanic colonies fill up from October, with chicks on the ground through December and January.82climate
  14. 🇨🇾 Larnaca, CyprusFlamingos on the salt lake · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Several thousand flamingos winter on the salt lake behind the airport, a ten-minute walk from the Hala Sultan Tekke.81climate
  15. 🇨🇱 Punta Arenas, ChilePenguin colony season · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)Magellanic penguins hold Isla Magdalena and the Seno Otway colony through the southern summer and the boats only sail in that window.81climate
  16. 🇵🇹 Faro, PortugalWinter birds on the Ria Formosa · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon on the city's doorstep holds flamingos, spoonbills and thousands of waders through the winter, and the boardwalk at Ludo is walkable from the airport road.80climate
  17. 🇺🇸 Everglades National Park, United StatesWading bird nesting · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Herons, egrets, wood storks and roseate spoonbills nest through the dry months, when falling water makes fishing easy.78climate
  18. 🇬🇲 Banjul, GambiaBirdwatching season · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)European migrants join the residents on the Tanbi mangroves and the river creeks either side of the capital from November.78climate
  19. 🇹🇿 Serengeti, TanzaniaMigrant birding season · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)European and Asian migrants arrive with the short rains and stay until April, on top of the residents in breeding plumage.75climate
  20. 🇨🇳 Kunming, ChinaBlack-headed gulls on the lakes · 1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually)Gulls have wintered on Green Lake and Dianchi since the mid-eighties and the city treats them as residents.75climate
  21. 🇰🇪 Watamu, KenyaMigratory birds arrive · 1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)Palearctic migrants join the resident specialities of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest just inland from November to April, doubling the reason to add a morning in the forest to a beach stay.73climate
  22. 🇹🇹 Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoSeabirds on Little Tobago · 1 Oct – 30 Jun (usually)Red-billed tropicbirds nest on the island off Speyside through the dry half of the year and frigatebirds harry them over the ridge.73climate
  23. 🇲🇦 Merzouga, MoroccoFlamingos on Dayet Srji · 15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually)In a wet winter the seasonal lake west of the dunes fills and flamingos and waders drop in on their way north.72climate
  24. 🇳🇵 Chitwan, NepalWintering birds · 1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)Around 160 migrant species drop into the oxbows and grasslands from the north for the cool months, on top of a resident list already among the longest in Nepal.72climate
  25. Grytviken, South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsKing penguin colonies · 1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)The colonies at St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain hold birds all year, but this is when they are at their loudest and most crowded, with last season's brown chicks still moulting among the adults.72climate

…and 15 more in January.

What's on around the world in January →

Birdlife season in February

  1. 🇹🇼 Tainan, TaiwanBlack-faced spoonbills at Qigu · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoons and old salt pans north of the city hold the largest share of the world's black-faced spoonbills every winter.91climate
  2. 🇰🇪 Nairobi, KenyaMigrant bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Palearctic migrants arrive with the short rains and stay into April, which is when the national park, the Athi plains and the Rift lakes an hour away hold the most species.90climate
  3. 🇳🇿 Napier, New ZealandGannets at Cape Kidnappers · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)One of the few mainland gannet colonies in the world sits on the cliffs south of the bay.90climate
  4. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaPenguins at Punta Tombo · 1 Sep – 31 MarMagellanic penguins hold the colony south of town from September, chicks on the ground by December and the whole lot gone by April.89climate
  5. Dakhla, Western SaharaWaders on the lagoon · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)The shallows fill with flamingos, spoonbills and waders wintering down the Atlantic flyway, and they are visible from the same water the kites use.89climate
  6. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.88climate
  7. 🇵🇪 Paracas, PeruSea lion pups on the Ballestas · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)The sea lion colonies pup over the southern summer and the noise off the rocks carries across the water.87climate
  8. 🇵🇹 Tavira, PortugalWaders on the Ria Formosa · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon fills with wintering waders from October: flamingos on the salt pans, spoonbills, avocets and the resident storks nesting on every chimney by February.85climate
  9. 🇵🇦 Boquete, PanamaQuetzal nesting season · 1 Feb – 30 Jun (usually)Resplendent quetzals nest along the Sendero Los Quetzales and the flanks of Baru through these months, when the males hold territory near the cavities and a guide can usually put you on one before breakfast.85climate
  10. 🇨🇾 Larnaca, CyprusFlamingos on the salt lake · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Several thousand flamingos winter on the salt lake behind the airport, a ten-minute walk from the Hala Sultan Tekke.84climate
  11. 🇵🇹 Faro, PortugalWinter birds on the Ria Formosa · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon on the city's doorstep holds flamingos, spoonbills and thousands of waders through the winter, and the boardwalk at Ludo is walkable from the airport road.83climate
  12. 🇸🇳 Saint-Louis, SenegalDjoudj bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Djoudj, an hour north, is the first fresh water millions of European migrants meet after the Sahara.83climate
  13. 🇦🇷 El Calafate, ArgentinaFlamingos on Laguna Nimez · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The reserve on the edge of town fills with Chilean flamingos, black-necked swans and upland geese through the southern spring and summer.82climate
  14. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainSpring raptor migration · 15 Feb – 15 May (usually)Millions of birds cross here because it is the narrowest point of the strait.82climate
  15. 🇲🇦 Merzouga, MoroccoFlamingos on Dayet Srji · 15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually)In a wet winter the seasonal lake west of the dunes fills and flamingos and waders drop in on their way north.82climate
  16. 🇨🇳 Kunming, ChinaBlack-headed gulls on the lakes · 1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually)Gulls have wintered on Green Lake and Dianchi since the mid-eighties and the city treats them as residents.81climate
  17. 🇳🇵 Chitwan, NepalWintering birds · 1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)Around 160 migrant species drop into the oxbows and grasslands from the north for the cool months, on top of a resident list already among the longest in Nepal.81climate
  18. 🇬🇲 Kololi, GambiaBirdwatching season · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Kotu bridge and the Bijilo woods are the easiest birding in West Africa and they are five minutes from the hotels.81climate
  19. Stanley, Falkland IslandsPenguin breeding season · 1 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)King, gentoo and Magellanic colonies fill up from October, with chicks on the ground through December and January.81climate
  20. 🇨🇱 Punta Arenas, ChilePenguin colony season · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)Magellanic penguins hold Isla Magdalena and the Seno Otway colony through the southern summer and the boats only sail in that window.79climate
  21. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaSeabird nesting season · 1 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)Sooty terns, noddies and tropicbirds come back to nest from spring, some of them on the ground beside the road.79climate
  22. 🇹🇿 Serengeti, TanzaniaMigrant birding season · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)European and Asian migrants arrive with the short rains and stay until April, on top of the residents in breeding plumage.76climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Everglades National Park, United StatesWading bird nesting · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Herons, egrets, wood storks and roseate spoonbills nest through the dry months, when falling water makes fishing easy.75climate
  24. 🇹🇹 Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoSeabirds on Little Tobago · 1 Oct – 30 Jun (usually)Red-billed tropicbirds nest on the island off Speyside through the dry half of the year and frigatebirds harry them over the ridge.75climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Dry Tortugas National Park, United StatesSooty tern nesting · 20 Jan – 10 Jul (usually)Around a hundred thousand sooty terns nest on Bush Key — their only regular colony in the country — and the key is closed to landings while they are on eggs.74climate

…and 18 more in February.

What's on around the world in February →

Birdlife season in March

  1. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaPenguins at Punta Tombo · 1 Sep – 31 MarMagellanic penguins hold the colony south of town from September, chicks on the ground by December and the whole lot gone by April.94climate
  2. 🇨🇾 Larnaca, CyprusFlamingos on the salt lake · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Several thousand flamingos winter on the salt lake behind the airport, a ten-minute walk from the Hala Sultan Tekke.90climate
  3. 🇮🇱 Eilat, IsraelSpring raptor migration · 1 Mar – 10 May (usually)Eilat sits on the narrowest crossing between Africa and Eurasia, and in spring hundreds of thousands of raptors and storks funnel over the town.90climate
  4. Dakhla, Western SaharaWaders on the lagoon · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)The shallows fill with flamingos, spoonbills and waders wintering down the Atlantic flyway, and they are visible from the same water the kites use.90climate
  5. 🇨🇳 Kunming, ChinaBlack-headed gulls on the lakes · 1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually)Gulls have wintered on Green Lake and Dianchi since the mid-eighties and the city treats them as residents.89climate
  6. 🇲🇦 Merzouga, MoroccoFlamingos on Dayet Srji · 15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually)In a wet winter the seasonal lake west of the dunes fills and flamingos and waders drop in on their way north.89climate
  7. 🇵🇪 Paracas, PeruSea lion pups on the Ballestas · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)The sea lion colonies pup over the southern summer and the noise off the rocks carries across the water.88climate
  8. 🇰🇪 Nairobi, KenyaMigrant bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Palearctic migrants arrive with the short rains and stay into April, which is when the national park, the Athi plains and the Rift lakes an hour away hold the most species.87climate
  9. 🇳🇿 Napier, New ZealandGannets at Cape Kidnappers · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)One of the few mainland gannet colonies in the world sits on the cliffs south of the bay.87climate
  10. 🇨🇷 Monteverde, Costa RicaQuetzal nesting season · 1 Mar – 15 Jun (usually)Resplendent quetzals hold territory around the fruiting wild avocados in the spring, which is when a guide can reliably put you on one.86climate
  11. 🇵🇹 Tavira, PortugalWaders on the Ria Formosa · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon fills with wintering waders from October: flamingos on the salt pans, spoonbills, avocets and the resident storks nesting on every chimney by February.86climate
  12. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.85climate
  13. 🇵🇹 Faro, PortugalWinter birds on the Ria Formosa · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon on the city's doorstep holds flamingos, spoonbills and thousands of waders through the winter, and the boardwalk at Ludo is walkable from the airport road.84climate
  14. 🇸🇳 Saint-Louis, SenegalDjoudj bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Djoudj, an hour north, is the first fresh water millions of European migrants meet after the Sahara.84climate
  15. 🇹🇷 Selçuk, TurkeyStorks on the aqueduct · 15 Mar – 31 Aug (usually)White storks nest on the Byzantine aqueduct arches in the middle of town and clatter their bills over the tea gardens all spring.83climate
  16. 🇹🇼 Tainan, TaiwanBlack-faced spoonbills at Qigu · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoons and old salt pans north of the city hold the largest share of the world's black-faced spoonbills every winter.82climate
  17. 🇬🇲 Kololi, GambiaBirdwatching season · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Kotu bridge and the Bijilo woods are the easiest birding in West Africa and they are five minutes from the hotels.82climate
  18. 🇵🇦 Boquete, PanamaQuetzal nesting season · 1 Feb – 30 Jun (usually)Resplendent quetzals nest along the Sendero Los Quetzales and the flanks of Baru through these months, when the males hold territory near the cavities and a guide can usually put you on one before breakfast.81climate
  19. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaProvidence petrels · 1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)The petrels nest on the mountains through the cool months and will drop out of the sky onto the ridge when you call to them, most reliably from March to May.80climate
  20. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainSpring raptor migration · 15 Feb – 15 May (usually)Millions of birds cross here because it is the narrowest point of the strait.79climate
  21. 🇹🇹 Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoSeabirds on Little Tobago · 1 Oct – 30 Jun (usually)Red-billed tropicbirds nest on the island off Speyside through the dry half of the year and frigatebirds harry them over the ridge.76climate
  22. 🇦🇷 El Calafate, ArgentinaFlamingos on Laguna Nimez · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The reserve on the edge of town fills with Chilean flamingos, black-necked swans and upland geese through the southern spring and summer.75climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Dry Tortugas National Park, United StatesSooty tern nesting · 20 Jan – 10 Jul (usually)Around a hundred thousand sooty terns nest on Bush Key — their only regular colony in the country — and the key is closed to landings while they are on eggs.75climate
  24. Stanley, Falkland IslandsPenguin breeding season · 1 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)King, gentoo and Magellanic colonies fill up from October, with chicks on the ground through December and January.75climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Everglades National Park, United StatesWading bird nesting · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Herons, egrets, wood storks and roseate spoonbills nest through the dry months, when falling water makes fishing easy.74climate

…and 18 more in March.

What's on around the world in March →

Birdlife season in April

  1. 🇹🇷 Selçuk, TurkeyStorks on the aqueduct · 15 Mar – 31 Aug (usually)White storks nest on the Byzantine aqueduct arches in the middle of town and clatter their bills over the tea gardens all spring.92climate
  2. 🇮🇹 Cagliari, ItalyFlamingos nesting at Molentargius · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The salt lagoon between the city and Poetto beach holds one of the Mediterranean's larger breeding colonies, close enough to reach on foot from the centre.90climate
  3. Gibraltar, GibraltarMacaque birth season · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The Barbary macaques on the Upper Rock have their young from spring into summer, and the troops are at their most defensive with them.90climate
  4. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainSpring raptor migration · 15 Feb – 15 May (usually)Millions of birds cross here because it is the narrowest point of the strait.89climate
  5. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaProvidence petrels · 1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)The petrels nest on the mountains through the cool months and will drop out of the sky onto the ridge when you call to them, most reliably from March to May.84climate
  6. 🇳🇿 Napier, New ZealandGannets at Cape Kidnappers · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)One of the few mainland gannet colonies in the world sits on the cliffs south of the bay.83climate
  7. 🇰🇪 Nairobi, KenyaMigrant bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Palearctic migrants arrive with the short rains and stay into April, which is when the national park, the Athi plains and the Rift lakes an hour away hold the most species.82climate
  8. 🇫🇷 Strasbourg, FranceStorks on the nests · 15 Feb – 31 Aug (usually)Storks are back on the chimneys and church roofs of the villages around the city from February, and the young are flying by August.81climate
  9. 🇨🇷 Monteverde, Costa RicaQuetzal nesting season · 1 Mar – 15 Jun (usually)Resplendent quetzals hold territory around the fruiting wild avocados in the spring, which is when a guide can reliably put you on one.81climate
  10. 🇸🇳 Saint-Louis, SenegalDjoudj bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Djoudj, an hour north, is the first fresh water millions of European migrants meet after the Sahara.81climate
  11. 🇲🇦 Merzouga, MoroccoFlamingos on Dayet Srji · 15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually)In a wet winter the seasonal lake west of the dunes fills and flamingos and waders drop in on their way north.80climate
  12. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandAlbatross season · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Winter brings the wandering and royal albatross north with the colder water, and the pelagic boats put more species behind the stern in a morning than the rest of the year manages.80climate
  13. 🇮🇱 Eilat, IsraelSpring raptor migration · 1 Mar – 10 May (usually)Eilat sits on the narrowest crossing between Africa and Eurasia, and in spring hundreds of thousands of raptors and storks funnel over the town.79climate
  14. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.78climate
  15. 🇬🇧 Brighton, United KingdomNesting gulls · 15 Apr – 1 Aug (usually)Herring gulls nest on the chimney stacks from spring and defend the chicks in July by dive-bombing anyone under them.78climate
  16. 🇺🇸 Pinnacles National Park, United StatesRaptor climbing closures · 1 Jan – 31 JulPrairie falcons, eagles and condors nest on the same formations people climb, so routes are shut from January until the chicks fledge in summer.77climate
  17. 🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United KingdomSeabird season on the Forth · 10 Apr – 25 Jul (usually)Gannets pack the Bass Rock and puffins come ashore on Craigleith and the Isle of May from spring; the boats go from North Berwick, half an hour out of town.76climate
  18. 🇳🇦 Etosha National Park, NamibiaFlamingos on the pan · 15 Jan – 30 Apr (usually)When the pan floods properly, flamingos and pelicans arrive in numbers on water that is bare salt the rest of the year.74climate
  19. 🇹🇹 Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoSeabirds on Little Tobago · 1 Oct – 30 Jun (usually)Red-billed tropicbirds nest on the island off Speyside through the dry half of the year and frigatebirds harry them over the ridge.73climate
  20. 🇹🇿 Serengeti, TanzaniaMigrant birding season · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)European and Asian migrants arrive with the short rains and stay until April, on top of the residents in breeding plumage.72climate
  21. 🇺🇸 Chicago, United StatesSpring migration at Montrose Point · 20 Apr – 31 May (usually)The lakefront funnels migrants into a few acres of scrub at Montrose, and on a good May morning the Magic Hedge holds more warbler species than most states see in a year.71climate
  22. 🇺🇸 Dry Tortugas National Park, United StatesSooty tern nesting · 20 Jan – 10 Jul (usually)Around a hundred thousand sooty terns nest on Bush Key — their only regular colony in the country — and the key is closed to landings while they are on eggs.71climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Zion National Park, United StatesCalifornia condors over the canyon · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe reintroduced birds nest in the cliffs and ride the thermals over Angels Landing and the Kolob Terrace area most days, tagged with numbered wing markers.69climate
  24. 🇱🇰 Arugam Bay, Sri LankaKumana waterbird season · 1 Apr – 31 Jul (usually)The mangrove swamp at Kumana, an hour down the coast, takes in tens of thousands of migrating waterbirds through these months.68climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Everglades National Park, United StatesWading bird nesting · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Herons, egrets, wood storks and roseate spoonbills nest through the dry months, when falling water makes fishing easy.67climate

…and 9 more in April.

What's on around the world in April →

Birdlife season in May

  1. 🇵🇪 Arequipa, PeruCondors at Cruz del Condor · 1 May – 30 Sep (usually)Condors ride the first thermals out of the Colca between eight and ten in the morning, and the dry months are the ones without cloud in the canyon.95climate
  2. 🇮🇹 Cagliari, ItalyFlamingos nesting at Molentargius · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The salt lagoon between the city and Poetto beach holds one of the Mediterranean's larger breeding colonies, close enough to reach on foot from the centre.94climate
  3. 🇹🇷 Selçuk, TurkeyStorks on the aqueduct · 15 Mar – 31 Aug (usually)White storks nest on the Byzantine aqueduct arches in the middle of town and clatter their bills over the tea gardens all spring.93climate
  4. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainSpring raptor migration · 15 Feb – 15 May (usually)Millions of birds cross here because it is the narrowest point of the strait.93climate
  5. Gibraltar, GibraltarMacaque birth season · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The Barbary macaques on the Upper Rock have their young from spring into summer, and the troops are at their most defensive with them.93climate
  6. 🇫🇷 Strasbourg, FranceStorks on the nests · 15 Feb – 31 Aug (usually)Storks are back on the chimneys and church roofs of the villages around the city from February, and the young are flying by August.85climate
  7. 🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United KingdomSeabird season on the Forth · 10 Apr – 25 Jul (usually)Gannets pack the Bass Rock and puffins come ashore on Craigleith and the Isle of May from spring; the boats go from North Berwick, half an hour out of town.83climate
  8. 🇺🇸 Chicago, United StatesSpring migration at Montrose Point · 20 Apr – 31 May (usually)The lakefront funnels migrants into a few acres of scrub at Montrose, and on a good May morning the Magic Hedge holds more warbler species than most states see in a year.83climate
  9. 🇬🇧 Brighton, United KingdomNesting gulls · 15 Apr – 1 Aug (usually)Herring gulls nest on the chimney stacks from spring and defend the chicks in July by dive-bombing anyone under them.82climate
  10. 🇮🇪 Dingle, IrelandPuffins on the Blaskets · 1 May – 5 Aug (usually)The colonies are ashore from May until early August and then leave the cliffs overnight.82climate
  11. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaProvidence petrels · 1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)The petrels nest on the mountains through the cool months and will drop out of the sky onto the ridge when you call to them, most reliably from March to May.81climate
  12. 🇺🇸 Pinnacles National Park, United StatesRaptor climbing closures · 1 Jan – 31 JulPrairie falcons, eagles and condors nest on the same formations people climb, so routes are shut from January until the chicks fledge in summer.80climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Zion National Park, United StatesCalifornia condors over the canyon · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe reintroduced birds nest in the cliffs and ride the thermals over Angels Landing and the Kolob Terrace area most days, tagged with numbered wing markers.78climate
  14. Tórshavn, Faroe IslandsMykines boats and puffins · 1 May – 31 AugThe ferry to Mykines runs from May to the end of August and then the island closes for the year.76climate
  15. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorWaved albatross on Espanola · 1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December.75climate
  16. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandAlbatross season · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Winter brings the wandering and royal albatross north with the colder water, and the pelagic boats put more species behind the stern in a morning than the rest of the year manages.74climate
  17. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandPuffins on the cliffs · 20 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The colonies come ashore in late April and are gone by late August; the ones reachable from town are on the islands in the bay rather than the south coast.72climate
  18. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.71climate
  19. 🇺🇸 Indiana Dunes National Park, United StatesSpring bird migration · 15 Apr – 31 May (usually)Birds tracking north up the Lake Michigan shore pile into the last strip of woods and marsh before the water, which is why a park wedged between steel mills has one of the biggest species lists in the Midwest.71climate
  20. 🇨🇦 St. John's, Newfoundland, CanadaPuffins at Witless Bay · 15 May – 15 Aug (usually)Hundreds of thousands of puffins and murres nest on the islands half an hour south of town, reachable on a two-hour boat that usually finds whales on the same trip.71climate
  21. 🇹🇹 Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoSeabirds on Little Tobago · 1 Oct – 30 Jun (usually)Red-billed tropicbirds nest on the island off Speyside through the dry half of the year and frigatebirds harry them over the ridge.69climate
  22. 🇬🇧 Aviemore, United KingdomOspreys at Loch Garten · 1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)The Abernethy birds are back on the nest from early April to late August, watched from the RSPB centre down the road.68climate
  23. 🇨🇺 Cayo Coco, CubaFlamingo colony · 1 May – 31 Aug (usually)The shallow lagoons on the cay's south side hold Cuba's second-largest flamingo colony, visible from the causeway at a distance.67climate
  24. 🇱🇰 Arugam Bay, Sri LankaKumana waterbird season · 1 Apr – 31 Jul (usually)The mangrove swamp at Kumana, an hour down the coast, takes in tens of thousands of migrating waterbirds through these months.66climate
  25. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandDyrholaey closed for nesting · 1 May – 25 Jun (usually)The reserve is restricted through the nesting season — the upper road and the lighthouse area shut overnight, and walkers are kept to marked paths by day.66climate

…and 6 more in May.

What's on around the world in May →

Birdlife season in June

  1. 🇵🇪 Arequipa, PeruCondors at Cruz del Condor · 1 May – 30 Sep (usually)Condors ride the first thermals out of the Colca between eight and ten in the morning, and the dry months are the ones without cloud in the canyon.93climate
  2. Gibraltar, GibraltarMacaque birth season · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The Barbary macaques on the Upper Rock have their young from spring into summer, and the troops are at their most defensive with them.91climate
  3. 🇫🇷 Strasbourg, FranceStorks on the nests · 15 Feb – 31 Aug (usually)Storks are back on the chimneys and church roofs of the villages around the city from February, and the young are flying by August.88climate
  4. 🇬🇧 Brighton, United KingdomNesting gulls · 15 Apr – 1 Aug (usually)Herring gulls nest on the chimney stacks from spring and defend the chicks in July by dive-bombing anyone under them.88climate
  5. 🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United KingdomSeabird season on the Forth · 10 Apr – 25 Jul (usually)Gannets pack the Bass Rock and puffins come ashore on Craigleith and the Isle of May from spring; the boats go from North Berwick, half an hour out of town.86climate
  6. 🇮🇹 Cagliari, ItalyFlamingos nesting at Molentargius · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The salt lagoon between the city and Poetto beach holds one of the Mediterranean's larger breeding colonies, close enough to reach on foot from the centre.86climate
  7. 🇮🇪 Dingle, IrelandPuffins on the Blaskets · 1 May – 5 Aug (usually)The colonies are ashore from May until early August and then leave the cliffs overnight.86climate
  8. 🇹🇷 Selçuk, TurkeyStorks on the aqueduct · 15 Mar – 31 Aug (usually)White storks nest on the Byzantine aqueduct arches in the middle of town and clatter their bills over the tea gardens all spring.81climate
  9. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorWaved albatross on Espanola · 1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December.80climate
  10. Tórshavn, Faroe IslandsMykines boats and puffins · 1 May – 31 AugThe ferry to Mykines runs from May to the end of August and then the island closes for the year.80climate
  11. 🇨🇦 St. John's, Newfoundland, CanadaPuffins at Witless Bay · 15 May – 15 Aug (usually)Hundreds of thousands of puffins and murres nest on the islands half an hour south of town, reachable on a two-hour boat that usually finds whales on the same trip.80climate
  12. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaProvidence petrels · 1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)The petrels nest on the mountains through the cool months and will drop out of the sky onto the ridge when you call to them, most reliably from March to May.80climate
  13. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandPuffins on the cliffs · 20 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The colonies come ashore in late April and are gone by late August; the ones reachable from town are on the islands in the bay rather than the south coast.78climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Zion National Park, United StatesCalifornia condors over the canyon · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe reintroduced birds nest in the cliffs and ride the thermals over Angels Landing and the Kolob Terrace area most days, tagged with numbered wing markers.77climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Pinnacles National Park, United StatesRaptor climbing closures · 1 Jan – 31 JulPrairie falcons, eagles and condors nest on the same formations people climb, so routes are shut from January until the chicks fledge in summer.76climate
  16. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandDyrholaey closed for nesting · 1 May – 25 Jun (usually)The reserve is restricted through the nesting season — the upper road and the lighthouse area shut overnight, and walkers are kept to marked paths by day.76climate
  17. 🇬🇧 Aviemore, United KingdomOspreys at Loch Garten · 1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)The Abernethy birds are back on the nest from early April to late August, watched from the RSPB centre down the road.73climate
  18. 🇺🇸 Acadia National Park, United StatesPeregrine cliff trail closures · 15 Mar – 15 Aug (usually)The Precipice, Jordan Cliffs and Valley Cove trails shut while peregrines nest on the cliffs above them, usually from mid-March until the chicks fledge.72climate
  19. 🇱🇰 Arugam Bay, Sri LankaKumana waterbird season · 1 Apr – 31 Jul (usually)The mangrove swamp at Kumana, an hour down the coast, takes in tens of thousands of migrating waterbirds through these months.70climate
  20. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandAlbatross season · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Winter brings the wandering and royal albatross north with the colder water, and the pelagic boats put more species behind the stern in a morning than the rest of the year manages.68climate
  21. 🇨🇺 Cayo Coco, CubaFlamingo colony · 1 May – 31 Aug (usually)The shallow lagoons on the cay's south side hold Cuba's second-largest flamingo colony, visible from the causeway at a distance.67climate
  22. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.66climate
  23. 🇹🇹 Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoSeabirds on Little Tobago · 1 Oct – 30 Jun (usually)Red-billed tropicbirds nest on the island off Speyside through the dry half of the year and frigatebirds harry them over the ridge.62climate
  24. 🇨🇷 Monteverde, Costa RicaQuetzal nesting season · 1 Mar – 15 Jun (usually)Resplendent quetzals hold territory around the fruiting wild avocados in the spring, which is when a guide can reliably put you on one.57climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Dry Tortugas National Park, United StatesSooty tern nesting · 20 Jan – 10 Jul (usually)Around a hundred thousand sooty terns nest on Bush Key — their only regular colony in the country — and the key is closed to landings while they are on eggs.56climate

…and 1 more in June.

What's on around the world in June →

Birdlife season in July

  1. 🇵🇪 Arequipa, PeruCondors at Cruz del Condor · 1 May – 30 Sep (usually)Condors ride the first thermals out of the Colca between eight and ten in the morning, and the dry months are the ones without cloud in the canyon.92climate
  2. 🇬🇧 Brighton, United KingdomNesting gulls · 15 Apr – 1 Aug (usually)Herring gulls nest on the chimney stacks from spring and defend the chicks in July by dive-bombing anyone under them.92climate
  3. 🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United KingdomSeabird season on the Forth · 10 Apr – 25 Jul (usually)Gannets pack the Bass Rock and puffins come ashore on Craigleith and the Isle of May from spring; the boats go from North Berwick, half an hour out of town.90climate
  4. 🇫🇷 Strasbourg, FranceStorks on the nests · 15 Feb – 31 Aug (usually)Storks are back on the chimneys and church roofs of the villages around the city from February, and the young are flying by August.90climate
  5. 🇨🇦 St. John's, Newfoundland, CanadaPuffins at Witless Bay · 15 May – 15 Aug (usually)Hundreds of thousands of puffins and murres nest on the islands half an hour south of town, reachable on a two-hour boat that usually finds whales on the same trip.90climate
  6. 🇮🇪 Dingle, IrelandPuffins on the Blaskets · 1 May – 5 Aug (usually)The colonies are ashore from May until early August and then leave the cliffs overnight.87climate
  7. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandPuffins on the cliffs · 20 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The colonies come ashore in late April and are gone by late August; the ones reachable from town are on the islands in the bay rather than the south coast.85climate
  8. Gibraltar, GibraltarMacaque birth season · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The Barbary macaques on the Upper Rock have their young from spring into summer, and the troops are at their most defensive with them.84climate
  9. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorWaved albatross on Espanola · 1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December.83climate
  10. Tórshavn, Faroe IslandsMykines boats and puffins · 1 May – 31 AugThe ferry to Mykines runs from May to the end of August and then the island closes for the year.83climate
  11. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandPuffins on the cliffs · 1 May – 10 Aug (usually)The colonies are on the Dyrholaey and Reynisfjall cliffs from early May until the second week of August, then gone overnight.80climate
  12. 🇮🇹 Cagliari, ItalyFlamingos nesting at Molentargius · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The salt lagoon between the city and Poetto beach holds one of the Mediterranean's larger breeding colonies, close enough to reach on foot from the centre.79climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Acadia National Park, United StatesPeregrine cliff trail closures · 15 Mar – 15 Aug (usually)The Precipice, Jordan Cliffs and Valley Cove trails shut while peregrines nest on the cliffs above them, usually from mid-March until the chicks fledge.78climate
  14. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaProvidence petrels · 1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)The petrels nest on the mountains through the cool months and will drop out of the sky onto the ridge when you call to them, most reliably from March to May.78climate
  15. 🇬🇧 Aviemore, United KingdomOspreys at Loch Garten · 1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)The Abernethy birds are back on the nest from early April to late August, watched from the RSPB centre down the road.74climate
  16. 🇹🇷 Selçuk, TurkeyStorks on the aqueduct · 15 Mar – 31 Aug (usually)White storks nest on the Byzantine aqueduct arches in the middle of town and clatter their bills over the tea gardens all spring.72climate
  17. 🇱🇰 Arugam Bay, Sri LankaKumana waterbird season · 1 Apr – 31 Jul (usually)The mangrove swamp at Kumana, an hour down the coast, takes in tens of thousands of migrating waterbirds through these months.71climate
  18. 🇺🇸 Zion National Park, United StatesCalifornia condors over the canyon · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe reintroduced birds nest in the cliffs and ride the thermals over Angels Landing and the Kolob Terrace area most days, tagged with numbered wing markers.71climate
  19. 🇺🇸 Pinnacles National Park, United StatesRaptor climbing closures · 1 Jan – 31 JulPrairie falcons, eagles and condors nest on the same formations people climb, so routes are shut from January until the chicks fledge in summer.66climate
  20. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandAlbatross season · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Winter brings the wandering and royal albatross north with the colder water, and the pelagic boats put more species behind the stern in a morning than the rest of the year manages.66climate
  21. 🇨🇺 Cayo Coco, CubaFlamingo colony · 1 May – 31 Aug (usually)The shallow lagoons on the cay's south side hold Cuba's second-largest flamingo colony, visible from the causeway at a distance.65climate
  22. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.64climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Dry Tortugas National Park, United StatesSooty tern nesting · 20 Jan – 10 Jul (usually)Around a hundred thousand sooty terns nest on Bush Key — their only regular colony in the country — and the key is closed to landings while they are on eggs.59climate

What's on around the world in July →

Birdlife season in August

  1. 🇵🇪 Arequipa, PeruCondors at Cruz del Condor · 1 May – 30 Sep (usually)Condors ride the first thermals out of the Colca between eight and ten in the morning, and the dry months are the ones without cloud in the canyon.94climate
  2. 🇷🇺 Kaliningrad, RussiaMigration on the Curonian Spit · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The spit is a funnel on the eastern Baltic flyway and the ringing station at Rybachy works its traps through the autumn passage, and again in spring.92climate
  3. 🇬🇧 Brighton, United KingdomNesting gulls · 15 Apr – 1 Aug (usually)Herring gulls nest on the chimney stacks from spring and defend the chicks in July by dive-bombing anyone under them.90climate
  4. 🇨🇦 St. John's, Newfoundland, CanadaPuffins at Witless Bay · 15 May – 15 Aug (usually)Hundreds of thousands of puffins and murres nest on the islands half an hour south of town, reachable on a two-hour boat that usually finds whales on the same trip.88climate
  5. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorWaved albatross on Espanola · 1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December.87climate
  6. 🇫🇷 Strasbourg, FranceStorks on the nests · 15 Feb – 31 Aug (usually)Storks are back on the chimneys and church roofs of the villages around the city from February, and the young are flying by August.87climate
  7. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainAutumn raptor migration · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The bigger of the two passages: honey buzzards in late August, then booted eagles, black kites and storks streaming south through September from the observatories above town.84climate
  8. 🇧🇬 Varna, BulgariaVia Pontica autumn migration · 20 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The Black Sea flyway squeezes storks, pelicans and raptors down the coast each autumn, and the lakes behind the city are one of the counting points.83climate
  9. 🇮🇪 Dingle, IrelandPuffins on the Blaskets · 1 May – 5 Aug (usually)The colonies are ashore from May until early August and then leave the cliffs overnight.83climate
  10. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaProvidence petrels · 1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)The petrels nest on the mountains through the cool months and will drop out of the sky onto the ridge when you call to them, most reliably from March to May.83climate
  11. Tórshavn, Faroe IslandsMykines boats and puffins · 1 May – 31 AugThe ferry to Mykines runs from May to the end of August and then the island closes for the year.82climate
  12. Gibraltar, GibraltarMacaque birth season · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The Barbary macaques on the Upper Rock have their young from spring into summer, and the troops are at their most defensive with them.82climate
  13. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandPuffins on the cliffs · 20 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The colonies come ashore in late April and are gone by late August; the ones reachable from town are on the islands in the bay rather than the south coast.81climate
  14. 🇧🇬 Burgas, BulgariaVia Pontica autumn migration · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The Black Sea flyway funnels storks, pelicans and raptors straight over the lakes ringing the city each autumn, in thousands on the good days.81climate
  15. 🇮🇹 Cagliari, ItalyFlamingos nesting at Molentargius · 1 Apr – 15 Aug (usually)The salt lagoon between the city and Poetto beach holds one of the Mediterranean's larger breeding colonies, close enough to reach on foot from the centre.78climate
  16. 🇺🇸 Acadia National Park, United StatesPeregrine cliff trail closures · 15 Mar – 15 Aug (usually)The Precipice, Jordan Cliffs and Valley Cove trails shut while peregrines nest on the cliffs above them, usually from mid-March until the chicks fledge.76climate
  17. 🇹🇷 Selçuk, TurkeyStorks on the aqueduct · 15 Mar – 31 Aug (usually)White storks nest on the Byzantine aqueduct arches in the middle of town and clatter their bills over the tea gardens all spring.76climate
  18. 🇺🇸 Zion National Park, United StatesCalifornia condors over the canyon · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe reintroduced birds nest in the cliffs and ride the thermals over Angels Landing and the Kolob Terrace area most days, tagged with numbered wing markers.75climate
  19. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandAlbatross season · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Winter brings the wandering and royal albatross north with the colder water, and the pelagic boats put more species behind the stern in a morning than the rest of the year manages.73climate
  20. 🇮🇸 Vík, IcelandPuffins on the cliffs · 1 May – 10 Aug (usually)The colonies are on the Dyrholaey and Reynisfjall cliffs from early May until the second week of August, then gone overnight.73climate
  21. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.71climate
  22. 🇬🇧 Aviemore, United KingdomOspreys at Loch Garten · 1 Apr – 31 Aug (usually)The Abernethy birds are back on the nest from early April to late August, watched from the RSPB centre down the road.71climate
  23. 🇦🇺 Kakadu, AustraliaBirds crowd the last billabongs · 1 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)As the floodplain shrinks, magpie geese, jabiru and whistling ducks pack onto what water is left.68climate
  24. 🇨🇺 Cayo Coco, CubaFlamingo colony · 1 May – 31 Aug (usually)The shallow lagoons on the cay's south side hold Cuba's second-largest flamingo colony, visible from the causeway at a distance.63climate

What's on around the world in August →

Birdlife season in September

  1. 🇵🇪 Arequipa, PeruCondors at Cruz del Condor · 1 May – 30 Sep (usually)Condors ride the first thermals out of the Colca between eight and ten in the morning, and the dry months are the ones without cloud in the canyon.96climate
  2. 🇺🇦 Odessa, UkraineMigration on the lagoons · 1 Sep – 15 Nov (usually)The Tuzly lagoons down the coast sit on the Black Sea flyway and hold waders and other migrant birds on passage through the autumn, and again in spring.95climate
  3. 🇧🇬 Varna, BulgariaVia Pontica autumn migration · 20 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The Black Sea flyway squeezes storks, pelicans and raptors down the coast each autumn, and the lakes behind the city are one of the counting points.94climate
  4. 🇧🇬 Burgas, BulgariaVia Pontica autumn migration · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The Black Sea flyway funnels storks, pelicans and raptors straight over the lakes ringing the city each autumn, in thousands on the good days.93climate
  5. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorWaved albatross on Espanola · 1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December.88climate
  6. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainAutumn raptor migration · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The bigger of the two passages: honey buzzards in late August, then booted eagles, black kites and storks streaming south through September from the observatories above town.88climate
  7. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaProvidence petrels · 1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)The petrels nest on the mountains through the cool months and will drop out of the sky onto the ridge when you call to them, most reliably from March to May.86climate
  8. 🇷🇺 Kaliningrad, RussiaMigration on the Curonian Spit · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The spit is a funnel on the eastern Baltic flyway and the ringing station at Rybachy works its traps through the autumn passage, and again in spring.84climate
  9. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaPenguins at Punta Tombo · 1 Sep – 31 MarMagellanic penguins hold the colony south of town from September, chicks on the ground by December and the whole lot gone by April.83climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Zion National Park, United StatesCalifornia condors over the canyon · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe reintroduced birds nest in the cliffs and ride the thermals over Angels Landing and the Kolob Terrace area most days, tagged with numbered wing markers.80climate
  11. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandAlbatross season · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Winter brings the wandering and royal albatross north with the colder water, and the pelagic boats put more species behind the stern in a morning than the rest of the year manages.78climate
  12. 🇳🇿 Napier, New ZealandGannets at Cape Kidnappers · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)One of the few mainland gannet colonies in the world sits on the cliffs south of the bay.77climate
  13. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandRoyal albatross chick season · 20 Jan – 15 Sep (usually)Taiaroa Head is the only mainland breeding colony of northern royal albatross anywhere.75climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, United StatesNene nesting closures · 1 Sep – 31 MayNesting season runs from September to May, and the park shuts sections of car park and trail around any pair that settles near the caldera rim.73climate
  15. 🇦🇺 Kakadu, AustraliaBirds crowd the last billabongs · 1 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)As the floodplain shrinks, magpie geese, jabiru and whistling ducks pack onto what water is left.55climate
  16. 🇮🇱 Eilat, IsraelAutumn migration · 1 Sep – 15 Nov (usually)The return passage south is longer and more spread out than the spring rush, with waders and warblers working the salt pans as well as the raptors overhead.51climate

What's on around the world in September →

Birdlife season in October

  1. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaPenguins at Punta Tombo · 1 Sep – 31 MarMagellanic penguins hold the colony south of town from September, chicks on the ground by December and the whole lot gone by April.92climate
  2. 🇿🇦 Plettenberg Bay, South AfricaBitou Birding Festival · 18–31 Oct (usually)A week of guided walks and talks built around the wetlands and coastline of the Bitou municipality, run with the local conservation and tourism bodies.91climate
  3. 🇵🇹 Tavira, PortugalWaders on the Ria Formosa · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon fills with wintering waders from October: flamingos on the salt pans, spoonbills, avocets and the resident storks nesting on every chimney by February.90climate
  4. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaProvidence petrels · 1 Mar – 31 Oct (usually)The petrels nest on the mountains through the cool months and will drop out of the sky onto the ridge when you call to them, most reliably from March to May.88climate
  5. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorWaved albatross on Espanola · 1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December.87climate
  6. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainAutumn raptor migration · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The bigger of the two passages: honey buzzards in late August, then booted eagles, black kites and storks streaming south through September from the observatories above town.86climate
  7. 🇳🇿 Napier, New ZealandGannets at Cape Kidnappers · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)One of the few mainland gannet colonies in the world sits on the cliffs south of the bay.85climate
  8. 🇧🇬 Varna, BulgariaVia Pontica autumn migration · 20 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The Black Sea flyway squeezes storks, pelicans and raptors down the coast each autumn, and the lakes behind the city are one of the counting points.84climate
  9. 🇧🇬 Burgas, BulgariaVia Pontica autumn migration · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The Black Sea flyway funnels storks, pelicans and raptors straight over the lakes ringing the city each autumn, in thousands on the good days.84climate
  10. Dakhla, Western SaharaWaders on the lagoon · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)The shallows fill with flamingos, spoonbills and waders wintering down the Atlantic flyway, and they are visible from the same water the kites use.83climate
  11. 🇺🇦 Odessa, UkraineMigration on the lagoons · 1 Sep – 15 Nov (usually)The Tuzly lagoons down the coast sit on the Black Sea flyway and hold waders and other migrant birds on passage through the autumn, and again in spring.76climate
  12. 🇮🇱 Eilat, IsraelAutumn migration · 1 Sep – 15 Nov (usually)The return passage south is longer and more spread out than the spring rush, with waders and warblers working the salt pans as well as the raptors overhead.73climate
  13. 🇬🇧 Isle of Wight, United KingdomBrent geese and winter waders · 1 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)Dark-bellied brent geese arrive from the Siberian coast onto the harbours at Newtown, Bembridge and the Yar, with godwits and curlew on the same mud.73climate
  14. Stanley, Falkland IslandsPenguin breeding season · 1 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)King, gentoo and Magellanic colonies fill up from October, with chicks on the ground through December and January.73climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Zion National Park, United StatesCalifornia condors over the canyon · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe reintroduced birds nest in the cliffs and ride the thermals over Angels Landing and the Kolob Terrace area most days, tagged with numbered wing markers.72climate
  16. 🇺🇸 Haleakala National Park, United StatesNene breeding season · 1 Oct – 31 MarThe Hawaiian goose nests on the ground through the cool half of the year, across a range of habitats and elevations inside the park.72climate
  17. 🇨🇱 Punta Arenas, ChilePenguin colony season · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)Magellanic penguins hold Isla Magdalena and the Seno Otway colony through the southern summer and the boats only sail in that window.72climate
  18. 🇦🇷 El Calafate, ArgentinaFlamingos on Laguna Nimez · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The reserve on the edge of town fills with Chilean flamingos, black-necked swans and upland geese through the southern spring and summer.71climate
  19. 🇬🇧 Bournemouth, United KingdomWinter waders on Poole Harbour · 15 Oct – 10 Mar (usually)Avocets, black-tailed godwits and brent geese pack the mudflats at Arne and Brownsea through the cold months, and the hides are busiest on a falling tide.70climate
  20. 🇦🇷 Ushuaia, ArgentinaPenguins on Isla Martillo · 1 Oct – 5 Apr (usually)Magellanic penguins come ashore in the Beagle Channel from about October and are gone by early autumn, peaking between November and February.66climate
  21. 🇺🇸 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, United StatesNene nesting closures · 1 Sep – 31 MayNesting season runs from September to May, and the park shuts sections of car park and trail around any pair that settles near the caldera rim.66climate
  22. 🇷🇺 Kaliningrad, RussiaMigration on the Curonian Spit · 15 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)The spit is a funnel on the eastern Baltic flyway and the ringing station at Rybachy works its traps through the autumn passage, and again in spring.66climate
  23. 🇹🇼 Tainan, TaiwanBlack-faced spoonbills at Qigu · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoons and old salt pans north of the city hold the largest share of the world's black-faced spoonbills every winter.64climate
  24. 🇹🇹 Tobago, Trinidad and TobagoSeabirds on Little Tobago · 1 Oct – 30 Jun (usually)Red-billed tropicbirds nest on the island off Speyside through the dry half of the year and frigatebirds harry them over the ridge.56climate
  25. 🇦🇺 Kakadu, AustraliaBirds crowd the last billabongs · 1 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)As the floodplain shrinks, magpie geese, jabiru and whistling ducks pack onto what water is left.45climate

…and 1 more in October.

What's on around the world in October →

Birdlife season in November

  1. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaPenguins at Punta Tombo · 1 Sep – 31 MarMagellanic penguins hold the colony south of town from September, chicks on the ground by December and the whole lot gone by April.94climate
  2. 🇨🇾 Larnaca, CyprusFlamingos on the salt lake · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Several thousand flamingos winter on the salt lake behind the airport, a ten-minute walk from the Hala Sultan Tekke.92climate
  3. Dakhla, Western SaharaWaders on the lagoon · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)The shallows fill with flamingos, spoonbills and waders wintering down the Atlantic flyway, and they are visible from the same water the kites use.89climate
  4. 🇰🇪 Nairobi, KenyaMigrant bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Palearctic migrants arrive with the short rains and stay into April, which is when the national park, the Athi plains and the Rift lakes an hour away hold the most species.88climate
  5. 🇳🇿 Napier, New ZealandGannets at Cape Kidnappers · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)One of the few mainland gannet colonies in the world sits on the cliffs south of the bay.88climate
  6. 🇧🇴 Uyuni, BoliviaFlamingos breeding · 1 Nov – 31 Dec (usually)Three flamingo species nest on the salar and the lagoons around it from November, which is the one time of year the birds are the reason to come rather than a detail of the drive.87climate
  7. 🇵🇹 Tavira, PortugalWaders on the Ria Formosa · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon fills with wintering waders from October: flamingos on the salt pans, spoonbills, avocets and the resident storks nesting on every chimney by February.87climate
  8. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaSeabird nesting season · 1 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)Sooty terns, noddies and tropicbirds come back to nest from spring, some of them on the ground beside the road.87climate
  9. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorWaved albatross on Espanola · 1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December.86climate
  10. 🇵🇹 Faro, PortugalWinter birds on the Ria Formosa · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon on the city's doorstep holds flamingos, spoonbills and thousands of waders through the winter, and the boardwalk at Ludo is walkable from the airport road.86climate
  11. 🇮🇱 Eilat, IsraelAutumn migration · 1 Sep – 15 Nov (usually)The return passage south is longer and more spread out than the spring rush, with waders and warblers working the salt pans as well as the raptors overhead.84climate
  12. 🇨🇳 Kunming, ChinaBlack-headed gulls on the lakes · 1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually)Gulls have wintered on Green Lake and Dianchi since the mid-eighties and the city treats them as residents.82climate
  13. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandLittle penguins come ashore · 1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)Little penguins land at Pilots Beach below the albatross colony after dark every night of the year, but the numbers peak while there are chicks in the burrows.81climate
  14. 🇦🇷 El Calafate, ArgentinaFlamingos on Laguna Nimez · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The reserve on the edge of town fills with Chilean flamingos, black-necked swans and upland geese through the southern spring and summer.77climate
  15. 🇧🇹 Thimphu, BhutanCranes wintering at Phobjikha · 1 Nov – 20 Feb (usually)Around three hundred black-necked cranes spend the winter on the marsh at Phobjikha, and the valley keeps its power lines underground for them.76climate
  16. 🇹🇼 Tainan, TaiwanBlack-faced spoonbills at Qigu · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoons and old salt pans north of the city hold the largest share of the world's black-faced spoonbills every winter.76climate
  17. 🇨🇱 Punta Arenas, ChilePenguin colony season · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)Magellanic penguins hold Isla Magdalena and the Seno Otway colony through the southern summer and the boats only sail in that window.76climate
  18. Stanley, Falkland IslandsPenguin breeding season · 1 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)King, gentoo and Magellanic colonies fill up from October, with chicks on the ground through December and January.76climate
  19. 🇳🇵 Chitwan, NepalWintering birds · 1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)Around 160 migrant species drop into the oxbows and grasslands from the north for the cool months, on top of a resident list already among the longest in Nepal.75climate
  20. 🇹🇿 Serengeti, TanzaniaMigrant birding season · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)European and Asian migrants arrive with the short rains and stay until April, on top of the residents in breeding plumage.73climate
  21. 🇬🇲 Kololi, GambiaBirdwatching season · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Kotu bridge and the Bijilo woods are the easiest birding in West Africa and they are five minutes from the hotels.72climate
  22. 🇬🇲 Banjul, GambiaBirdwatching season · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)European migrants join the residents on the Tanbi mangroves and the river creeks either side of the capital from November.71climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, United StatesNene nesting closures · 1 Sep – 31 MayNesting season runs from September to May, and the park shuts sections of car park and trail around any pair that settles near the caldera rim.70climate
  24. 🇺🇸 Haleakala National Park, United StatesNene breeding season · 1 Oct – 31 MarThe Hawaiian goose nests on the ground through the cool half of the year, across a range of habitats and elevations inside the park.70climate
  25. 🇨🇳 Shangri-La, ChinaBlack-necked cranes at Napahai · 1 Nov – 10 Mar (usually)The seasonal lake north of town drains to grassland in winter and fills with black-necked cranes and bar-headed geese.70climate

…and 13 more in November.

What's on around the world in November →

Birdlife season in December

  1. 🇳🇿 Napier, New ZealandGannets at Cape Kidnappers · 15 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)One of the few mainland gannet colonies in the world sits on the cliffs south of the bay.93climate
  2. 🇵🇪 Paracas, PeruSea lion pups on the Ballestas · 15 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)The sea lion colonies pup over the southern summer and the noise off the rocks carries across the water.93climate
  3. 🇰🇪 Nairobi, KenyaMigrant bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Palearctic migrants arrive with the short rains and stay into April, which is when the national park, the Athi plains and the Rift lakes an hour away hold the most species.91climate
  4. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaPenguins at Punta Tombo · 1 Sep – 31 MarMagellanic penguins hold the colony south of town from September, chicks on the ground by December and the whole lot gone by April.90climate
  5. Dakhla, Western SaharaWaders on the lagoon · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)The shallows fill with flamingos, spoonbills and waders wintering down the Atlantic flyway, and they are visible from the same water the kites use.89climate
  6. 🇹🇼 Tainan, TaiwanBlack-faced spoonbills at Qigu · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoons and old salt pans north of the city hold the largest share of the world's black-faced spoonbills every winter.88climate
  7. 🇧🇴 Uyuni, BoliviaFlamingos breeding · 1 Nov – 31 Dec (usually)Three flamingo species nest on the salar and the lagoons around it from November, which is the one time of year the birds are the reason to come rather than a detail of the drive.85climate
  8. 🇦🇺 Lord Howe Island, AustraliaSeabird nesting season · 1 Sep – 15 Apr (usually)Sooty terns, noddies and tropicbirds come back to nest from spring, some of them on the ground beside the road.85climate
  9. 🇨🇾 Larnaca, CyprusFlamingos on the salt lake · 15 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Several thousand flamingos winter on the salt lake behind the airport, a ten-minute walk from the Hala Sultan Tekke.83climate
  10. 🇳🇿 Dunedin, New ZealandLittle penguins come ashore · 1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)Little penguins land at Pilots Beach below the albatross colony after dark every night of the year, but the numbers peak while there are chicks in the burrows.83climate
  11. 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, EcuadorWaved albatross on Espanola · 1 Apr – 20 Dec (usually)The entire world population nests on one island, arriving at Punta Suarez in April and gone again by the end of December.81climate
  12. 🇵🇹 Tavira, PortugalWaders on the Ria Formosa · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon fills with wintering waders from October: flamingos on the salt pans, spoonbills, avocets and the resident storks nesting on every chimney by February.81climate
  13. 🇦🇷 El Calafate, ArgentinaFlamingos on Laguna Nimez · 1 Oct – 31 Mar (usually)The reserve on the edge of town fills with Chilean flamingos, black-necked swans and upland geese through the southern spring and summer.80climate
  14. 🇬🇲 Banjul, GambiaBirdwatching season · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)European migrants join the residents on the Tanbi mangroves and the river creeks either side of the capital from November.80climate
  15. 🇵🇹 Faro, PortugalWinter birds on the Ria Formosa · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)The lagoon on the city's doorstep holds flamingos, spoonbills and thousands of waders through the winter, and the boardwalk at Ludo is walkable from the airport road.80climate
  16. 🇸🇳 Saint-Louis, SenegalDjoudj bird season · 1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)Djoudj, an hour north, is the first fresh water millions of European migrants meet after the Sahara.80climate
  17. 🇬🇲 Kololi, GambiaBirdwatching season · 1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually)Kotu bridge and the Bijilo woods are the easiest birding in West Africa and they are five minutes from the hotels.80climate
  18. 🇨🇱 Punta Arenas, ChilePenguin colony season · 15 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)Magellanic penguins hold Isla Magdalena and the Seno Otway colony through the southern summer and the boats only sail in that window.78climate
  19. Stanley, Falkland IslandsPenguin breeding season · 1 Oct – 15 Mar (usually)King, gentoo and Magellanic colonies fill up from October, with chicks on the ground through December and January.78climate
  20. 🇨🇳 Kunming, ChinaBlack-headed gulls on the lakes · 1 Nov – 15 Mar (usually)Gulls have wintered on Green Lake and Dianchi since the mid-eighties and the city treats them as residents.77climate
  21. 🇳🇵 Chitwan, NepalWintering birds · 1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)Around 160 migrant species drop into the oxbows and grasslands from the north for the cool months, on top of a resident list already among the longest in Nepal.77climate
  22. 🇹🇿 Serengeti, TanzaniaMigrant birding season · 15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)European and Asian migrants arrive with the short rains and stay until April, on top of the residents in breeding plumage.74climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Everglades National Park, United StatesWading bird nesting · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Herons, egrets, wood storks and roseate spoonbills nest through the dry months, when falling water makes fishing easy.72climate
  24. 🇧🇹 Thimphu, BhutanCranes wintering at Phobjikha · 1 Nov – 20 Feb (usually)Around three hundred black-necked cranes spend the winter on the marsh at Phobjikha, and the valley keeps its power lines underground for them.71climate
  25. Grytviken, South Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsKing penguin colonies · 1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)The colonies at St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain hold birds all year, but this is when they are at their loudest and most crowded, with last season's brown chicks still moulting among the adults.71climate

…and 13 more in December.

What's on around the world in December →