Portugal Special Protection Area for birds
Cabo Espichel
201 bird species recorded; the most from September to October.
ALusitana · CC BY-SA 3.0
This month here
74 species in January.81 species in February.105 species in March.112 species in April.99 species in May.82 species in June.77 species in July.117 species in August.141 species in September.153 species in October.132 species in November.74 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
NT
NT
NT
NT
CR
CRNT
NT
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
201 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 201Speciesrecorded more than once
- 93Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 4ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 36,725Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 21Raptors
- 5Owls
- 13Waders
- 23Gulls & seabirds
- 2Ducks & geese
- 7Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 107Songbirds
- 21Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 201 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors21 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonorae
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Griffon VultureGyps fulvus
- Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata
- Lesser kestrelFalco naumanni
Owls5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Northern Eagle OwlBubo bubo
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
Waders13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Eurasian DotterelCharadrius morinellus
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Grey (Red) PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
Gulls & seabirds23 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea
- Balearic shearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusCR
- Great skuaStercorarius skua
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- RazorbillAlca torda
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii
- Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus
- Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaVU
- Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
- Sooty shearwaterPuffinus griseus
- Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus
- Great shearwaterPuffinus gravis
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Common MurreUria aalge
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
Ducks & geese2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
Herons, ibises & grebes7 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Demoiselle CraneAnthropoides virgo
Songbirds107 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Crested larkGalerida cristata
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Great titParus major
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Dartford WarblerSylvia undata
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
- Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
- Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Richard's PipitAnthus richardi
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- Iberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalisVU
- Western Subalpine WarblerCurruca iberiae
- Tawny PipitAnthus campestris
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Iberian ChiffchaffPhylloscopus ibericus
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulana
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
- Rock SparrowPetronia petronia
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Trumpeter FinchBucanetes githagineus
- Iberian MagpieCyanopica cooki
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Pied CrowCorvus albus
- Rosy StarlingPastor roseus
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Western Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus bonelli
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Rock BuntingEmberiza cia
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Thekla's LarkGalerida theklae
- Crested mynaAcridotheres cristatellus
- Olive-backed PipitAnthus hodgsoni
- Sardinian WarblerSylvia melanocephala
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Western Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica
- African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
- Red-breasted flycatcherFicedula parva
- Alpine AccentorPrunella collaris
- Eastern Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
- WallcreeperTichodroma muraria
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Western Orphean WarblerSylvia hortensis
- Red BishopEuplectes orix
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- Yellow-mantled WhydahEuplectes macroura
Other birds21 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
- European SwiftApus apus
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- European RollerCoracias garrulus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Picus sharpeiPicus sharpei
- Red-necked NightjarCaprimulgus ruficollisNT
- Great spotted cuckooClamator glandarius
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species from September to October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan15°/11°65 mm
- Feb15°/11°51 mm
- Mar16°/12°60 mm
- Apr17°/13°54 mm
- May19°/15°31 mm
- Jun21°/17°11 mm
- Jul22°/18°3 mm
- Aug23°/18°6 mm
- Sep22°/18°25 mm
- Oct21°/17°79 mm
- Nov17°/14°92 mm
- Dec15°/12°64 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Cabo Espichel.
Protected area in Portugal
Cabo Espichel is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive in Portugal.
201 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 36,725 open records.
The most recorded are the Northern gannet, the Crested lark and the European Stonechat.
44 species come for the summer, 40 for the winter and 9 only pass through.
4 are threatened worldwide, including Balearic shearwater, European Turtle Dove and Iberian Grey Shrike.
The most species are recorded from September to October.
Get there and watch
- Private Camper Sitecampsite · 4.8 km · 7 within 10 km
- Entre Mar e Marplace to stay · 4.9 km · 12 within 10 km
- Sesimbranearest town · 11 km in a straight line
- Cascais Airport (CAT)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 36 km in a straight lineCar hire at LIS airport (Lisbon)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 1observation towers within 6 kmTorre de Vigia
- 3marked trails within 4 kmCaminho do Atlântico (Troço Concelho Sesimbra), Chã dos Navegantes, Maravilhas do Cabo
- 2viewpoints within 5 kmPonto de observação das pegadas de dinossáurio
- 3car parks within 3 km
- 1restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 7campsites within 10 kmPrivate Camper Site, Campimeco, Solmeco Park and 4 more
- 12places to stay within 10 kmEntre Mar e Mar, Casa da bela Arrábida, Hotel Casal do Frade and 9 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Cabo Espichel.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas20 mountains within 25 kmQuintola · 15 kmCabeço da Pedra · 15 kmAlto do Toguinho · 16 kmAlto da Pena · 19 kmFormosinho · 21 kmAlto do Monte Abraão92 m · 21 kmArrábida Mountain501 m · 24 kmPinheiro da Cruz · 25 km
Coastya10 beaches within 10 kmPraia dos Lagosteiros · 1.2 kmPraia do Areia do Mastro · 2.2 kmPraia da Baleeira · 2.9 kmPraia de Cramesines · 4.4 kmPraia da Foz · 4.9 kmPraia das Bicas · 6.2 kmPraia da Ribeira do Cavalo · 8.4 kmPraia do Meco · 9.0 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Cabo Espichel
Portugal
- 71Birdyas Score
- 201Species
- 93Migrants
- 4Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q63378387) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 36,725 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Coastya |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
Find your beach: sea temperature, sun and swimming month by month.Visit 
lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit