Portugal Special Protection Area for birds
Castro Verde
233 bird species recorded; the most in April and in September.
Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 by EOX IT Services GmbH (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data), CC BY 4.0, with relief shading from Copernicus WorldDEM-30
This month here
139 species in January.139 species in February.161 species in March.183 species in April.164 species in May.155 species in June.133 species in July.140 species in August.169 species in September.162 species in October.134 species in November.133 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
VU
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NTVU
NTVU
NTVU
NTVU
NTVUNTNT
VU
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
233 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).
- 233Speciesrecorded more than once
- 117Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 7ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 127,185Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 186 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 29Raptors
- 7Owls
- 27Waders
- 7Gulls & seabirds
- 19Ducks & geese
- 13Herons, ibises & grebes
- 3Storks & cranes
- 1Flamingos
- 95Songbirds
- 32Other 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 233 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors29 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Lesser kestrelFalco naumanni
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Griffon VultureGyps fulvus
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Eurasian Black VultureAegypius monachusNT
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterus
- Spanish Imperial EagleAquila adalbertiVU
- Steppe eagleAquila nipalensis
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Rüppell's VultureGyps rueppelliiCR
- Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNT
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
- Long-legged BuzzardButeo rufinus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonorae
Owls7 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops
- Northern Eagle OwlBubo bubo
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
Waders27 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemus
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- RedshankTringa totanus
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Eurasian DotterelCharadrius morinellus
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
Gulls & seabirds7 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Little TernSternula albifrons
Ducks & geese19 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Marbled TealMarmaronetta angustirostrisNT
Herons, ibises & grebes13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Little BitternIxobrychus minutus
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
Storks & cranes3 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Common CraneGrus grus
- Black storkCiconia nigra
Flamingos1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
Songbirds95 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Crested larkGalerida cristata
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Calandra larkMelanocorypha calandra
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Iberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalisVU
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Iberian MagpieCyanopica cooki
- Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensis
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Thekla's LarkGalerida theklae
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Great titParus major
- Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Tawny PipitAnthus campestris
- Rufous-tailed Scrub RobinErythropygia galactotes
- Western Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica
- Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Dartford WarblerSylvia undata
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Rock SparrowPetronia petronia
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Western Subalpine WarblerCurruca iberiae
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- Iberian ChiffchaffPhylloscopus ibericus
- Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Eastern Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Rock BuntingEmberiza cia
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
- Sardinian WarblerSylvia melanocephala
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Spectacled WarblerSylvia conspicillata
- Western Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus bonelli
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Subalpine WarblerSylvia cantillans
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Azure-winged MagpieCyanopica cyanus
Other birds32 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Great bustardOtis tarda
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- Black-bellied SandgrousePterocles orientalis
- Little BustardTetrax tetraxNT
- European RollerCoracias garrulus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- CootFulica atra
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- European SwiftApus apus
- Great spotted cuckooClamator glandarius
- Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- Picus sharpeiPicus sharpei
- Red-necked NightjarCaprimulgus ruficollisNT
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- White-rumped SwiftApus caffer
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in April and in September.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan14°/4°50 mm
- Feb15°/4°47 mm
- Mar18°/6°56 mm
- Apr20°/8°54 mm
- May25°/11°30 mm
- Jun31°/15°8 mm
- Jul34°/16°1 mm
- Aug34°/17°4 mm
- Sep30°/15°23 mm
- Oct24°/12°69 mm
- Nov18°/7°84 mm
- Dec14°/5°63 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Castro Verde.
Protected area in Portugal
Castro Verde is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive in Portugal.
233 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 127,185 open records.
The most recorded are the Corn Bunting, the Crested lark and the European Stonechat.
59 species come for the summer, 48 for the winter and 10 only pass through.
7 are threatened worldwide, including Iberian Grey Shrike, European Turtle Dove and Common Pochard.
The most species are recorded in April and in September.
Get there and watch
- Parque de Campismo de Castro Verdecampsite · 8.2 km · 3 within 10 km
- Monte da Apariçaplace to stay · 4.9 km · 11 within 10 km
- Castro Verdenearest town · 8.5 km in a straight line
- Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 81 km in a straight lineCar hire at FAO airport (Faro)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
- 1marked trails within 4 kmEstação da Biodiversidade de Vale Gonçalinho
- 1visitor centres within 6 kmCentro de Educação Ambiental do Vale Gonçalinho
- 1restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 3campsites within 10 kmParque de Campismo de Castro Verde, intermarche
- 11places to stay within 10 kmMonte da Apariça, Fontes Bárbaras Enoturismo, Hotel Esteva and 8 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 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 Castro Verde.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas7 mountains within 25 kmTosquiado · 17 kmAlturas de Linharinhos · 20 kmAlturas do Monte da Nora · 22 kmSerra de Alvares · 22 kmSerra de Alcaria Ruiva · 23 kmCerro do Vale · 24 kmSerra de São Barão · 25 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Castro Verde
Portugal
- 80Birdyas Score
- 233Species
- 117Migrants
- 7Threatened
Sapais de Castro Marim (Special Protection Area)
Portugal · 78 km
- 87Birdyas Score
- 273Species
- 136Migrants
- 10Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q54828077) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 127,185 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 |
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?
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