Portugal Special Protection Area for birds
Estuário do Sado (Special Protection Area)
244 bird species recorded; the most in March and from November to January.
Plutao49 · CC BY-SA 4.0
This month here
173 species in January.160 species in February.169 species in March.153 species in April.133 species in May.116 species in June.134 species in July.137 species in August.160 species in September.159 species in October.163 species in November.165 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.
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- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
244 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).
- 244Speciesrecorded more than once
- 120Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 7ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 53,500Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 18Raptors
- 6Owls
- 31Waders
- 23Gulls & seabirds
- 21Ducks & geese
- 17Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 2Flamingos
- 97Songbirds
- 27Other 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 244 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors18 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNT
Owls6 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops
Waders31 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- RedshankTringa totanus
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Grey (Red) PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemus
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
Gulls & seabirds23 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
- RazorbillAlca torda
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii
- Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
- European Storm-PetrelHydrobates pelagicus
- Great skuaStercorarius skua
- Common GullLarus canus
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
Ducks & geese21 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Common EiderSomateria mollissimaNT
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
Herons, ibises & grebes17 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Little BitternIxobrychus minutus
- Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Black storkCiconia nigra
Flamingos2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
- Caribbean FlamingoPhoenicopterus ruber
Songbirds97 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Crested larkGalerida cristata
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Yellow-crowned BishopEuplectes afer
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Great titParus major
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Iberian MagpieCyanopica cooki
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Iberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalisVU
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensis
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Dartford WarblerSylvia undata
- Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Iberian ChiffchaffPhylloscopus ibericus
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Thekla's LarkGalerida theklae
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Rock SparrowPetronia petronia
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Eurasian Penduline TitRemiz pendulinus
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Spice FinchLonchura punctulata
- Western Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus bonelli
- Little BuntingEmberiza pusilla
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinus
- Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Sardinian WarblerSylvia melanocephala
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Red AvadavatAmandava amandava
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Eastern Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
- Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides
- Western Subalpine WarblerCurruca iberiae
- Crested mynaAcridotheres cristatellus
- Azure-winged MagpieCyanopica cyanus
- Tawny PipitAnthus campestris
- Western Orphean WarblerSylvia hortensis
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
Other birds27 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- CootFulica atra
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- European SwiftApus apus
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Picus sharpeiPicus sharpei
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
- Red-necked NightjarCaprimulgus ruficollisNT
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Great bustardOtis tarda
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- WryneckJynx torquilla
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 March and from November to January.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan15°/6°60 mm
- Feb16°/6°51 mm
- Mar18°/8°60 mm
- Apr20°/10°54 mm
- May24°/12°34 mm
- Jun28°/15°13 mm
- Jul30°/16°3 mm
- Aug31°/16°5 mm
- Sep28°/16°28 mm
- Oct23°/14°78 mm
- Nov18°/9°86 mm
- Dec15°/7°61 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Estuário do Sado (Special Protection Area).
Protected area in Portugal
Estuário do Sado (Special Protection Area) is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive in Portugal.
244 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 53,500 open records.
The most recorded are the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Eurasian Curlew and the Little Egret.
50 species come for the summer, 65 for the winter and 5 only pass through.
7 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Iberian Grey Shrike and Curlew Sandpiper.
The most species are recorded in March and from November to January.
Get there and watch
- Casas da Tia Emíliaplace to stay · 6.0 km · 8 within 10 km
- Comportanearest town · 10 km in a straight line
- Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 51 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
- 1bird hides within 6 kmCentro de Observação de Aves APSS
- 1campsites within 10 km
- 8places to stay within 10 kmCasas da Tia Emília, Recantus Comporta, AlmaLusa Comporta and 5 more
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 km
- restaurants and cafés 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 Estuário do Sado (Special Protection Area).
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas10 mountains within 25 kmSerrinha · 18 kmAlto do Poiso do Cortiço · 21 kmCabeço das Vacas · 21 kmValongo · 22 kmArrábida Mountain501 m · 22 kmAlto do Picoto · 22 kmAlto do Monte Abraão92 m · 23 kmFormosinho · 24 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Estuário do Sado (Special Protection Area)
Portugal
- 80Birdyas Score
- 244Species
- 120Migrants
- 7Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q63378814) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 53,500 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?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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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