France Special Protection Area for birds
Étang de Capestang
245 bird species recorded; the most from April to May.
ArnoLagrange · CC BY-SA 3.0
This month here
132 species in January.142 species in February.162 species in March.195 species in April.188 species in May.148 species in June.141 species in July.162 species in August.173 species in September.150 species in October.122 species in November.131 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
NT
NT
NT
NT
VUNT
NT
NT- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
245 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).
- 245Speciesrecorded more than once
- 151Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 7ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 49,059Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 24Raptors
- 7Owls
- 29Waders
- 10Gulls & seabirds
- 16Ducks & geese
- 17Herons, ibises & grebes
- 3Storks & cranes
- 2Flamingos
- 104Songbirds
- 33Other 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 245 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors24 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Griffon VultureGyps fulvus
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
- Eurasian GoshawkAccipiter gentilis
- Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonorae
- Lesser kestrelFalco naumanni
- Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNT
- Greater spotted eagleAquila clanga
- Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
Owls7 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops
- Northern Eagle OwlBubo bubo
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
Waders29 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemus
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- RedshankTringa totanus
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Eurasian DotterelCharadrius morinellus
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
Gulls & seabirds10 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Common GullLarus canus
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
Ducks & geese16 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Marbled TealMarmaronetta angustirostrisNT
Herons, ibises & grebes17 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
- Little BitternIxobrychus minutus
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens
- African Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus
Storks & cranes3 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Black storkCiconia nigra
- Common CraneGrus grus
Flamingos2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
- Caribbean FlamingoPhoenicopterus ruber
Songbirds104 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Crested larkGalerida cristata
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta
- Sardinian WarblerSylvia melanocephala
- Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Moustached WarblerAcrocephalus melanopogon
- Great titParus major
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Tawny PipitAnthus campestris
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Iberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalisVU
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Eurasian Penduline TitRemiz pendulinus
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Rock SparrowPetronia petronia
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Western Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus bonelli
- Dartford WarblerSylvia undata
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
- Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
- Subalpine WarblerSylvia cantillans
- Eastern Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
- Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulana
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Western Orphean WarblerSylvia hortensis
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Aquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicolaVU
- Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibillatrix
- Western Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Collared FlycatcherFicedula albicollis
- Rosy StarlingPastor roseus
- Richard's PipitAnthus richardi
- Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinus
- Rock BuntingEmberiza cia
- Icterine warblerHippolais icterina
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
- Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
- Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Lesser Grey ShrikeLanius minor
- White-throated DipperCinclus cinclus
- Spectacled WarblerSylvia conspicillata
Other birds33 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- European RollerCoracias garrulus
- Little BustardTetrax tetraxNT
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- CootFulica atra
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- European SwiftApus apus
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Great spotted cuckooClamator glandarius
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- Spotted CrakePorzana porzana
- Porzana parvaPorzana parva
- Picus sharpeiPicus sharpei
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
- Baillon's CrakePorzana pusilla
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eaterMerops persicus
- Black-billed cuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus
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 April to May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan8°/1°57 mm
- Feb9°/1°44 mm
- Mar13°/4°53 mm
- Apr16°/7°65 mm
- May20°/10°58 mm
- Jun26°/14°35 mm
- Jul29°/17°26 mm
- Aug29°/16°30 mm
- Sep24°/13°48 mm
- Oct19°/10°80 mm
- Nov13°/5°71 mm
- Dec9°/2°50 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Étang de Capestang.
Special protection area in France
Étang de Capestang is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive in France.
245 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 49,059 open records.
The most recorded are the Eurasian Reed Warbler, the Zitting Cisticola and the Crested lark.
80 species come for the summer, 67 for the winter and 4 only pass through.
7 are threatened worldwide, including European Turtle Dove, Iberian Grey Shrike and Common Pochard.
The most species are recorded from April to May.
Get there and watch
- Camping municipal de Tounelcampsite · 3.8 km · 9 within 10 km
- Vinaubergeplace to stay · 2.3 km · 21 within 10 km
- Capestangnearest town · 3.9 km in a straight line
- Béziers Vias airport (BZR)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 25 km in a straight lineCar hire at BZR airport (Béziers)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
- 4marked trails within 4 kmChemin de Fontcaude, Autour d'Ensérune, Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen and 1 more
- 2visitor centres within 6 kmOffice de Tourisme du Canal du Midi, syndicat d'initiative
- 2viewpoints within 5 kmPoint de vue sur l'étang de Montady
- 5car parks within 3 km
- 2restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 9campsites within 10 kmCamping municipal de Tounel, Camping Domino, La Donadive and 6 more
- 21places to stay within 10 kmVinauberge, Le Relais Bleu, L'Atelier and 18 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers 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 Étang de Capestang.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas4 mountains within 25 kmLa Grage · 21 kmMont Peyroux · 22 kmMont Ségonne · 22 kmLe Mour · 24 km
Cavernyas3 caves within 20 kmGrotte de las Fons · 15 kmGouffre de l'Œil Doux · 16 kmGrotte de la Crouzade · 18 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.
Étang de Capestang
France
- 80Birdyas Score
- 245Species
- 151Migrants
- 7Threatened
Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park
Spain · 123 km
- 90Birdyas Score
- 337Species
- 204Migrants
- 18Threatened
Parc Natural Comunal de les Valls del Comapedrosa
Andorra · 151 km
- 56Birdyas Score
- 121Species
- 63Migrants
- 1Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q29452501) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 49,059 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, Cavernyas |
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