Portugal Special Protection Area for birds
Leixão da Gaivota
251 bird species recorded; the most from March to April and from September to October.
Joseolgon · CC BY-SA 3.0
This month here
143 species in January.156 species in February.170 species in March.174 species in April.155 species in May.126 species in June.121 species in July.149 species in August.180 species in September.179 species in October.160 species in November.163 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- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
251 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).
- 251Speciesrecorded more than once
- 139Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 9ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 76,281Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 17Raptors
- 3Owls
- 33Waders
- 37Gulls & seabirds
- 17Ducks & geese
- 13Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 2Flamingos
- 92Songbirds
- 35Other 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 251 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors17 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Griffon VultureGyps fulvus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterus
- Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata
- Lesser kestrelFalco naumanni
Owls3 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
Waders33 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemus
- Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellusVU
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
- Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
Gulls & seabirds37 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii
- RazorbillAlca torda
- Great skuaStercorarius skua
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Balearic shearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusCR
- Slender-billed GullChroicocephalus genei
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
- Common GullLarus canus
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaVU
- European Storm-PetrelHydrobates pelagicus
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Great shearwaterPuffinus gravis
- Sooty shearwaterPuffinus griseus
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
- Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
- Common MurreUria aalge
- Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus
- Leach's Storm PetrelOceanodroma leucorhoaVU
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Wilson's Storm-PetrelOceanites oceanicus
Ducks & geese17 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
Herons, ibises & grebes13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Black storkCiconia nigra
Flamingos2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
- Caribbean FlamingoPhoenicopterus ruber
Songbirds92 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Iberian MagpieCyanopica cooki
- Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Crested larkGalerida cristata
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- Great titParus major
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta
- Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensis
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Sardinian WarblerSylvia melanocephala
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Iberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalisVU
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Iberian ChiffchaffPhylloscopus ibericus
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- European Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- Thekla's LarkGalerida theklae
- Dartford WarblerSylvia undata
- Western Subalpine WarblerCurruca iberiae
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Western Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus bonelli
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Eastern Red-rumped SwallowCecropis daurica
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
- Western Orphean WarblerSylvia hortensis
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Western Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica
- Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Spectacled WarblerSylvia conspicillata
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulana
- Rock BuntingEmberiza cia
- Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
- Spice FinchLonchura punctulata
- Yellow-crowned BishopEuplectes afer
- Western Olivaceous WarblerIduna opaca
Other birds35 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- European SwiftApus apus
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- CootFulica atra
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Picus sharpeiPicus sharpei
- Fischer's LovebirdAgapornis fischeriNT
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Red-necked NightjarCaprimulgus ruficollisNT
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachus
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- CockatielNymphicus hollandicus
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Great spotted cuckooClamator glandarius
- BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Rosy-faced LovebirdAgapornis roseicollis
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
- African Collared DoveStreptopelia roseogrisea
- White-rumped SwiftApus caffer
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Mitred ParakeetAratinga mitrata
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 March to April and from September to October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan15°/12°55 mm
- Feb15°/12°54 mm
- Mar16°/13°72 mm
- Apr18°/14°70 mm
- May20°/16°38 mm
- Jun22°/18°8 mm
- Jul24°/18°1 mm
- Aug24°/19°4 mm
- Sep23°/19°24 mm
- Oct21°/18°78 mm
- Nov18°/15°101 mm
- Dec16°/13°78 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Leixão da Gaivota.
Protected area in Portugal
Leixão da Gaivota is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive in Portugal.
251 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 76,281 open records.
The most recorded are the Yellow-legged Gull, the House Sparrow and the Eurasian Blackbird.
52 species come for the summer, 77 for the winter and 10 only pass through.
9 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Common Pochard and Curlew Sandpiper.
The most species are recorded from March to April and from September to October.
Get there and watch
- VisitingHours in OpenStreetMap: 24/7Official site↗
- Ferragudo, 49 Rua de Vale da Azenhagacampsite · 0.9 km · 11 within 10 km
- Casa Solplace to stay · 1.6 km · 525 within 10 km
- Ferragudonearest town · 2.3 km in a straight line
- Portimão Airport (PRM)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 8 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
- 1observation towers within 6 kmTorre da Lapa
- 3marked trails within 4 kmVarandas sobre o Mar, Via Algarviana - Ligação 9: Parchal-Silves, Caminho dos Promontórios
- 4visitor centres within 6 kmTourist INFO, Turismo de Portimão, Posto de Turismo de Carvoeiro and 1 more
- 9viewpoints within 5 km
- 214car parks within 3 km
- 132restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 11campsites within 10 kmFerragudo, 49 Rua de Vale da Azenhaga, Parque de Campismo de Ferragudo, Oasis campsite and 8 more
- 525places to stay within 10 kmCasa Sol, AP Oriental Beach, Algarve Casino and 522 more
- bird hides 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 Leixão da Gaivota.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas4 mountains within 25 kmPicota · 23 kmCerro da Garganta · 24 kmFóia902 m · 25 kmCerro dos Marocos · 25 km
Coastya28 beaches within 10 kmPraia dos Caneiros · 0.3 kmPraia Grande · 1.3 km↗Praia da Angrinha · 1.4 kmPraia do Carvoeiro · 4.1 km↗Praia do Vau · 4.1 km↗Praia dos Três Irmãos · 5.6 km↗Praia do Carvalho · 8.7 kmPraia da Marinha · 9.4 km↗
Darkskyas1 dark-sky places within 30 kmFóiaBortle 3 · 24 km
Cavernyas1 caves within 20 kmIbn Ammar · 6.0 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.
Leixão da Gaivota
Portugal
- 84Birdyas Score
- 251Species
- 139Migrants
- 9Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q63378403) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 76,281 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, Darkskyas, 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.
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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
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forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit