Estonia Ramsar wetland
Matsalu National Park
224 bird species recorded; the most in May.
Unknown author · CC BY 3.0
This month here
1 species in January.19 species in February.87 species in March.166 species in April.209 species in May.174 species in June.145 species in July.144 species in August.144 species in September.100 species in October.38 species in November.0 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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VUNT
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No records for this month.
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
224 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).
- 224Speciesrecorded more than once
- 164Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 10ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 24,696Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 18Raptors
- 5Owls
- 34Waders
- 14Gulls & seabirds
- 32Ducks & geese
- 8Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 88Songbirds
- 23Other 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 224 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
- White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Lesser spotted eagleAquila pomarina
- Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNT
- Eurasian GoshawkAccipiter gentilis
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
Owls5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Ural OwlStrix uralensis
- Eurasian Pygmy-OwlGlaucidium passerinum
Waders34 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- RedshankTringa totanus
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellusVU
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Great SnipeGallinago mediaNT
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Eurasian DotterelCharadrius morinellus
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
Gulls & seabirds14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Common GullLarus canus
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
- Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
Ducks & geese32 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- GadwallMareca strepera
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- SmewMergellus albellus
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Lesser white-fronted gooseAnser erythropusVU
- Common EiderSomateria mollissimaNT
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisVU
- Velvet scoterMelanitta fuscaVU
- Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalis
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
Herons, ibises & grebes8 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common CraneGrus grus
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
Songbirds88 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Great titParus major
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Thrush NightingaleLuscinia luscinia
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibillatrix
- Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinus
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Icterine warblerHippolais icterina
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- Marsh warblerAcrocephalus palustris
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinus
- Willow TitPoecile montanus
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Barred WarblerSylvia nisoria
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- Red-breasted flycatcherFicedula parva
- Eurasian River WarblerLocustella fluviatilis
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulana
- Northern NutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactes
- Blyth’s Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorum
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Eurasian Penduline TitRemiz pendulinus
- Lesser Grey ShrikeLanius minor
- Greenish WarblerPhylloscopus trochiloides
Other birds23 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- European SwiftApus apus
- CootFulica atra
- Middle Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocoptes medius
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- White-backed WoodpeckerDendrocopos leucotos
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Black WoodpeckerDryocopus martius
- Grey-headed WoodpeckerPicus canus
- Corncrake, corn crakeCrex crex
- Black GrouseLyrurus tetrix
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
- Hazel GrouseTetrastes bonasia
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
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 May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan-1°/-5°52 mm
- Feb-2°/-6°43 mm
- Mar1°/-4°39 mm
- Apr7°/1°38 mm
- May14°/6°44 mm
- Jun18°/11°61 mm
- Jul21°/15°60 mm
- Aug21°/14°71 mm
- Sep16°/11°54 mm
- Oct9°/5°66 mm
- Nov5°/2°67 mm
- Dec1°/-2°55 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Matsalu National Park.
Protected area in Estonia
Matsalu National Park is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Estonia.
224 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 24,696 open records.
The most recorded are the Northern Lapwing, the White-tailed Eagle and the Mute Swan.
140 species come for the summer, 13 for the winter and 11 only pass through.
10 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Common Pochard and Broad-billed Sandpiper.
The most species are recorded in May.
Get there and watch
- Tuulinguplace to stay · 4.2 km · 7 within 10 km
- Ridalanearest town · 13 km in a straight line
- Kärdla Airport (KDL)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 51 km in a straight lineCar hire at URE airport (Kuressaare)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
- 2observation towers within 6 kmHaeska linnutorn, Keemu vaatetorn
- 5marked trails within 4 kmKeemu matkarada, Näärikivide õpperada, d46_Euroopa matkarada E9, Eesti and 2 more
- 2viewpoints within 5 kmKeemu vaatetorn, Haeska linnutorn
- 7places to stay within 10 kmTuulingu, Anne's Cottage, Haeska mõisa peahoone and 4 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- car parks within 3 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- campsites within 10 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 Matsalu National Park.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas1 mountains within 25 kmSalumägi · 7.6 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.
Matsalu National Park
Estonia
- 87Birdyas Score
- 224Species
- 164Migrants
- 10Threatened
Haapsalu-Noarootsi Wetland Complex
Estonia · 42 km
- 75Birdyas Score
- 188Species
- 122Migrants
- 5Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q1540273) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 24,696 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, Darkskyas |
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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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 
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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