Extremadura Bird Guide

If you are looking for a Extremadura bird guide (person), in this article you can find some key information. If you are looking for a Extremadura bird guide (in paper), here you can also find some valuable information. On the one hand, although this website is not an atlas or a bird guide, I try to give some tips to differentiate the most similar species. On the other hand, the option of hiring a bird guide in Extremadura can be very interesting. A guide knows the terrain in detail and will help you find the species you are looking for.

How to learn to identify the birds of Extremadura?

If we go to an area that we do not frequent or if we are just starting out in birdwatching, it is likely that we will have some difficulty in identifying birds. My recommendation is to buy a paper atlas or bird guide. It is very important that you invest time in familiarising yourself with the different species.

Birdwatching in their natural habitat is essential and we will have to spend many hours to be able to identify them with a certain accuracy… However, as difficult as it may seem, as the days go by and the hours accumulated, it will become easier and easier to do so. Simply by the position of the wings, the habitat in which they are found, the time of day, the season of the year… All this will give us clues as to which bird we are dealing with.

What are the best bird guides?

There are many very complete guides. I would recommend Aves de España by Eduardo de Juana and J. Valera and Svensson’s Guía de Aves de España, Europa y región mediterránea. However, there is a lot of high quality material on the market. They are guides to the birds of Extremadura and the whole peninsula, in fact the latter includes birds from all over Europe. I think it is important to take the time to look through the guide, read the information about each bird and of course look at the pictures and illustrations. It is always going to be much easier to identify a bird on paper than in the field…. But if we are not able to identify it from a photo, we will hardly be able to do so in reality.

On the other hand, there are several useful websites and APPs. The website of SEO Birdlife of course it is key but there are also more recent websites that can help you a lot like EBIRD.

I recommend always going to the field with either a paper or digital guidebook and every time you make a sighting and think you have identified a species, corroborate it with the guidebook. At first it can be a bit cumbersome but there will come a time when we will not need the guidebook. We will know “by heart” 95% of the birds we see on each outing.

Why hire a Extremadura bird guide?

When you have a limited amount of time to visit a particular area, you always want to make the most of it. Hiring a guide will always help you to make the most of this time, investing it in the most productive areas. They will also be able to show you spots that you would never discover on your own and, above all, know which are the best places to visit at any given moment.

For example, there may be an extraordinary area to see waterfowl in winter but not in spring. Many birds are migratory and if we do not know the seasonality of their movements we can waste our time looking for them. And of course, there are some very elusive birds that, without the help of a guide, would be very, very difficult to locate. All this is coming from a person who loves to investigate, to discover new areas by himself. I spend hours looking at google maps, searching for paths and trails to reach certain areas…

Googling will always help us, but there is a lot of information, a lot of experiences, a lot of knowledge that we will never be able to find in google. This website focuses on the fauna of Extremadura, so if you need help, please do not hesitate to contact Birding in Extremadura and they will be delighted to help you. On this website you can also find an article with the best areas for birdwatching in Extremadura. I hope this article will serve you as a birding guide and that you will enter this exciting world. Once you get in, there is no way out…

Extremadura bird guide

In the last few years we have been able to observe birds in Extremadura on a regular basis that were not observed years ago. It is difficult to find them in many of today’s guidebooks. For this reason we have decided to make available to you this completely updated list with all the birds that we can observe in Extremadura today. If you click on each one you will find images and a brief description.

 

Spanish name (link)	Latin name	English name
Abejaruco Común	Merops apiaster	European Bee-eater
Abejero europeo	Pernis apivorus	European honey buzzard
Abubilla	Upupa epops	Hoopoe
Acentor Alpino	Prunella collaris	Alpine Accentor
Acentor Común	Prunella modularis	Dunnock
Agachadiza Chica	Lymnocryptes minimus	Jack Snipe
Agachadiza Común	Gallinago gallinago	Common snipe
Agateador Común	Certhia brachydactyla	Short-toed Treecreeper
Águila Culebrera Europea	Circaetus gallicus	Short-toed Eagle
Águila Imperial Ibérica	Aquila adalberti	Spanish Imperial Eagle
Águila Pescadora	Pandion haliaetus	Osprey
Águila Real	Aquila chrysaetos	Golden Eagle
Águila-azor Perdicera	Hieraaetus fasciatus	Bonellis Eagle
Aguililla Calzada	Hieraaetus pennatus	Booted Eagle
Aguilucho Cenizo	Circus pygargus	Montagus Harrier
Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental	Circus aeruginosus	Marsh Harrier
Aguilucho Pálido	Circus cyaneus	Hen Harrier
Aguilucho Papialbo	Circus macrourus	Pallid harrier
Aguja Colinegra	Limosa limosa	Black-tailed Godwit
Alcaraván Común	Burhinus oedicnemus	Stone-curlew
Alcaudón Común	Lanius senator	Woodchat Shrike
Alcaudón Dorsirrojo	Lanius collurio	Red-backed Shrike
Alcaudón Meridional	Lanius meridionalis	Iberian Grey Shrike
Alcotán Europeo	Falco subbuteo	Hobby
Alimoche Común	Neophron percnopterus	Egyptian Vulture
Alondra Común	Alauda arvensis	Sky Lark
Alzacola Rojizo	Cercotrichas galactotes	Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin
Anade Friso	Mareca strepera	Gadwall
Anade Rabudo	Anas acuta	Northern pintail
Anade Real	Anas platyrhynchos	Mallard
Andarríos Bastardo	Tringa glareola	Wood Sandpiper
Andarríos Chico	Actitis hypoleucos	Common Sandpiper
Andarríos Grande	Tringa ochropus	Green Sandpiper
Ánsar Comun	Anser anser	Greylag Goose
Archibebe Claro	Tringa nebularia	Greenshank
Archibebe Común	Tringa totanus	Common Redshank
Archibebe Fino	Tringa stagnatilis	Marsh Sandpiper
Archibebe Oscuro	Tringa erythropus	Spotted Redshank
Arrendajo	Garrulus glandarius	Eurasian Jay
Autillo Europeo	Otus scops	Scops Owl
Avefría europea	Vanellus vanellus	Peewit
Avetorillo Común	Ixobrychus minutus	Little Bittern
Avetoro Común	Botaurus stellaris	Great Bittern
Avión Común	Delichon urbicum	House Martin
Avión Roquero	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	Crag Martin
Avión Zapador	Riparia riparia	Sand Martin
Avoceta Común	Recurvirostra avosetta	Avocet
Avutarda Común	Otis tarda	Great Bustard
Azor Común	Accipiter gentilis	Northern Goshawk
Becada	Scolopax rusticola	Eurasian woodcock
Bengali rojo	Amandava amandava	Red avadavat
Bigotudo	Panurus biarmicus	Bearded Tit
Bisbita Alpino	Anthus spinoletta	Water Pipit
Bisbita Arbóreo	Anthus trivialis	Tree Pipit
Bisbita Campestre	Anthus campestris	Tawny Pipit
Bisbita Pratense	Anthus pratensis	Meadow Pipit
Búho Campestre	Asio flammeus	Short-eared Owl
Búho Chico	Asio otus	Long-eared Owl
Búho Real	Bubo bubo	Eagle Owl
Buitre Leonado	Gyps fulvus	Griffon Vulture
Buitre Negro	Aegypius monachus	Monk Vulture
Buitrón	Cisticola juncidis	Zitting Cisticola
Busardo Ratonero	Buteo buteo	Common Buzzard
Buscarla Pintoja	Locustella naevia	Grasshopper Warbler
Buscarla Unicolor	Locustella luscinioides	Savi’s Warbler
Calamón Común	Porphyrio porphyrio	Purple Swamp-hen
Calandria Común	Melanocorypha calandra	Calandra Lark
Camachuelo Común	Pyrrhula pyrrhula	Common Bullfinch
Canastera Común	Glareola pratincola	Collared Pratincole
Cárabo Europeo	Strix aluco	Tawny Owl
Carbonero Común	Parus major	Great Tit
Carbonero Garrapinos	Parus ater	Coal Tit
Carraca europea	Coracias garrulus	European Roller
Carricerín Común	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	Sedge Warbler
Carricero Común	Acrocephalus scirpaceus	Reed Warbler
Carricero Tordal	Acrocephalus arundinaceus	Great Reed Warbler
Cerceta Carretona	Anas querquedula	Garganey
Cerceta Comun	Anas crecca	Eurasian teal
Cernícalo Primilla	Falco naumanni	Lesser Kestrel
Cernícalo Vulgar	Falco tinnunculus	Common Kestrel
Charrán Común	Sterna hirundo	Common Tern
Charrancito Común	Sterna albifrons	Little Tern
Chochín Común	Troglodytes troglodytes	Wren
Chorlitejo Chico	Charadrius dubius	Little Ringed Plover
Chorlitejo Grande	Charadrius hiaticula	Great Ringed Plover
Chorlitejo Patinegro	Charadrius alexandrinus	Kentish Plover
Chorlito carambolo	Charadrius morinellus	Eurasian dotterel
Chorlito Dorado	Pluvialis apricaria	European Golden Plover
Chorlito Gris	Pluvialis squatarola	Grey Plover
Chotacabras europeo	Caprimulgus europaeus	European Nightjar
Chotacabras cuellirrojo	Caprimulgus ruficollis	Red-necked Nightjar
Chova Piquirroja	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	Red-billed Chough
Cigüeña Blanca	Ciconia ciconia	White Stork
Cigüeña Negra	Ciconia nigra	Black Stork
Cigüeñuela Común	Himantopus himantopus	Black-winged Stilt
Codorniz	Coturnix coturnix	Common quail
Cogujada Común	Galerida cristata	Crested Lark
Cogujada Montesina	Galerida theklae	Thekla Lark
Colirrojo Real	Phoenicurus phoenicurus	Common Redstart
Colirrojo Tizón	Phoenicurus ochruros	Black Redstart
Collalba Gris	Oenanthe oenanthe	Northern Wheatear
Collalba Negra	Oenanthe leucura	Black Wheatear
Collalba Rubia	Oenanthe hispanica	Black-eared Wheatear
Combatiente	Philomachus pugnax	Ruff
Cormorán Grande	Phalacrocorax carbo	Great Cormorant
Corneja negra	Corvus corone	Carrion crow
Correlimos Común	Calidris alpina	Dunlin
Correlimos de Temminck	Calidris temminckii	Temmincks Stint
Correlimos Gordo	Calidris canutus	Red Knot
Correlimos Menudo	Calidris minuta	Little Stint
Correlimos Tridáctilo	Calidris alba	Sanderling
Correlimos Zarapitín	Calidris ferruginea	Curlew Sandpiper
Críalo Europeo	Clamator glandarius	Great Spotted Cuckoo
Cuco Común	Cuculus canorus	Common Cuckoo
Cuervo grande	Corvus corax	Common raven
Curruca Cabecinegra	Sylvia melanocephala	Sardinian Warbler
Curruca Capirotada	Sylvia atricapilla	Blackcap
Curruca Carrasqueña	Sylvia cantillans	Subalpine Warbler
Curruca Mirlona	Sylvia hortensis	Western Orphean Warbler
Curruca Mosquitera	Sylvia borin	Garden Warbler
Curruca Rabilarga	Sylvia undata	Dartford Warbler
Curruca Tomillera	Sylvia conspicillata	Spectacled Warbler
Curruca Zarcera	Sylvia communis	Common Whitethroat
Diamante	Taeniopygia guttata	Zebra finch
Elanio Común	Elanus caeruleus	Black-shouldered Kite
Escribano Hortelano	Emberiza hortulana	Ortolan Bunting
Escribano Montesino	Emberiza cia	Rock Bunting
Escribano Palustre	Emberiza schoeniclus	Reed Bunting
Escribano Soteño	Emberiza cirlus	Cirl Bunting
Esmerejón	Falco columbarius	Merlin Esmerla
Espátula Común	Platalea leucorodia	Eurasian Spoonbill
Estornino negro	Sturnus unicolor	Spotless starling
Estornino pinto	Sturnus vulgaris	Common starling
Faisán vulgar	Phasianus colchicus	Common pheasant
Flamenco común	Phoenicopterus roseus	Greater Flamingo
Focha común	Fulica atra	Eurasian coot
Fumarel Cariblanco	Chlidonias hybrida	Whiskered Tern
Fumarel Común	Chlidonias niger	Black Tern
Gallineta común	Gallinula chloropus	Common moorhen
Ganga Ibérica	Pterocles alchata	Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Ganga Ortega	Pterocles orientalis	Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Ganso del Nilo	Alopochen aegyptiaca	Egyptian goose
Garceta Común	Egretta garzetta	Little Egret
Garceta Grande	Egretta alba	Great White Egret
Garcilla Bueyera	Bubulcus ibis	Cattle Egret
Garcilla Cangrejera	Ardeola ralloides	Squacco Heron
Garza Imperial	Ardea purpurea	Purple Heron
Garza Real	Ardea cinerea	Grey Heron
Gavilán Común	Accipiter nisus	Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Gaviota cabecinegra	Ichthyaetus melanocephalus	Mediterranean gull
Gaviota cana	Larus canus	Common gull
Gaviota patiamarilla	Larus michahellis	Yellow legged gull
Gaviota reidora	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	Black-headed gull
Gaviota sombría	Larus fuscus	Lesser black-backed gull
Golondrina Común	Hirundo rustica	Barn Swallow
Golondrina Dáurica	Hirundo daurica	Red-rumped Swallow
Gorrión Chillón	Petronia petronia	Rock Sparrow
Gorrión Común	Passer domesticus	House sparrow
Gorrión Molinero	Passer montanus	Tree Sparrow
Gorrión Moruno	Passer hispaniolensis	Spanish Sparrow
Grajilla	Corvus monedula	Jackdaw
Grulla Común	Grus grus	Common Crane
Halcón Peregrino	Falco peregrinus	Peregrine Falcon
Herrerillo Capuchino	Parus cristatus	Crested Tit
Herrerillo Común	Parus caeruleus	Blue Tit
Jilguero	Carduelis carduelis	European goldfinch
Lavandera Blanca	Motacilla alba	White Wagtail
Lavandera Boyera	Motacilla flava	Yellow Wagtail
Lavandera Cascadeña	Motacilla cinerea	Grey Wagtail
Lechuza Común	Tyto alba	Barn Owl
Lúgano	Carduelis spinus	Siskin
Martín Pescador	Alcedo atthis	Common Kingfisher
Martinete Común	Nycticorax nycticorax	Night Heron
Milano Negro	Milvus migrans	Black Kite
Milano Real	Milvus milvus	Red Kite
Mirlo Capiblanco	Turdus torquatus	Ring Ouzel
Mirlo Común	Turdus merula	Blackbird
Mirlo-acuático	Cinclus cinclus	Dipper
Mito	Aegithalos caudatus	Long-tailed Tit
Mochuelo europeo	Athene noctua	Little Owl
Morito Común	Plegadis falcinellus	Glossy Ibis
Mosquitero Común	Phylloscopus collybita	Common Chiffchaff
Mosquitero Ibérico	Phylloscopus ibericus	Iberian Chiffchaff
Mosquitero Musical	Phylloscopus trochilus	Willow Warbler
Mosquitero Papialbo	Phylloscopus bonelli	Bonelli’s Warbler
Obispo coronigualdo	Euplectes afer	Yellow-crowned bishop
Oropéndola	Oriolus oriolus	Golden Oriole
Pagaza Piconegra	Sterna nilotica	Gull-billed Tern
Pájaro Moscón	Remiz pendulinus	Penduline Tit
Paloma bravía	Columba livia	Rock dove
Paloma torcaz	Columba palumbus	Common wood pigeon
Paloma zurita	Columba oenas	Stock dove
Papamoscas Cerrojillo	Ficedula hypoleuca	Pied Flycatcher
Papamoscas Gris	Muscicapa striata	Spotted Flycatcher
Pardillo común	Linaria cannabina	Common linnet
Pato Colorado	Netta rufina	Red-crested Pochard
Pato Cuchara	Anas clypeata	Northern shoveler
Pechiazul	Lucinia svecica	Bluethroat
Perdiz roja	Alectoris rufa	Red-legged partridge
Petirrojo Europeo	Erithacus rubecula	Robin
Pico de coral	Strilda astrild	Common waxbill
Pico Menor	Dendrocopos minor	Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Pico Picapinos	Dendrocopos major	Great Spotted Woodpecker
Picogordo	Coccothraustes coccothraustes	Hawfinch
Pinzón Real	Fringilla montifringilla	Brambling
Pinzón Vulgar	Fringilla coelebs	Common Chaffinch
Piquituerto Común	Loxia curvirostra	Common Crossbill
Pito Real	Picus viridis	Green Woodpecker
Polluela Bastarda	Porzana parva	Little Crake
Polluela Chica	Porzana pusilla	Baillons Crake
Polluela Pintoja	Porzana porzana	Spotted Crake
Porrón Europeo	Aythya ferina	Common Pochard
Porrón Moñudo	Aythya fuligula	Tufted Duck
Porrón pardo	Aythya nyroca	Ferruginous Duck
Quebrantahuesos	Gypaetus barbatus	Bearded vulture
Rabilargo	Cyanopica cyanus	Azure-winged Magpie
Rascón Europeo	Rallus aquaticus	Water Rail
Reyezuelo Listado	Regulus ignicapilla	Firecrest
Reyezuelo Sencillo	Regulus regulus	Goldcrest
Roquero Rojo	Monticola saxatilis	Rock Thrush
Roquero Solitario	Monticola solitarius	Blue Rock Thrush
Ruiseñor Bastardo	Cettia cetti	Cetti’s Warbler
Ruiseñor Común	Luscinia megarhynchos	Rufous Nightingale
Serín verdecillo	Serinus serinus	European serin
Silbón Europeo	Anas penelope	Eurasian wigeon
Sisón Común	Tetrax tetrax	Little Bustard
Somormujo Lavanco	Podiceps cristatus	Great Crested Grebe
Tarabilla Común	Saxicola torquatus	Common Stonechat
Tarro blanco	Tadorna tadorna	Common shelduck
Tarro canelo	Tadorna ferruginea	Ruddy shelduck
Tejedor común	Ploceus cucullatus	Village weaver
Terrera común	Calandrella brachydactyla	Greater short-toed lark
Torcecuello	Jynx torquilla	Eurasian wryneck
Tortola común	Streptopelia turtur	European turtle dove
Tortola turca	Streptopelia decaocto	Eurasian collared dov
Totovía	Lullula arborea	Woodlark
Trepador azul	Sitta europaea	Eurasian nuthatch
Triguero	Miliaria calandra	Corn bunting
Urraca	Pica pica	Eurasian magpie
Vencejo cafre	Apus caffer	White-rumped swift
Vencejo común	Apus apus	Common swift
Vencejo pálido	Apus pallidus	Pallid swift
Vencejo real	Apus melba	Alpine swift
Verderón común	Chloris chloris	Greenfinch
Zampullín común	Tachybaptus ruficollis	Little grebe
Zampullín cuellinegro	Podiceps nigricollis	Black-necked grebe
Zarapito real	Numenius arquata	Eurasian curlew
Zarcero políglota	Hippolais polyglotta	Melodious warbler
Zorzal alirrojo	Turdus iliacus	Redwing
Zorzal charlo	Turdus viscivorus	Mistle thrush
Zorzal común	Turdus philomelos	Song thrush
Zorzal real	Turdus pilaris	Fieldfare