Where to go bird watching

2 min summary Map & highlights Africa Falkland Islands India Puffins Rwanda Sri lanka Uganda Top 10 wetlands Bird watching cruises Responsible birding

Where to go bird watching

The expression ‘birdbrain’ is a misnomer. First, anatomically, birds have relatively large brains. And second, look where they choose to hang out. Seek out a beautiful bird, and you will often find paradise, their plumage sometimes even reflecting the colours of their habitats, as if in homage. The Saint Lucia parrot shimmers emerald green and cobalt blue, with splashes of scarlet and gold. Just like the sea and flowers that surround it. India’s rufous treepie is a rich cinnamon colour, with a bluish grey tail, evoking images of Ranthambore National Park’s dusty orange earth and lakes. And the scarlet ibis? That’s like all of Trinidad’s divine sunsets rolled into one fiery feathered concoction.

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1. Cuba
2. Ethiopia
3. Falkland Islands
4. Gambia
5. Hungary
6. India
7. Romania
8. Sri Lanka
9. Trinidad & Tobago
10. Uganda

Cuba

1. Cuba

There’s a big reason to go birding in Cuba – and that’s to hunt for the world’s smallest bird. The bee hummingbird is just six centimetres long and weighs less than two grams. It’s only found here. There are 27 other endemic species to spot, including the charming Cuban trogon, the national bird. Catch them across several birding areas and biospheres, and one of the Caribbean’s most important wetlands.

Cuba

Ethiopia

2. Ethiopia

Ethiopia is like worshipping at the altar of ornithology, which enshrines 39 percent of Africa’s bird species. Eighteen are Ethiopian endemics, such as the Ethiopian siskin and blue winged goose. Bale Mountains National Park plays a big part, the afro-montane Sanetti Plateau, glacial lakes and volcanic peaks also home to geladas, hyenas and Simien wolves. Ethiopia is eclectic, exciting and exquisitely untouched by mass tourism.

Falkland Islands

3. Falkland Islands

Pebble Island? More like Penguin Island: thousands have chosen this island in the Falklands as their breeding ground – you can see four different species of penguin here. Whilst people may associate the Falklands with seabirds, there are also an abundance of grebes, geese, and the rare black neck swan, too, across these 700 remote islands. The birds here display very little fear of people, making them a particular pleasure to watch.

Falkland Islands

Gambia

4. Gambia

As one of Africa’s smallest countries, it is relatively easy to seek its 570 bird species. Gambia's birds have names as stunning as the environs they inhabit: the red-bellied paradise flycatcher and pin-tailed widow of Abuko Nature Reserve, the black crowned tchagra of Tanji Bird Reserve or the paradise whydah of Marakissa River Camp.

Hungary

5. Hungary

One of Europe’s best kept birding and wildlife secrets, Bukk National Park, Lake Tisza and Bodrogzug floodplains will easily fill a week, and a lot of memory cards on your camera. Red backed shrike, great reed warblers and saker falcons are just a few of the treats in store, and with expert wildlife guides.

Hungary

India

6. India

The peacock is the national bird of India: a bird of paradise in a natural nirvana. Ranthambore National Park’ s jungles are home to 250-plus species, including parakeets, hornbills, shrikes and sand grouse, with Keoladeo Ghana National Park and the National Chambal Sanctuary both wetland wonderlands. The Western Ghat Mountains boast 24 species meriting Endemic Bird Area status by BirdLife International.

Romania

7. Romania

Romania’s vast Danube Delta must be some of the finest bird watching territory in all of Europe. You can find huge numbers of resident and migratory species in these wetlands, with specialist local guides escorting you in near-silent electric boats. Our partners use conveniently located guest houses so you can make early starts, and enjoy homecooked meals often using fish plucked straight from the delta.

Romania

Sri Lanka

8. Sri Lanka

Tourists are waking up to the joys of Sri Lanka; birders have been woken by the dawn chorus here for a long time. Kitulgala rainforest is home to endemics such as the Sri Lankan hanging parrot and the yellow-fronted barbet. Or Nuwara-eliya Hakgala Gardens, home to the Sri Lanka white eye or Kashmir flycatcher. Horton Plains and Yala National Parks have bevies of beautiful birds, plus leopards, deer and monkeys.

Trinidad & Tobago

9. Trinidad & Tobago

This dual island nation is just greedy in its gorgeousness. Everywhere you go you hear birdsong, in between the calypso and sound of waves. Explore the forests, swamps and islets, habitats for 460 bird species. And some of the best ornithologist guides you could hope for, leading you to the white-tailed sabrewing and ruby-topaz hummingbirds, scarlet ibis and blue-crowned motmot.

Trinidad & Tobago

Uganda

10. Uganda

There are over 1,000 bird species that you could spot in Uganda – they stalk the savannahs, hide in the reeds of the wetlands and flit through its montane forests. Whilst a round thousand is a tall order, on a two-week trip you could see more than 400 species. What’s more, you can combine the trip with safaris and chimpanzee and gorilla trekking – if you get bored of birds, that is.

Bird watching travel advice

Indian itinerary tips

Ashish Dev V, from our birdwatching specialist Kalypso Adventures, based in Kerala:

“Thattekad, a lowland forest area in Kerala, is one of the finest bird watching spots in South India with 274 species of birds recorded here. In a relatively small geographical area it is possible to sight nearly all the endemic birds of the Western Ghats and more.”

Packing tips

"Carry a very good pair of binoculars, good walking shoes, a cap and some sunscreen lotion. Most of the areas are forested and you can expect insects are everywhere, hence insect repellent creams are also a good addition to the kit.”

Advice on when to go

Newton George, expert birding guide who works with our partner in Travel in Trinidad and Tobago:

“The best time of year for birders is from November to April. Most nesting begins in January but they start getting together in November. The red-billed tropicbird can also be seen on Little Tobago from November to March; that’s when they are nesting – and they can’t move from their nests. Some species nest early – especially hummingbirds. Outside of this time, from August to September, thousands of waders come in from North America.”

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Tips from our travellers

At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.

We have selected some of the most useful bird watching holidays travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday.

Two weeks birding in Sri Lanka with a truly professional local guide made the experience both memorable and exciting. For us the point was to return exhausted and inspired, and this we did.

- Ted Jackson in Sri Lanka

“Birds birds birds! We had a 2 week trip and saw 191 different species… The guides were extraordinary. All of them were skilled, dedicated and knowledgeable… They also went to great lengths to ensure that each member of the party… saw every bird if possible. If possible try to visit Asa Wright on Trinidad first. We felt that doing it this way round familiarised us with many species, and also gave us a relaxing end to the holiday at the Blue Waters Inn on Tobago. We are not beach people but we loved sitting on the deck in the shade at the hotel watching the sea, enjoying the breeze and watching the birds at the hotel. By then many were familiar friends, very habituated to people and unafraid, giving us close and delightful encounters. (Such as the ruddy turnstones who wandered into our room!)" - Beverly Tabor, in Trinidad and Tobago

"Sri Lanka and southern India are both excellent venues for those interested in wildlife. We have excellent vehicles, excellent drivers and great guides who knew so much about the flora, fauna, farming practices, local economy and culture that we came away feeling that we had learned a great deal and that most of our questions were comprehensively answered." - Keith Pigdon in Sri Lanka

Be prepared for an experience of a lifetime - it is a wonderful country.

- Paul Simonite in Ethiopia

“Don't be put off by a birdwatching holiday that you think might be too intense. I am a novice and was encouraged and helped all the way by Roy who was a simply wonderful and knowledgeable guide. He caters for the birders at both ends of the spectrum! … I'm still buzzing from all the excitement of what we managed to see! I would never have believed the thrill of watching 10 Great bustards doing a fly past, or spotting huge Imperial eagles soaring high above the plain, or early morning in the woods with woodpeckers, or seeing a long-legged buzzard take off, or being eye to eye with long-eared owls, or ... well! Where to stop? Amazing memories!” – Susan Day in Hungary

“Take plenty of travel sickness pills with you if you suffer as the roads are windy, steep and pot holed. A few snacks might be handy as although the food is lovely there is limited access to shops. Go on the caroni swamp trip - it was a great way to see a variety of wildlife, as well as the scarlet ibis. I was glad I invested in a new set of binoculars - there's plenty to see." – Rosie Sutcliffe in Trinidad and Tobago