10 best destinations for birdwatching

Birdwatching is a great way to experience the great outdoors whilst enjoying majestic wildlife.

Fancy travelling with an unorthodox twist? Why not jet off and be at one with nature with one of these intriguing birdwatching destinations.

For birders, few things compare to the delight of spotting new birds and observing them and for novices, this can be something different to turn their hand to.

Whether this is right up your street, or you even think that it could never be for you, I’ve compiled a list of the best bird watching holidays in the world, that I hope will inspire you to think outside the box and maybe even give it a go.

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are famous for wildlife watching, no thanks in small part to the 19th-century voyage of Charles Darwin. Though their land animals tend to get a lot of attention, there are actually hundreds of amazing bird species to see on the island which have visibility throughout the year, as various species migrate here to nest.

Among the most popular breeds that birders flock to see are the Blue-footed, Red-footed and Nazca booby. An interesting fact: these birds simply had no fear of humans and boats, making them easy to capture and eat. Boobies, therefore, got their name because they were considered “stupid” (bobo) by 18th century Spanish sailors. Check this detailed Galapagos bird watching calendar to help plan your trip.

Peru

The Amazon is a paradise for birdwatchers. Manu National Park is a biosphere reserve, and boasts the greatest biodiversity of any protected space in the world. More than 1000 species of bird can be seen here.

Among these, there are several high-altitude spotting points, which often present the opportunity for unusual sightings. Common here are Flowerpiercers, Tanagers, Sierra-finches and other species. Visitors to the area often report seeing hundreds of different birds on a single trip.

United States of America

Head to the Everglades in Florida and you can see birds such as swans.

The Everglades National Park in Florida offers a number of specific spots to see birds. The Anhinga Trail, for example, is popular with Anhingas and cormorants. Paurotis Pond is known for Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks.

A number of other routes and trails will present several of the 300 species known to be in the area. Best of all, some trails offer guided ranger-led walks, who can offer interesting bits of info on the species seen.

Papua New Guinea

The stars of Varirata National Park’s bird cast are undoubtedly the Birds of Paradise. At least six of the known 35 species of this beautiful bird can be seen here. Playing a significant supporting role is the Kingfishers, who are present in abundance.

The best advice is to participate in a bush walk within the park, so pack a good pair of hiking boots and don’t forget some high-performance binoculars. The walk will offer amazing views from its high peaks, as a special, added bonus.

Panama

Several popular birding points are accessible from Panama City in Central Panama, so you can easily stay in the city and opt for day trips to a number of locations from there. The Pipeline Trail, the Plantation Trail and Achiote in and around the Gamboa and Soberanía National Park are great places to start.  

Fun fact: Panama has more bird species than the entire United State, despite being a much smaller country. Here, you are almost guaranteed to spot amazing common and rare species on your walks and expeditions.

Romania

Romania - not your average birdwatching destination.

The Danube Delta is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, and is also one of the world’s biggest natural wetlands. It is comparable to Galapagos in terms of biodiversity.

There are more than 300 species of birds in all, making a seasonal or permanent home in the delta. The Red-breasted Goose makes a significant presence, as do other geese, ducks and swans. The biggest bird in all of Europe - the Dalmatian Pelican - can be found spreading its wings here. Rent a boat service to take your party out onto the river for premium sightings, or better yet, opt for a kayak and get up close and personal.

Costa Rica

Macaws, Toucans, Frigatebirds – Costa Rica’s bird offerings are incredibly colourful. Costa Rica has several reserves to choose from, too. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the Palo Verde National Park, the Los Quetzales National Park and Santa Rosa National Park are among the most easily accessible and popular sites for birdwatchers.

Madagascar

Sadly, the Mangily Spiny Forest in Madagascar is in danger of being destroyed, despite being one of the most important ecoregions on the planet. It could be a major loss to our planet because many species found in Madagascar are unique to their surroundings.

Fortunately, the Spiny Forest is still a place for birders to venture, and to catch a glimpse of amazing birdlife, including Vangas, Couas, Rollers and Brush-Warblers. For serious and seasoned birders who want to see these amazing birds in their amazing habitat, it is definitely a trip worth taking.  

Canada

Each year, Point Pelee National Park in Ontario hosts the Festival of Birds, which sees crowds of people keen to witness the spring migration. However, the park is actually active year-round for birders, who can look for up to 370 different species throughout the year.

The abundant bird activity is due to the area being a migration corridor for several species such as Warblers and Hawks, and Point Pelee is widely regarded as one of the best bird-spotting locations on the continent of North America. 

South Africa

Africa has its Big Five animals to spot on safari (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo). But it also has a Big Six when it comes to birdlife. These are the Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Fishing Owl, Southern Ground Hornbill, Saddle-billed Stork and Kori Bustard. 

All of them can be spotted at Kruger National Park  in the rainy season (October to March). Aside from these icons of African wildlife, you’ll find up to 200 other diverse species in the region, especially around the beautiful rivers and waterways.

Know any birdwatching destinations that deserve to be on this list? Let us know in the comments! 👇