BIRD LIST

BIRDING IN SLOVENIA

Slovenia is one of the smallest countries in Europe but it is one of the richest with its biodiversity. No matter the size of the country we have a lot of different habitats with forests being present in the greatest amount. This is the reason we have a very long list of birds. Many of them are very endangered.
Dinaric forests in Notranjska region are one of the best places to observe rare species of owls and woodpeckers, Alpine region is the perfect place to get some alpine bird species, Karst plateau is rich with birds living in dry grasslands and limestone cliffs, Slovenia's rural landscape is still very rich with many birds, coastline with saltpans and marshes is very popular birding destionation and so are the lakes, rivers and lowland forests of Prekmurje and Štajerska region.

Lake Cerknica is among the best birding locations in the country. We can easily catch some amazing birds here on migration and in the breeding season.
We are happy to announce that a small number of Baillon’s Crakes Porzana pusilla is now regularly nesting and the sound of their song can be heard at calm nights with many other birds in the background. Few of species nesting there in good numbers are Corncrake Crex crex, Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus and Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena has the only breeding location there. In may we can observe great numbers of migrating Red-footed Falcons Falco vespertinus and massive flocks of ducks, shorebirds and others. Interesting breeding birds are also Black Stork Ciconia nigra and White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla.

Pohorje plateau is stretching close to city of Maribor. The highest peak is around 1500 above sea level.
Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus & Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix are two rare species that inhabit these forests. Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum & Tengmalm's Owl Aegolius funereus are two of the rarer owl species but can often be seen very close to each other here. Some woodpeckers are present there. The most interesting and quite common is Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides tridactylus. Other common bird species are for example Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius and Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes.

Alpine region is a perfect place to search for some alpine bird species.
Many interesting species like Ptarmigan Lagopus muta, Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis, Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris, Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus, Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus & Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix can be seen there at higher altitudes. A bit lower down there are some more birds to be observed such as Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris, Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria, Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus, Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis, Dipper Cinclus cinclus and Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos.

Karst plateau and Slovenian coast are rich with some other species that can not be found anywhere else in country.
Dry grasslands and limestone cliffs are full of interesting birds such as Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana, Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris, Woodlark Lullula arborea, Hoopoe Upupa epops, Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, Alpine Swift Apus melba, Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius, Common Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis, Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica and Rock Bunting Emberiza cia.
In saltpans and marshes close to the sea we can observe breeding birds such as Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, Little Tern Sternula albifrons, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Purple Heron Ardea purpurea and Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis.

Štajerska region and Prekmurje are full of different habitats. The best are marshes, rivers and lowland forests.
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius, Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus and Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius are very common there and so is the Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis.
Water bodies held many endengered breeding species that can be nicely seen on many locations. Such species are Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, Whie-tailed Eagle Haliaetus albicilla, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia, River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis, Bee-eater Merops apiaster, Little Crake Porzana parva, Spotted Crake Porzana porzana and many others.

BIRDING TOURS

We have possibilities for variety of different birding tours all year round. You can choose for how many days you want to come, you can made your own species list and let us now to make out the best possible tour and you can also combine birding tour with some bird or brown bear photography.

Custom Tours are available on request so feel free to contact us: info@fotonatur.si