Portugal Special Protection Area for birds
Estuary of Minho and Coura Rivers Special Protection Area
219 bird species recorded; the most from August to October.
Sandrina reis · CC BY-SA 4.0
This month here
135 species in January.125 species in February.117 species in March.134 species in April.123 species in May.120 species in June.127 species in July.149 species in August.156 species in September.154 species in October.127 species in November.131 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.
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
219 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).
- 219Speciesrecorded more than once
- 117Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 6ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 111,378Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 16Raptors
- 6Owls
- 32Waders
- 16Gulls & seabirds
- 24Ducks & geese
- 15Herons, ibises & grebes
- 1Storks & cranes
- 1Flamingos
- 83Songbirds
- 25Other 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 219 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors16 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
Owls6 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
Waders32 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
- Grey (Red) PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
Gulls & seabirds16 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Common GullLarus canus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
- RazorbillAlca torda
Ducks & geese24 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Cape ShelduckTadorna cana
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
Herons, ibises & grebes15 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- WaldrappGeronticus eremita
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Storks & cranes1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
Flamingos1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
Songbirds83 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Great titParus major
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Iberian ChiffchaffPhylloscopus ibericus
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Rock BuntingEmberiza cia
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- Dartford WarblerSylvia undata
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Aquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicolaVU
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Crested larkGalerida cristata
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Little BuntingEmberiza pusilla
- White-throated DipperCinclus cinclus
- Western Subalpine WarblerCurruca iberiae
- Iberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalisVU
- European Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
- Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
- African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
Other birds25 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- European SwiftApus apus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Picus sharpeiPicus sharpei
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
- CootFulica atra
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- European RollerCoracias garrulus
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachus
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- Great spotted cuckooClamator glandarius
- Baillon's CrakePorzana pusilla
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species from August to October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan12°/6°154 mm
- Feb13°/6°103 mm
- Mar15°/7°127 mm
- Apr17°/9°99 mm
- May19°/11°71 mm
- Jun23°/13°44 mm
- Jul26°/15°24 mm
- Aug26°/15°33 mm
- Sep24°/14°49 mm
- Oct20°/12°157 mm
- Nov15°/9°154 mm
- Dec13°/7°150 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Estuary of Minho and Coura Rivers Special Protection Area.
Protected area in Portugal
Estuary of Minho and Coura Rivers Special Protection Area is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive in Portugal.
219 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 111,378 open records.
The most recorded are the House Sparrow, the Eurasian Blackbird and the European Robin.
45 species come for the summer, 63 for the winter and 9 only pass through.
6 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, European Turtle Dove and Aquatic Warbler.
The most species are recorded from August to October.
Get there and watch
- VisitingHours in OpenStreetMap: 24/7Official site↗
- Parque de Caravanascampsite · 3.1 km · 7 within 10 km
- Vila D'Artesplace to stay · 0.7 km · 57 within 10 km
- Vila Nova de Cerveiranearest town · 3.6 km in a straight line
- Vigo Airport (VGO)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 37 km in a straight lineCar hire at VGO airport (Vigo)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
- 1observation towers within 6 kmPosto de Vigia Pena
- 5marked trails within 4 kmCaminho Português da Costa, Caminho Português de Nossa Senhora do Norte, Camiño Portugués da Costa and 2 more
- 3visitor centres within 6 kmLojinha dos Moinhos - Núcleo Interpretativo dos Moinhos da Gávea, Posto de Turismo de Caminha, Turismo
- 12viewpoints within 5 kmMiradouro do Cervo, Sopo, Miradouro do Gorito and 9 more
- 56car parks within 3 km
- 28restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 7campsites within 10 kmParque de Caravanas, Camping Santa Tecla, Camping de Covas and 4 more
- 57places to stay within 10 kmVila D'Artes, Casas da Azenha, Minho Belo and 54 more
- bird hides within 6 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 Estuary of Minho and Coura Rivers Special Protection Area.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas18 mountains within 25 kmSerra do Argallo · 6.7 kmMonte de Santa Trega341 m · 8.7 kmPena Agoeira · 12 kmSerra Pequena689 m · 18 kmSerra de Santa Luzia455 m · 18 kmMonte Aloia629 m · 20 kmAlto do Cavalo271 m · 21 kmSerra do Galiñeiro · 24 km
Coastya4 beaches within 10 kmPraia Fedorento · 8.4 kmPraia de Camposancos · 8.9 kmPorto da Espuma · 9.5 kmPorto de Amiadelo · 9.6 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.
Estuary of Minho and Coura Rivers Special Protection Area
Portugal
- 77Birdyas Score
- 219Species
- 117Migrants
- 6Threatened
Complexo Intermareal Umia-O Grove
Spain · 65 km
- 86Birdyas Score
- 203Species
- 100Migrants
- 12Threatened
Dunas de Corrubedo and Lagoas de Carregal e Vixán Natural Park
Spain · 73 km
- 85Birdyas Score
- 199Species
- 88Migrants
- 10Threatened
Bertiandos and S. Pedro of Arcos Lagoons
Portugal · 22 km
- 57Birdyas Score
- 147Species
- 60Migrants
- 1Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q63378437) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 111,378 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, Coastya, Riveryas |
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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lakes
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 
waterfalls
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