Malta Important Bird Area
Il-Kullana to ta' Gifen Cliffs Important Bird Area
135 bird species recorded; the most in September.
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0
This month here
37 species in January.37 species in February.72 species in March.85 species in April.62 species in May.33 species in June.19 species in July.45 species in August.102 species in September.86 species in October.55 species in November.36 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.
VU
VU
VUVU
VU
VU
VU
VU
VU
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
135 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).
- 135Speciesrecorded more than once
- 89Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 4ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 7,194Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 20Raptors
- 2Owls
- 7Waders
- 9Gulls & seabirds
- 8Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 71Songbirds
- 16Other 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 135 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Lesser kestrelFalco naumanni
- Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonorae
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNT
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Lesser spotted eagleAquila pomarina
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterus
Owls2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops
Waders7 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian DotterelCharadrius morinellus
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
Gulls & seabirds9 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea
- Yelkouan ShearwaterPuffinus yelkouanVU
- European Storm-PetrelHydrobates pelagicus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
Herons, ibises & grebes8 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black storkCiconia nigra
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
Songbirds71 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensis
- Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibillatrix
- Eastern Subalpine WarblerCurruca cantillans
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
- Tawny PipitAnthus campestris
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Spectacled WarblerSylvia conspicillata
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Collared FlycatcherFicedula albicollis
- Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
- Italian SparrowPasser italiaeVU
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinus
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Rufous-tailed Scrub RobinErythropygia galactotes
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Icterine warblerHippolais icterina
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Red-breasted flycatcherFicedula parva
- Sardinian WarblerSylvia melanocephala
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Common Rock ThrushMonticola saxatilis
- Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
- Moussier's RedstartPhoenicurus moussieri
- Western Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica
- Isabelline wheatearOenanthe isabellina
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Dartford WarblerSylvia undata
- Western Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus bonelli
Other birds16 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- European SwiftApus apus
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
- Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
- European RollerCoracias garrulus
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in September.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan15°/14°74 mm
- Feb15°/13°65 mm
- Mar15°/14°51 mm
- Apr17°/16°33 mm
- May20°/18°17 mm
- Jun24°/22°11 mm
- Jul27°/25°4 mm
- Aug28°/26°10 mm
- Sep26°/24°63 mm
- Oct23°/22°82 mm
- Nov20°/19°95 mm
- Dec17°/16°82 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Il-Kullana to ta' Gifen Cliffs Important Bird Area.
Conservation area in Malta
Il-Kullana to ta' Gifen Cliffs Important Bird Area is an Important Bird Area (BirdLife) in Malta.
135 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 7,194 open records.
The most recorded are the Spanish sparrow, the Sardinian Warbler and the Barn swallow.
46 species come for the summer, 31 for the winter and 12 only pass through.
4 are threatened worldwide, including European Turtle Dove, Red-footed Falcon and Italian Sparrow.
The most species are recorded in September.
Get there and watch
- wild campingcampsite · 5.2 km · 3 within 10 km
- Corinthia Palace Hotelplace to stay · 8.1 km · 139 within 10 km
- Dinglinearest town · 3.5 km in a straight line
- Malta International Airport (MLA)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 8 km in a straight lineCar hire at MLA airport (Valletta)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
- 2bird hides within 6 km
- 9marked trails within 4 kmMMV Tour 1, MMV Tour 2, MMV Tour 3 and 6 more
- 1visitor centres within 6 kmTourist Information Office
- 8viewpoints within 5 kmDingli Cliffs Viewpoint and 7 more
- 13car parks within 3 km
- 5restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 3campsites within 10 kmwild camping, L-Iscouts taż-Żurrieq, Mosta Scout Campsite & Activity Centre
- 139places to stay within 10 kmCorinthia Palace Hotel, NSTS Hostel, Bayview Hotel & Apartments and 136 more
- observation towers 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 Il-Kullana to ta' Gifen Cliffs Important Bird Area.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas12 mountains within 25 kmTa' Dmejrek253 m · 1.4 km↗Ta' Baldu186 m · 5.5 kmIl-Qolla183 m · 7.5 kmNadur238 m · 7.9 kmIl-Ħotba ta' San Martin133 m · 11 kmĠebel Għawżara117 m · 11 kmĠebel San Pietru147 m · 12 kmMellieħa Ridge145 m · 14 km
Coastya10 beaches within 10 kmIx-Xwieki · 1.0 kmBuxiħ · 1.1 kmIx-Xaqqa · 1.3 kmGħar Lapsi · 2.3 kmIl-Mitqub · 3.3 kmL-Ilsna · 3.4 kmId-Daħla · 6.0 kmMiġra Ferħa · 7.1 km
Darkskyas1 dark-sky places within 30 kmFlarestar ObservatoryBortle 8 · 11 km
Cavernyas6 caves within 20 kmGhar il-Kbir · 2.0 kmGhar Lapsi · 2.3 kmBlue Grotto · 5.3 kmGħar Ħasan · 11 kmGħar Dalam · 12 kmLatnija cave · 17 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.
Il-Kullana to ta' Gifen Cliffs Important Bird Area
Malta
- 68Birdyas Score
- 135Species
- 89Migrants
- 4Threatened
Rdum Tal-Madonna Important Bird Area
Malta · 17 km
- 82Birdyas Score
- 222Species
- 142Migrants
- 8Threatened
Ta' Ċenċ Cliffs Important Bird Area
Malta · 25 km
- 66Birdyas Score
- 137Species
- 78Migrants
- 4Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q15228202) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 7,194 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, Islandyas, Coastya, Darkskyas, Cavernyas |
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
Find your beach: sea temperature, sun and swimming month by month.Visit 
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