Spain Special Protection Area for birds
La Breña and Marismas del Barbate Natural Park
229 bird species recorded; the most from March to April and from September to October.
untipografico from Madrid, Spain · CC BY 2.0
This month here
135 species in January.117 species in February.177 species in March.174 species in April.150 species in May.103 species in June.115 species in July.134 species in August.180 species in September.172 species in October.123 species in November.111 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
NT
VUNT
VU
NT
VU
VU
NTNT
VU
VU
VUNT
VUNT
NT
VUVU
NT
NT
NTVUNT
NTVUNTNT- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
229 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).
- 229Speciesrecorded more than once
- 119Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 12ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 45,315Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 104 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 24Raptors
- 4Owls
- 34Waders
- 27Gulls & seabirds
- 11Ducks & geese
- 14Herons, ibises & grebes
- 3Storks & cranes
- 1Flamingos
- 86Songbirds
- 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 229 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors24 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Griffon VultureGyps fulvus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Booted eagleHieraaetus pennatus
- Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
- Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
- Lesser kestrelFalco naumanni
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciata
- Spanish Imperial EagleAquila adalbertiVU
- Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonorae
- Rüppell's VultureGyps rueppelliiCR
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
- MerlinFalco columbarius
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops
Waders34 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
- RedshankTringa totanus
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemus
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellusVU
- American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
- Eurasian DotterelCharadrius morinellus
Gulls & seabirds27 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Audouin's GullIchthyaetus audouinii
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Slender-billed GullChroicocephalus genei
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Balearic shearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusCR
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Great skuaStercorarius skua
- RazorbillAlca torda
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis
- Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea
- Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus
- Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaVU
- Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaVU
- Common MurreUria aalge
- Common LoonGavia immer
Ducks & geese11 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- GadwallMareca strepera
Herons, ibises & grebes14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- WaldrappGeronticus eremita
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
Storks & cranes3 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Black storkCiconia nigra
- Common CraneGrus grus
Flamingos1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
Songbirds86 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Spotless StarlingSturnus unicolor
- Crested larkGalerida cristata
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Great titParus major
- Calandra larkMelanocorypha calandra
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- Tawny PipitAnthus campestris
- Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensis
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Thekla's LarkGalerida theklae
- Melodious WarblerHippolais polyglotta
- Iberian ChiffchaffPhylloscopus ibericus
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Common WaxbillEstrilda astrild
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Western Subalpine WarblerCurruca iberiae
- Western Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Western Bonelli's WarblerPhylloscopus bonelli
- Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Dartford WarblerSylvia undata
- Western Olivaceous WarblerIduna opaca
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- Western Orphean WarblerSylvia hortensis
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
- Lesser Short-toed LarkCalandrella rufescens
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Iberian Grey ShrikeLanius meridionalisVU
- Eurasian Penduline TitRemiz pendulinus
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Spectacled WarblerSylvia conspicillata
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Rufous-tailed Scrub RobinErythropygia galactotes
- Rock BuntingEmberiza cia
- Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulana
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- DunnockPrunella modularis
Other birds25 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
- European SwiftApus apus
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Picus sharpeiPicus sharpei
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- CootFulica atra
- Little BustardTetrax tetraxNT
- Little SwiftApus affinis
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- White-rumped SwiftApus caffer
- Western SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrio
- Red-necked NightjarCaprimulgus ruficollisNT
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Great spotted cuckooClamator glandarius
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 March to April and from September to October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan16°/14°73 mm
- Feb15°/14°69 mm
- Mar16°/14°74 mm
- Apr17°/15°56 mm
- May19°/17°28 mm
- Jun22°/20°4 mm
- Jul24°/21°1 mm
- Aug24°/22°2 mm
- Sep23°/21°23 mm
- Oct22°/20°80 mm
- Nov18°/17°106 mm
- Dec17°/15°94 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
La Breña and Marismas del Barbate Natural Park.
Natural park in Spain
La Breña and Marismas del Barbate Natural Park is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive in Spain.
229 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 45,315 open records.
The most recorded are the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Yellow-legged Gull and the Little Egret.
61 species come for the summer, 46 for the winter and 12 only pass through.
12 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Curlew Sandpiper and European Turtle Dove.
The most species are recorded from March to April and from September to October.
Get there and watch
- Área de autocaravanas Marina de Barbatecampsite · 3.4 km · 13 within 10 km
- Hostal Casa Arco Irisplace to stay · 3.0 km · 146 within 10 km
- Barbatenearest town · 4.8 km in a straight line
- Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport (TNG)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 50 km in a straight lineCar hire at TNG airport (Tangier)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
- 7marked trails within 4 kmSendero Europeo Arco Atlantico - Etapa 3, Marismas del Barbate, Arroyo Mondragón and 4 more
- 2visitor centres within 6 kmParque Natural la Breña y Marismas del Barbate, Recepción Camping Pinar de San José
- 7viewpoints within 5 kmMirador Trafalgar and 6 more
- 18car parks within 3 km
- 4restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 13campsites within 10 kmÁrea de autocaravanas Marina de Barbate, Camping Camaleón, Camping Faro de Trafalgar and 10 more
- 146places to stay within 10 kmHostal Casa Arco Iris, Hostal Fortuna, Hotel-Boutique Guadalupe and 143 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- 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 La Breña and Marismas del Barbate Natural Park.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas8 mountains within 25 kmPiedra Phare · 6.8 kmLajillos del Queso · 9.1 kmPiedras del Pozo · 11 kmSierra de Retín · 12 kmSierra de la Plata · 19 kmMesa del Algar · 20 kmLomas del Lentiscar · 23 kmCerro del Laurel · 23 km
Coastya8 beaches within 10 kmPlaya de la Hierbabuena · 2.9 kmLos Caños de Meca · 3.4 kmPlaya de Barbate de Franco · 4.7 kmPlaya de Varadero · 4.9 kmPlaya de Isabel · 6.4 kmPlaya de Zahora · 6.9 kmPlaya de Moron · 9.0 kmPlaya el Palmar · 9.7 km
Cavernyas1 caves within 20 kmCueva del Moro · 18 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.
La Breña and Marismas del Barbate Natural Park
Spain
- 86Birdyas Score
- 229Species
- 119Migrants
- 12Threatened
Paraje Natural de las marismas del Río Palmones
Spain · 48 km
- 87Birdyas Score
- 254Species
- 139Migrants
- 10Threatened
Complejo endorreico de Chiclana
Spain · 32 km
- 80Birdyas Score
- 210Species
- 110Migrants
- 6Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q2180727) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 45,315 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, 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