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Greece Greece Ramsar wetland

Missolonghi–Aitoliko Lagoons

206 bird species recorded; the most in September.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec160at the peak
Species recorded in each month · tap a month

Ava Babili · CC BY-SA 4.0

This month here

127 species in January.

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.

White Wagtail
White WagtailMotacilla albaWinter visitorAndreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5
Common Chiffchaff
Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaWinter visitorAlexis Lours · CC BY 4.0
Meadow Pipit
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorAndreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5
Eurasian Chaffinch
Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebsWinter visitorGilles San Martin from Namur, Belgium · CC BY-SA 2.0
European Robin
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCharles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0
Black Redstart
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorTisha Mukherjee · CC BY-SA 4.0
Common Kingfisher
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCharles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0
European Stonechat
European StonechatSaxicola rubicolaWinter visitorAlun Williams333 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorGrahamBreeze · CC BY-SA 3.0
Eurasian Teal
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorKoshy Koshy from Faridabad, Haryana, India · CC BY 2.0
Common Linnet
Common LinnetLinaria cannabinaWinter visitorJoe Pell · CC BY 2.0
Northern Shoveler
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorAndreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5
Common Snipe
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorHobbyfotowiki · CC0
Water Pipit
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorZeynel Cebeci · CC BY-SA 4.0
Common Reed Bunting
Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusWinter visitorMPF · CC BY-SA 4.0
Greater Flamingo
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseusResidentEl Golli Mohamed · CC BY-SA 4.0
DunlinNT
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorMdf , edited by Fir0002 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Northern LapwingNT
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorAndreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5
Eurasian Wigeon
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorПочта России · Public domain
European Golden Plover
European Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorBjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0
European Serin
European SerinSerinus serinusWinter visitorLuis García ( Zaqarbal ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 es
Little Egret
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentBirdman1 · CC BY 2.5
Great Cormorant
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentJJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Common Buzzard
Common BuzzardButeo buteoResidentcaroline legg · CC BY 2.0
  • Resident all year
  • Summer visitor comes to breed
  • Winter visitor comes for the winter
  • Passage migrant in spring and autumn

In numbers

206 species, counted.

78out of 100

Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).

  • 206Speciesrecorded more than once
  • 111Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
  • 6ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
  • 13,975Recordsopen records within 6 km
  • 20Raptors
  • 4Owls
  • 35Waders
  • 17Gulls & seabirds
  • 13Ducks & geese
  • 18Herons, ibises & grebes
  • 2Storks & cranes
  • 1Flamingos
  • 81Songbirds
  • 15Other 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 206 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
  • Common BuzzardButeo buteo
  • Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
  • Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
  • OspreyPandion haliaetus
  • Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
  • Lesser kestrelFalco naumanni
  • Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
  • Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
  • Short-toed eagleCircaetus gallicus
  • MerlinFalco columbarius
  • Greater spotted eagleAquila clanga
  • Griffon VultureGyps fulvus
  • European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
  • Black KiteMilvus migrans
  • European HobbyFalco subbuteo
  • Long-legged BuzzardButeo rufinus
  • Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNT
  • Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
  • Montagu's HarrierCircus pygargus
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Little OwlAthene noctua
  • Western Barn OwlTyto alba
  • Eurasian Scops OwlOtus scops
  • Tawny OwlStrix aluco
Waders35 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • RedshankTringa totanus
  • Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
  • Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
  • Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
  • Little StintCalidris minuta
  • Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
  • Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus
  • DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
  • Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
  • Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
  • Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
  • Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
  • Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
  • SanderlingCalidris alba
  • Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
  • Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
  • Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
  • Eurasian Stone-curlewBurhinus oedicnemus
  • Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
  • RuffCalidris pugnax
  • Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
  • Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
  • Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
  • Greater Sand PloverCharadrius leschenaultii
  • Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
  • Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
  • Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus
  • Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
  • Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
  • European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
  • Collared PratincoleGlareola pratincola
  • Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
  • Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellusVU
  • Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
  • Great SnipeGallinago mediaNT
Gulls & seabirds17 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
  • Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
  • Slender-billed GullChroicocephalus genei
  • Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
  • Little TernSternula albifrons
  • Common TernSterna hirundo
  • Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
  • Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
  • Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
  • White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
  • Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
  • Black TernChlidonias niger
  • Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
  • Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
  • Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea
  • Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
  • Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
Ducks & geese13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
  • MallardAnas platyrhynchos
  • Eurasian TealAnas crecca
  • Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
  • Northern PintailAnas acuta
  • Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
  • GarganeySpatula querquedula
  • Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
  • Mute SwanCygnus olor
  • Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
  • Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
  • GadwallMareca strepera
  • Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
Herons, ibises & grebes18 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Little EgretEgretta garzetta
  • Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
  • Grey HeronArdea cinerea
  • Dalmatian PelicanPelecanus crispusNT
  • Great White EgretArdea alba
  • Microcarbo pygmaeusMicrocarbo pygmaeus
  • Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
  • Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
  • Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
  • Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
  • Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
  • Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
  • Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
  • Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
  • Purple heronArdea purpurea
  • Great White PelicanPelecanus onocrotalus
  • ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
  • Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • White StorkCiconia ciconia
  • Black storkCiconia nigra
Flamingos1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
Songbirds81 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Eurasian MagpiePica pica
  • House SparrowPasser domesticus
  • Crested larkGalerida cristata
  • Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
  • Barn swallowHirundo rustica
  • White WagtailMotacilla alba
  • Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
  • European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
  • Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
  • Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala
  • Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
  • Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
  • Eurasian Penduline TitRemiz pendulinus
  • European GreenfinchChloris chloris
  • Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
  • European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
  • Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
  • Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
  • Sand MartinRiparia riparia
  • European RobinErithacus rubecula
  • Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
  • Spanish sparrowPasser hispaniolensis
  • Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
  • Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
  • Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
  • WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
  • Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
  • Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
  • Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
  • Great titParus major
  • Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
  • Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
  • BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
  • Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
  • Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorNT
  • European SerinSerinus serinus
  • Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
  • Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
  • Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
  • Western JackdawColoeus monedula
  • Lesser Grey ShrikeLanius minor
  • Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
  • Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
  • Great Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceus
  • Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
  • Greater Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactyla
  • Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
  • Moustached WarblerAcrocephalus melanopogon
  • Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
  • Eastern Olivaceous WarblerIduna pallida
  • Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
  • Western Black-eared WheatearOenanthe hispanica
  • Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
  • Tawny PipitAnthus campestris
  • SkylarkAlauda arvensis
  • Western Rock NuthatchSitta neumayer
  • Savi's WarblerLocustella luscinioides
  • Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
  • Rufous-tailed Scrub RobinErythropygia galactotes
  • Northern RavenCorvus corax
  • WhitethroatSylvia communis
  • Icterine warblerHippolais icterina
  • Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
  • Blue Rock ThrushMonticola solitarius
  • Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
  • Eurasian Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestris
  • Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
  • DunnockPrunella modularis
  • Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
  • Calandra larkMelanocorypha calandra
  • European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
  • Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibillatrix
  • Red-throated PipitAnthus cervinus
  • Sombre TitPoecile lugubris
  • Eastern Subalpine WarblerCurruca cantillans
  • Black-headed buntingEmberiza melanocephala
  • WoodlarkLullula arborea
  • Collared FlycatcherFicedula albicollis
  • Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
  • Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
  • Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
Other birds15 species
JFMAMJJASOND
  • Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
  • CootFulica atra
  • Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
  • Rock DoveColumba livia
  • Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
  • European SwiftApus apus
  • European Water RailRallus aquaticus
  • Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
  • Bee-eaterMerops apiaster
  • European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
  • Pallid SwiftApus pallidus
  • Common CuckooCuculus canorus
  • Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
  • Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
  • Common QuailCoturnix coturnix

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.

  1. Jan12712°/6°104 mm
  2. Feb10413°/6°81 mm
  3. Mar12416°/8°67 mm
  4. Apr12520°/11°40 mm
  5. May12324°/15°29 mm
  6. Jun7929°/20°20 mm
  7. Jul6932°/22°17 mm
  8. Aug13533°/23°16 mm
  9. Sep16028°/20°61 mm
  10. Oct14123°/15°86 mm
  11. Nov10018°/12°107 mm
  12. Dec11214°/8°126 mm
  • Bar: species recorded that month.
  • Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
  • Rain: monthly total.

The place

Missolonghi–Aitoliko Lagoons.

Complex of lagoons in west Greece

Missolonghi–Aitoliko Lagoons is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Greece.

206 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 13,975 open records.

The most recorded are the Little Egret, the Greater Flamingo and the Yellow-legged Gull.

59 species come for the summer, 49 for the winter and 3 only pass through.

6 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Curlew Sandpiper and Common Pochard.

The most species are recorded in September.

Λιμνοθάλασσα Μεσολογγίου - Αιτωλικού 10
Ava Babili · CC BY-SA 4.0

Get there and watch

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.

Missolonghi–Aitoliko Lagoons seen from above (Sentinel-2)
Seen from above: Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 (EOX, CC BY 4.0), 6 × 6 km, north up. Points © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Around, in OpenStreetMap

  • 1visitor centres within 6 kmΓραφεία Μαρίνας Μεσολογγίου
  • 1car parks within 3 km
  • 8places to stay within 10 kmLithos, Hotel Liberty, AVRA and 5 more
  • bird hides within 6 km
  • observation towers within 6 km
  • marked trails within 4 km
  • viewpoints within 5 km
  • restaurants and cafés within 3 km
  • campsites within 10 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 Missolonghi–Aitoliko Lagoons.

The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.

Peakyas19 mountains within 25 km
Kastro Eirinis162 m · 4.9 kmStachtias · 9.6 kmTrikardos · 14 kmSkoupas · 15 kmAracynthus · 16 kmVarasova917 m · 21 kmMavra vouna · 23 kmToumbi · 24 km
Lakeyas1 lakes within 15 km
Límni Kiknólakka0.4 km² · 6.7 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.

A boat rests unused near the Acheloos river delta
Dimitrios Tzortzis · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sunset at Acheloos river delta 01
Dimitrios Tzortzis · CC BY-SA 4.0
LIMNO THALASSA MESSOLONGHI GRECE
BERNARD FISCHER · CC0

Other places nearby.

Missolonghi–Aitoliko Lagoons

Greece

  • 78Birdyas Score
  • 206Species
  • 111Migrants
  • 6Threatened

Lake Lysimachia

Greece · 20 km

  • 62Birdyas Score
  • 142Species
  • 69Migrants
  • 3Threatened

See the guide

Kotychi

Greece · 43 km

  • 67Birdyas Score
  • 134Species
  • 73Migrants
  • 4Threatened

See the guide

Ambracian Gulf

Greece · 73 km

  • 51Birdyas Score
  • 96Species
  • 36Migrants
  • 2Threatened

See the guide

Where these figures come from

Name and typeWikidata (Q6879409) · CC0
Birds13,975 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
See these recordsgbif.org
SpeciesGBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons
AltitudeCopernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA
Temperature and rainNASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2)
What is around© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL
ImagesEOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons
Sister atlasesPeakyas, Lakeyas

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.