Germany Special Protection Area for birds
Vogelschutzgebiet Kottenforst-Waldville
197 bird species recorded; the most from April to May.
Axel Kirch · CC BY-SA 4.0
This month here
121 species in January.115 species in February.123 species in March.148 species in April.151 species in May.114 species in June.117 species in July.115 species in August.121 species in September.115 species in October.120 species in November.105 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.
































































































































































































































































































- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
197 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).
- 197Speciesrecorded more than once
- 85Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 5ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 61,502Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 152 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 12Raptors
- 4Owls
- 15Waders
- 9Gulls & seabirds
- 34Ducks & geese
- 6Herons, ibises & grebes
- 3Storks & cranes
- 1Flamingos
- 87Songbirds
- 26Other 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 197 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors12 species
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Black KiteMilvus migrans
- Eurasian GoshawkAccipiter gentilis
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
Owls4 species
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Northern Eagle OwlBubo bubo
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
- Little OwlAthene noctua
Waders15 species
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- RuffCalidris pugnax
Gulls & seabirds9 species
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Common GullLarus canus
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
Ducks & geese34 species
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus
- Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- SmewMergellus albellus
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Velvet scoterMelanitta fuscaVU
- Ringed TealCallonetta leucophrys
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Lesser white-fronted gooseAnser erythropusVU
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
Herons, ibises & grebes6 species
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
Storks & cranes3 species
- Common CraneGrus grus
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Black storkCiconia nigra
Flamingos1 species
- Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus
Songbirds87 species
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Great titParus major
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Short-toed treecreeperCerthia brachydactyla
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- European Crested TitLophophanes cristatus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibillatrix
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Willow TitPoecile montanus
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Crested larkGalerida cristata
- Eurasian Golden OrioleOriolus oriolus
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
- Marsh warblerAcrocephalus palustris
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Icterine warblerHippolais icterina
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Northern NutcrackerNucifraga caryocatactes
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
- Pallas's Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus proregulus
- White-throated DipperCinclus cinclus
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- Blue-backed ManakinChiroxiphia pareola
- Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulana
- Bay-backed ShrikeLanius vittatus
- Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus
Other birds26 species
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- European SwiftApus apus
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- CootFulica atra
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Middle Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocoptes medius
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Alexandrine ParakeetPsittacula eupatria
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Black WoodpeckerDryocopus martius
- Grey-headed WoodpeckerPicus canus
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- CockatielNymphicus hollandicus
- BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus
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 April to May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan3°/-2°63 mm
- Feb4°/-2°55 mm
- Mar8°/0°56 mm
- Apr13°/3°47 mm
- May17°/7°72 mm
- Jun21°/11°75 mm
- Jul23°/13°77 mm
- Aug23°/12°80 mm
- Sep19°/8°58 mm
- Oct13°/5°59 mm
- Nov7°/2°63 mm
- Dec4°/-1°67 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Vogelschutzgebiet Kottenforst-Waldville.
Special protection area in the EU defined by the birds directive in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Vogelschutzgebiet Kottenforst-Waldville is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive in Germany.
197 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 61,502 open records.
The most recorded are the Eurasian Blackbird, the Great tit and the Common Wood Pigeon.
53 species come for the summer, 31 for the winter and 1 only pass through.
5 are threatened worldwide, including Common Pochard, European Turtle Dove and Long-tailed duck.
The most species are recorded from April to May.

Get there and watch
- Official informationAccess, hours and rules from those who manage the place.Official site↗
- Rheinauecampsite · 5.3 km · 9 within 10 km
- Gasthof Henselerplace to stay · 5.0 km · 145 within 10 km
- Röttgennearest town · 0.6 km in a straight line
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 21 km in a straight lineCar hire at CGN airport (Köln)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
- 1bird hides within 6 kmVogelbeobachtungshütte
- 2observation towers within 6 km
- 21marked trails within 4 kmRundweg Kottenforst (Heiderhof - Pech), Osteifelweg, kultour and 18 more
- 8visitor centres within 6 kmSWB-ServiceCenter Bad Godesberg, go.Center, Stadtmarketing Bad Godesberg and 5 more
- 13viewpoints within 5 kmVilla Hammerschmidt, Casselsruhe and 11 more
- 469car parks within 3 km
- 27restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 9campsites within 10 kmRheinaue, Wohnmobilstellplatz Sportplatz Königswinter, Campingplatz Genienau and 6 more
- 145places to stay within 10 kmGasthof Henseler, Hotel Görres, Insel Hotel and 142 more
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Vogelschutzgebiet Kottenforst-Waldville.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q61040478) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 61,502 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, Lakeyas, 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.



