Birds of Bulgaria

Bulgaria has one of the highest biodiversity levels of any European nation. Naturally, this also indicates a high population of birds. So many avian species have thrived in the nation because of the pristine habitats here.

For instance, the eastern Rhodopes mountain range is home to several birds of prey like the Common Buzzard and the Red-footed Falcon. Meanwhile, the islands and wetlands dotted throughout the part of the Danube River that flows through Bulgaria are home to several water birds, like the Black Stork and the Slender-billed Gull.

List of Common Birds Found in Bulgaria

Native Birds

Barred Warbler
Black-headed Gull
Black Stork
Black Tern
Black-winged Stilt
Black Woodpecker
Booted Eagle
Coal Tit
Common Buzzard
Common Chaffinch
Common Kestrel
Common Kingfisher
Common Moorhen
Common Nightingale
Common Pheasant
Common Quail
Common Redshank
Common Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Common Snipe
Common Swift
Common Tern
Common Wood Pigeon
Corn Bunting
Crested Tit
Dunnock
Egyptian Vulture
Eurasian Blackbird
Eurasian Blackcap
Eurasian Blue Tit
Eurasian Bullfinch
Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Coot
Eurasian Curlew
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Eurasian Golden Plover
Eurasian Hobby
Eurasian Hoopoe
Eurasian Jackdaw
Eurasian Jay
Eurasian Magpie
Eurasian Nuthatch
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Eurasian Siskin
Eurasian Skylark
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Eurasian Tree Creeper
Eurasian Woodcock
Eurasian Wren
Eurasian Wryneck
European Bee-eater
European Goldfinch
European Greenfinch
European Green Woodpecker
European Herring Gull
European Honey Buzzard
European Pied Flycatcher
European Robin
European Roller
European Serin
European Starling
European Stonechat
European Turtle Dove
Fieldfare
Gray Heron
Gray Partridge
Gray Wagtail
Great Crested Grebe
Great Reed Warbler
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Great White Egret
Griffon Vulture
Hawfinch
House Sparrow
Lesser Grey Shrike
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Levant Sparrowhawk
Little Egret
Little Owl
Little Ringed Plover
Little Tern
Long-tailed Tit
Mallard
Marsh Tit
Marsh Warbler
Masked Shrike
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Moustached Warbler
Ortolan Bunting
Red-backed Shrike
Red-footed Falcon
Red Kite
Redwing
Rock Bunting
Sandwich Tern
Savi’s Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Short-toed Snake Eagle
Slender-billed Gull
Song Thrush
Syrian Woodpecker
Tree Sparrow
Turtle Dove
Whimbrel
White Stork
White-tailed Eagle
White Wagtail
White-winged Tern
Willow Tit
Yellow-legged Gull

Non-native Birds

Caspian Plover
Great Bustard
Greater Flamingo
Great Spotted Cuckoo
Horned Grebe
Laughing Dove
Little Swift
Red-crested Pochard
Rock Ptarmigan
Taiga Bean-goose

Some popular Bulgarian birding sites include Srebarna Nature Reserve, Strandzha Nature Park, Central Balkan National Park, and Rila National Park. The last one is notable as it is home to about a third of all nesting birds in the country.

The best time to go birding in Bulgaria is in the Spring when most migratory birds arrive. This period ranges from April to June, peaking in May.