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French Republic

Black Redstart Phoenicurus Ochruros ©Siva301in via Wikimedia Commons Website

France is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, the French West Indies, and many islands in Oceania and the Indian Ocean, giving it one of the largest discontiguous exclusive economic zones in the world. Metropolitan France shares borders with Belgium and Luxembourg to the north, Germany to the northeast, Switzerland to the east, Italy and Monaco to the southeast, Andorra and Spain to the south, and a maritime border with the United Kingdom to the northwest. Its metropolitan area extends from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea. Its eighteen integral regions – five of which are overseas – span a combined area of 632,702 km2 (244,288 square miles). Metropolitan France – which this page is about – covers an area of about 551,500 km2 (c.213,000 square miles) and has a population of 66.65 million people. France is a semi-presidential republic and its capital, largest city and main cultural and economic centre is Paris, which metropolitan area has a population of almost 12 million people. The second city is Marseille followed by Lyon, Toulouse. Nantes & Nice.

Except for the northeast, most of France’s land borders are roughly delineated by natural boundaries and geographic features: to the south and southeast, the Pyrenees and the Alps and the Jura, respectively, and to the east, the Rhine river. Metropolitan France includes various coastal islands, of which the largest is Corsica. Metropolitan France is situated mostly between latitudes 41° and 51° N, and longitudes 6° W and 10° E, on the western edge of Europe, and thus lies within the northern temperate zone. Its continental part covers about 1000 km from north to south and from east to west. It has a wide variety of landscapes, from coastal plains in the north and west to mountain ranges of the Alps in the southeast, the Massif Central in the south-central and Pyrenees in the southwest as well as wetlands in the southeast.

Pas de l’âne, Massif Central – ©Marie-Lan Nguyen CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

France has an extensive river system consisting of the four major rivers Seine, the Loire, the Garonne, the Rhône and their tributaries, whose combined catchment includes over 62% of the metropolitan territory. The Rhône divides the Massif Central from the Alps and flows into the Mediterranean Sea at the Camargue. The Garonne meets the Dordogne just after Bordeaux, forming the Gironde estuary, the largest estuary in Western Europe which after approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Other water courses drain towards the Meuse and Rhine along the northeastern borders.

Gironde Estuary – ©Anthony Baratier CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Forests account for 31% of France’s land area – the fourth-highest proportion in Europe – representing an increase of 7 per cent since 1990. French forests are some of the most diverse in Europe, comprising more than 140 species of trees.

There are nine national parks and 46 natural parks in France. A regional nature park (similar to UK national parks) is a public establishment in France between local authorities and the national government covering an inhabited rural area of outstanding beauty, to protect the scenery and heritage as well as setting up sustainable economic development in the area. There are more than 50 PNRs in France.

Birding France

Although not as exotic as Spain or Greece, France has a lot to offer to the travelling birder, its central position in Western Europe means that there is a wide variety of habitats including the Guarrigues and Maquis of the Mediterranean coast, a choice of montane habitats, mature oak forests of central and eastern France. As Birding is still a connoisseur hobby in France, there are plenty of opportunities to find your own birds. But this also means that nature reserve are rare and not particularly user friendly (don’t expect the sort of facilities you get at Minsmere).

Parc ornithologique du Marquenterre – ©Donar Reiskoffer CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

If visiting France between September and March you will encounter the famous Chasseurs (Hunters). They are very numerous (1.5 million) and vociferous and in some area (Sud Ouest, Nord) can be extremely aggressive to what they call Les Ecologistes (anybody with an interest in Nature/Ecology/Conservation). But it’s still worth the trouble and the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) is doing a very good job of countering the influence of this noisy (& large) minority.

Main areas of interest for the (British) birder in France: No need to go the best birding places to see some nice birds. Species like Black Redstart, Serin, Cirl Bunting are common in most of France… A few nice hedges and the chances are that Great Grey and Red Back shrikes will be present, a Poplar plantation should have a several pairs of Golden Orioles. France has the most forestation in Europe so you are never more that 50km from a decent sized Forest which, depending of the area, will hold Middle spotted, Grey-headed or Black Woodpecker… Birds of prey are common; on a drive across France over 10 species can be seen in a day from the motorway!

Rivière Bernin à Vert, Landes – ©Jibi44 CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

| Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | Bretagne | Centre | Corsica | Grand Est | Hauts-de-France | Normandy | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Occitanie | Pays-de-la-Loire | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | Île-de-France |
Top Sites

  • Mountains - Le Massif Central

    With highest mountains of only 2000m, very few high altitude species breed, but Citril Finch and Alpine Accentor are regular winter visitors, Snowfinch and Wallcreeper are also present. Several good visible migration spots for the autumn Montagne de la Serre and Prat de Bouc in fact any pass with a North South orientation can be good for visible migration. Larger forests will have Black Woodpecker and Crested Tits, Crossbills are quite widespread and Tengmalm`s Owl is present in most pine forests over 1000m. Mountains - Les C

  • Mountains - Les Alpes

    It is hard to give good areas for the Alps as most of the mountains are really good. Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipits and Alpine Chough are all very easy to see, especially in winter when they can be seen from any ski resort

  • Mountains - Les Pyr

    Although most of the high altitude speciality are present (Gavarnie and the Col du Tourmalet being the best places to see Snowfinches, Alpine Accentor etc.) the Pyr

  • North Eastern France

    Mature oak forests in Ardennes, Loraine and Alsace: 6 species of Woodpecker, Collared Flycatcher etc.

  • The Mediterranean Coast - La Camargue

    is brilliant & not to be missed. Breeding birds include Collared Pratincole, 8 species of Heron, Gull-billed Tern, Slender-billed Gull (Oh yes, and Flamingos) etc. Huge numbers of wildfowl overwinter as well as Spotted Eagle. Migration time is the best with Sandpipers and Plovers in the saltpans (South of Salin de Giraud, Phare de la Gachole); freshwater waders (including good numbers of Marsh Sandpiper); Marsh Terns and Herons in the north (Basse M

  • Western France - Brittany - Ille-et-Vilaine - For

    6 Woodpeckers species (Grey-headed, Green, Black,Great, Middle and Lesser Spotted, all common); 6 Titsspecies, lots of Warblers among whom Bonelli`s andMelodious, 2 Creepers (all widespread); Nightjar,Golden Oriole

  • Western France - Ouessant

    is a typical vagrant trap, known as the French Scilly isles (recent megas have included Nighthawk, Slender-billed Curlew etc.) a small island with a bird observatory. No cars are allowed on the island so cycle around. L`ile de Sein is near and has also attracted a decent number of vagrants
Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 671

    (As at April 2025)
Endemics

  • Number of endemics: 1

    Corsican Nuthatch Sitta whiteheadi
Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in France , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • E-Bird

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.

  • Wikipedia

    Annotated List
    This list of birds species recorded in Metropolitan France. The avifauna of France includes a total of 671 species according to the Birds of France website (oiseaux.net). One is endemic to the island of Corsica.
Useful Reading

  • A Birdwatching Guide To France South Of The Loire

    | By Jacquie Crozier | Arlequin Press | 2000 | Paperback | 288 pages, colour photos, illustrations, maps, tables | Out of Print | ISBN: 9781905268023 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East

    | Photographic Guide | By Frédéric Jiguet & Aurélien Audevard | PUP | 2017 | Paperback | 447 pages, 2200 colour photos, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9780691172439 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of France

    | By James Lowen & Aurélien Audevard | Helm | 2024 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 224 pages, 300 colour photos, 1 colour map | ISBN: 9781399411387 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birdwatching Guide to France North of the Loire

    | By Jacquie Crozier | Arlequin Press | 2003| Paperback | 266 pages, colour photos, maps | Out of Print | ISBN: 9781900159760 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Collins Bird Guide

    | By Lars Svensson | Harper Collins | Edition 3 | 2023 | Paperback | 478 pages, 4000+ colour illustrations, 700 colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9780008547462 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Finding Birds in Mid France

    | By Dave Gosney | Easybirder | 2019 | Paperback | 40 pages, 27 b/w maps | ISBN: 9781907316579 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Finding Birds in Northern France

    | By Dave Gosney | Gostours | 1994 | paperback | 28 pages, b/w maps | ISBN: 9781907316043 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Finding Birds in theSouth of France

    | By Dave Gosney | Easybirder | 2016 | Paperback | 44 pages, b/w maps | ISBN: 9781907316555 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Les Oiseaux de Nos Régions

    | By J Gooders | Editions Nathan | 2001 | Paperback | 288 pages, Colour photos | French | Out of Print | Out of Print | ISBN: 9782092608401 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Nouvel Inventaire des Oiseaux de France

    | By P-J Dubois, P Le Maréchal, G Olioso a& P Yésou | Delachaux et Niestle | 2008 | Hardback | 559 pages, colour photos, colour illustrations, colour distribution maps | French | ISBN: 9782603015674 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe

    | By Roger Tory Peterson, Guy Mountfort & PAD Hollom | E Delachaux et Niestle | 2013 | Hardback | 534 pages, colour illustrations, colour distribution maps | French | ISBN: 9782603019467 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Where to Watch Birds in France

    | By Jean-Yves Barnagaud, Nidal Issa, Sébastien Dalloyau & Jean-Philippe | Pelagic Publishing | 2019 | Paperback | 336 pages, colour photos, 300+ colour maps | ISBN: 9781784271541 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Where to Watch Birds in France

    | By Philippe Dubois | Christopher Helm | 2006 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 272 pages, 25 illustrations,120 maps | Out of Print | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780713669800 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding Aps

  • Collins Bird Guide

    Android
    The Collins Bird Guide App provides everything you need to identify a species quickly and learn about it thoroughly.

  • Collins Bird Guide

    Apple iOS |
    Collins Bird Guide 4+ A field guide to Europe NatureGuides Ltd. Designed for iPad

Organisations

  • LPO

    Website
    French equivalent of the RSPBLigue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, La Corderie Royale - BP 263 -17305 Rochefort cedex, Tel: 05 46 82 12 34 - Fax: 05 46 82 12 50
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • French National Parcs

    WebsiteSatellite View
    Very attractive site - in French only with good background information on the parks, access etc.

  • French Regional Parks

    WebsiteSatellite View
    If this has an English version why hasn`t our neighbour offered translation of the above (but then why don`t we offer other language versions of our tourist sites?) France has huge areas of rural land with a stunning range of natural and cultural heritages. The rural areas are, however, faced with serious problems including a massive rural exodus, and pressures from urbanisation, tourism and large infrastructure projects, which in only several years could destroy landscapes that nature and man have painstakingly crafted over the centuries. Local governments have joined with the national government in an innovative, determined contractual process to halt and reverse the process. It now integrates heritage preservation considerations in local development plans. The concept of the Regional Nature Park was born in 1967 of this marriage of love and reason.

  • Reserves Naturelles

    WebsiteSatellite View
    List of reserves across France
Sightings, News & Forums
Guides & Tour Operators

  • Birding Ecotours

    Tour Operator
    Customised tours

  • Birding France

    Local Tour Operator
    Birding France offers you a unique experience of birdwatching and nature discovery, inspired by the French art of living.

  • Birding Languedoc

    Local Tour Operator
    Small-group birdwatching and wildlife tours in the south of France

  • FieldGuides

    Tour Operator
    Two of Europe's finest birding destinations combined in this wonderful eleven-day tour, with varied highlights and some great French food.

  • Heatherlea Birdwatching

    Tour Operator
    Wonderful early spring birding in the south of France

  • Naturetrek

    Tour Operator
    Our list of tours includes: Bird watching in the Champagne Lakes focusing on Common Cranes & woodpeckers. Bird watching in the Camargue.

  • Oriole Birding

    Tour Operator
    Our main focus will be on the varied habitats in the Hauts de France region along the coast of Nord Pas de Calais and Picardie.

  • Paul Maury

    Local Guide
    Paul has been tracking and photographing birds in France for more than 20 years. Sociable, easy-going and well informed, he loves sharing his knowledge with like minded folk. Offering a fully customizable service for Beginners, seasoned birders and everyone in between - all itineraries can be tailored to suit your skill levels and objectives.

  • The Travelling Naturalist

    Tour Operator
    Whether it’s the sight of thousands of flamingos feeding in the boundless wetlands of the Camargue, or a meadow in the Dordogne alive with birds and butterflies, the sheer variety of France’s beautiful landscape delivers a wonderful choice of wildlife encounters at any time of year.

  • WINGS

    Tour Operator
    Birds, Wine and Cheese in Southern France

  • Wildlife Worldwide

    Tour Operator
    Birdwatching Trips in France
Trip Reports

  • 2016 [06 June] - Hungary Bird Tours

    PDF Report
    A female Stonechat was perched on wheat interlaced with poppy and cornflower. A group of about a dozen Black Kite languished in the bare branchs of a poplar and in the field below waiting for the morning air to warm before setting out for foraging. Throughout the morning Nightingale could be easily heard exercising their full repertoire without allowing themselves to be seen from their scrub cover. Moving on we soon encountered Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Starling, with House Sparrow being present around farm dwellings which scatter Le Rougier freely.

  • 2017 [02 February] - Chris Bradshaw

    Report

  • 2022 [08 August] - Willem Proesmans - Pyrenees

    PDF Report
    We went on a trip to the Pyrenees, to enjoy the landscapes, the food and the endemics. This report handles our day-to-day experiences and the species that were observed. For readability, species groups are colour-coded as Birds, Amphibians & Reptiles, Butterflies and Mammals the first time a species is mentioned. In particular for birds, we might not have written down some common species, so the species list is probably not exhaustive.
Other Links

  • L'annuaire des oiseaux

    Website
    L'annuaire des oiseaux est une r

  • La Plume

    Website
    Ornithology discovered through etymology, confusions to be avoided by beginners, and

  • Migraction

    Website
    Gr

  • Organbidexka - Migration Watch

    Website
    Pyr

  • Ornithomedia

    Website
    Ornithomedia is a web site (mainly in French) concerning Birding in Southern Europe: it`s a complete site: news, best spots, bird identification, articles about rarities, Flash animations, etc. An on-line shop selling, for example, the Birding CDROM Sentiers Ornithologiques en France, en Espagne et au Portugal

  • Quelle est Belle Co.

    Website
    Des appeaux pour apprendre. Des appeaux pour la musique. Des appeaux pour le jeux. Bird Callers & Call Guides

  • Vivara

    Website
    Vivara est une entreprise en constante
Blogs

  • De Bec Et De Plumes 2016

    BLOG
    Birding et bonne humeur!
Photographers & Artists

  • Photographer - Ingo Waschkies

    Gallery
    French Bird Photography - This site is my personal collection of record shots from my birding trips, mainly in the Asian region. Being mainly a birdwatcher, not all shots are of high quality, but they help me keep my memories alive. I'll try to put the better shots in the 'Favorite Shots' gallery

  • Photographer - Julien Daubignard

    Gallery
    Pictures of birds, plans and other animals

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