Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the largest of the thirteen administrative regions of France, covering an area of 84,036 km2 (32,446 square miles). It is located in the southwest of the country with a population of about 6.2 million people. It borders Pays de la Loire to the west, Centre-Val de Loire to the northeast, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes to the east, and Occitanie to the southeast. It also borders Spain to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its largest city and administrative capital is Bordeaux, together with its suburbs and satellite cities, it forms the 6th-largest metropolitan area of France, with 1.5 million inhabitants. The region has 25 major urban areas, among which the most important after Bordeaux are Bayonne, Limoges, Poitiers, Pau and La Rochelle, as well as 11 major clusters.
The region comprises twelve departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Corrèze, Creuse, Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Deux-Sèvres, Vienne and Haute-Vienne. It covers a large part of the Aquitaine Basin and a small portion of the Paris Basin and the Limousin plate (part of the Massif Central) and the western part of the Pyrenees. It is part of five watersheds facing the Atlantic Ocean; those of the Loire, Charente, Garonne and Dordogne (and their extension, the Gironde estuary) and Adour. Most rivers borderlands are dedicated to viticulture and to agriculture.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine has a large open coastline with the Atlantic Ocean, from the National Nature Reserve Aiguillon Bay and the estuary of the Sèvre (north Charron) to Bidasoa (south of Hendaye). It includes the islands of the Charentais Archipelago (Ré, Oléron, Aix & Madame) and the inlet of Arcachon. It is noted for its oyster and mussel farming and for tourism, with prominent resorts such as Biarritz.
Corrèze – Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
From the Arvert Peninsula to the coast of Labourd, it is predominantly straight and characterised by high dunes, including Dune du Pilat, large lakes (such as Lac d’Hourtin-Carcans, Étang de Lacanau, Étang de Cazaux et de Sanguinet, and Lac de Biscarrosse et de Parentis), and wetlands (including the Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Dunes et Marais d’Hourtin), all situated above vast pine forests planted in the 19th century. The Landes Forest, the most extensive in the region, covers nearly one million hectares (approximately 950,000 hectares of maritime pines), making it the largest artificial forest in Western Europe. It covers part of the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park.
Vallée de Baretous, Pyrenees – ©Nicolas guionnet CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The extreme southern part of the region is dominated by the Pyrenees. The western part, known as the mountains of Labourd, consists mostly of high green hills with numerous streams. Further east, the Pau region is notable for its more rugged, mineral landscapes, featuring high peaks often exceeding 2,000 meters.
Belonging to the Massif Central, Limousin features a varied landscape with high plateaus and some eroded peaks that dominate green valleys and forests of oak and chestnut trees and is intersected by the valleys of the Vienne, Isle, Vézère and Corrèze, but also rich wetland areas such as the Marais Poitevin.
Marais Poitevin – ©Ji-Elle CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Further south lie the Charentes with large marshes that extend from either side of La Rochelle and Rochefort and with varied landscapes where pine forests mingle, sandy beaches or the curious lagoon of Fier d’Ars, the sands in constant motion, which has a bird sanctuary. This large region encompasses many other habitats!
Birding Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Renowned for its strong hunting tradition This area of France has a lot to offer to the birder, if you can stay well clear of the hunters and manage not to drink too much Bordeaux. From the mouth of the Gironde to the foothills of the Pyrenees, coastal dune systems, ancient woodland, pine plantations patched with heathland and large-scale cereal production, give way close to the river systems to vineyards & low cliffs. This rich and varied birding region is marred only by the militant hunters in the autumn, who are prepared to blast even protected species out of the sky.
The Poitou-Charente part of the region is somewhat over-shadowed by the Vendee to the north and the Bassin d’Arcachon, Aquitaine to the south, this region has some good coastal sites, with the islands Ile d’Oleron and Ile de Re being the best. Though heavily populated, Ile de Re has good Atlantic sea-watching, a nice LPO reserve, Lilleau des Niges, and the most accessible wader roosts along this coast.
Inland, in departement Deux-Sevre, there are the vast Poitevin marshes [orchids, butterflies and odonata], and in the Vienne one of Europe’s most northerly breeding populations of Little Bustard, near Poitiers, where the rare Ortolan also breeds.
Although the region itself has much to offer the naturalist, combining a trip to the Brenne, region Centre, three hours’ drive east from the coast provides a diverse trip-list of birds, orchids and insects, particularly in spring.
Creuse – ©Peyot CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Limousin is also an under-watched and underrated area. I cannot pretend to know the region well having only had one brief visit to the Creuse area, but I can thoroughly recommend it for species which are absent or scarce in the UK. For the most part the Creuse area is heavily wooded with many lakes and fast rivers making it terrific territory for arboreal species and the many open areas of farmland, mostly producing cattle, are farmed sympathetically so abound with butterflies and game such as hares, deer and wild boar.
Woodpeckers are particularly evident with Black, Grey-headed and Middle-spotted all present as well as Green, Lesser-spotted & Greater-spotted, and Short-toed Treecreeper & Nuthatch. Warblers seem to be everywhere with Melodious perhaps the most common but Western Bonnelli’s and Icterine quite easily found among the Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and more familiar species. Finches are equally common with Serin most evident and plenty of Hawfinches in the woods giving UK birders a chance to familiarise themselves with the unfamiliar. I saw juveniles for the first time. What is more Golden Orioles are numerous and their fluting calls delight everywhere.
Gironde Estuary – ©Anthony Baratier CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Some of the key birding spots are:
The Gironde Estuary & Coast – Pointe de Grave: star spring migration spot at the north tip of the Gironde. From mid-March to the end of May, the LPO maintains a counting camp (usually mornings only). Hirundines in their thousands head north, accompanied by hobbies. Kites, ospreys, harriers, honey buzzards, peregrines, storks, spoonbills, hoopoes, golden orioles, waders, too many species to list.
The Gironde Estuary – the Marais de Conseiller: a local nature reserve at le Verdon covering former saltpans and marshland, is good for black-winged stilts, lapwings & waders, as well as all three harrier species. Montague’s harriers are especially frequent in the North Medoc area.
The Gironde Estuary – North Medoc marshes: LPO’s L’Oiseau magazine calls this “the other jewel of the estuary”. Mainly grazed wetlands to the northern end & polders to the south. A network of hedges & ditches offer a varied habitat for a broad range of species. Cycle tracks & lanes allow good observation access. The hedges are home in spring & summer to skylarks, nightingales, bluethroats, shrikes, fan-tailed warblers. White storks & heron species are attracted to the area by the numerous amphibian species. Short-toed eagles are occasionally seen as they stray from their coastal woodland breeding sites.
The Gironde Estuary – Jau-Dignac: former island now surrounded by marshland –home to bee-eaters, hoopoes & yellowhammers.
The Gironde Coast – Pine Forests: Short-toed Eagles nest in the region – nesting sites are monitored in the south of the Medoc. Also, rare white-shouldered kites.
The Gironde Coast – Pointe de Cap Ferret: Autumn equivalent of Point de Grave.
Arcachon Basin – La Teich: SW France’s Minsmere – large organised bird-reserve with varies habitats & English version of website [listed below]
Parc Ornithologique du Teich – ©Pline CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Landes – Arjuxanx: lakes formed on the site of former lignite mines. Major winter (November to February) home to more than 20,000 common cranes, plus thousands more passing through on migration, feeding on grain fields during the day & returning to roost on the lakes. Nightjars, shrikes & bee-eaters nest here. 177 species observed so far.
Landes – Marais D’Orx: the Conservatoir du Littoral is returning former drained areas to natural wetland. One observatory, no hides but lakeside paths. Good for nesting spoonbills, kites, marsh harriers, kingfishers, Cetti’s warblers. Occasional ospreys on migration, as well as ducks & geese in winter. Has several gites for rent.
Landes – Adour River ‘Les Barthes’: Flood plain wetlands provide rich habitat. St Martin de Seignanx Bergusté & Lesgaux reserves managed by local hunters! Several pairs of black-shouldered kites breed in the Adour River area – population is increasing but nest locations are a closely kept secret.
Pyrenees Atlantique – Organbidexxka: Autumn migration count centre high up in the Pyrenees – spectacular in good weather. Chalets & camping available nearby. Two other count centres at lower altitude at Lindux & Lizarrieta.
Others listed in Top Sites below…
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Barrage d'Artix et Saligue du Gave de Pau
InformationSatellite ViewThe small riverside reserve at Artix 10km NW of Pau, near to Mourenx, on a river called the Gave de Pau is well worth finding if you're passing through, or visiting Lourdes. It has all sorts of surprises, with breeding Little and Cattle Egret, Little Bittern, Night, Purple and Grey Heron and so on -
Bassin d'Arcacho
InformationSatellite ViewAlthough best known for its Oyster production this is a very good birding area outside June-September (To many Tourists at that time). -
Dordogne - Dordogne Valley
Satellite ViewThe main river valley. Although the valley bottom is fairly intensive agriculture, the riverside, forest and meadows amongst the side valleys, hillsides and hilltops can be very interesting. Nesting little ringed plover, black kite, honey buzzard, peregrine, hobby, short-toed eagle, raven, alpine swift, crag martin, wryneck, black and middle spotted woodpeckers, dipper, Dartford, fan-tailed and Cetti’s warbler. During passage osprey and red kite are frequent, plus egrets, herons, storks, crane. Small bird passage includes many pied flycatchers in autumn and occasional parties of bee-eater. In winter wallcreeper and alpine accentor can sometimes be found and Great White Egret and various duck species are regular. -
Dordogne - Faux Plateau, south east of Bergerac
Satellite ViewAn arable farmland area with woods and scrubby grasslands. Nesting stone curlew, red-backed and woodchat shrike, quail, Scop’s and long-eared owl, rock sparrow, corn bunting, crested lark, tawny pipit, hen and Montagu’s harrier. In migration periods wagtails, chats and warblers pass through and dotterel has been recorded. Wader passage can be interesting at two reservoirs in the south of the area. Occasional terns and gulls appear on passage with duck in winter. -
Dordogne - General
Satellite ViewIn summer, in suitable habitat, all the area is good for hoopoe, golden oriole, cirl bunting, short-toed treecreeper, turtle dove, cuckoo, little and barn owl, kingfisher, tree pipit, woodlark, nightjar, lesser spotted woodpecker, firecrest, black and common redstart, stonechat, nightingale, melodious and Bonelli’s warbler, marsh and crested tit, linnet, serin and tree sparrow. Hawfinch and brambling are common in winter. Rock bunting has been recorded. There is a very large passage of common crane in spring and autumn. Meadow pipit is a common winter visitor but does not breed. Immediately south in the Lot and Lot et Garonne there are sites for nesting Subalpine Warbler and Ortolan Bunting. -
Ile de Re
InformationSatellite ViewThis island provides an LPO reserve [see below], wader roosts, and sea-watching and winter seabirds at the Phare des Baleines lighthouse on the extreme western tip of the island. The lighthouse stands on a low rocky headland offering some elevation for sea-watching, also nice rock pools with waders, terns, gulls and egrets on the ebbing tide. Divers, grebes, Purple Sandpipers and Mediterranean Gulls are the specialities here; in October even Yellow-browed Warbler are occasionally found. Nearby there’s a reliable wader roost at Loix, and a Sacred Ibis roost with up to 140 birds in summer. -
Landes Forest
InformationSatellite ViewThe maize crops in the clearings of the Landes forest harbour the largest population of wintering Cranes in Europe. -
Pointe De Grave
InformationSatellite ViewOne of the best spots for spring visible migration in France. There is a visible migration survey taking place every spring organised by the LPO which is trying to protest against the slaughter of Turtle Doves. -
Reserve Naturelle de Lilleau de Niges
WebpageSatellite ViewSituated near the western tip of the island, about four kilometres east of the lighthouse, the reserve has a good information centre, the Maison du Fier, signposted off the main road through Les Portes. Best from three hours before high tide, there’s a good circular trail taking in saltmarsh, lagoons and protected mudflats. Birds here include all three harriers, many wader species [up to 3000 Black-tailed Godwits in September], also Stilts, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints and Avocets; 40+ Spoonbills in September, in winter large numbers of wildfowl including Brent Geese, also Short-eared Owls; and it’s a great place to watch the breeding Bluethroats. Reserve area 195 hectares. -
Reserve du Teich
WebsiteSatellite ViewThe Reserve has a good breeding population of Bluethroats and a very good high tide roost and Le Banc d'Arguin has a huge colony of Terns. -
The Bayonne area
Satellite ViewThe Bare de l'Adour is an excellent, under watched, sea watching spot and the reserve des Marais d'Orx has always something to offer.
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Number of bird species: 514
(As at June 2026)
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Avibase
PDF ChecklistThis checklist includes all bird species found in Nouvelle-Aquitaine , 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. -
eBird
PDF ChecklistThis 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.
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Dordogne: France (Crossbill Guides)
| By David Simpson | Crossbill Guides Foundation | 2018 | Paperback | 256 Pages | ISBN: 9789491648137 Buy this book from NHBS.com
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L'Observatoire de L'Environnement de Poitou-charentes
WebsiteEvery year for 4 years, the CPIE Gâtine Poitevine organizes an event on the garden, entitled "Welcome to my garden natural" . Amateur gardeners, who garden in the natural, open their garden over a weekend to their neighbors, visitors to transmit their practice of gardening without pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This year's event will take place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th June. -
LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) - Aquitaine
WebsiteLPO Aquitaine aims knowledge and the protection of birds and biodiversity in Aquitaine. The contact details of the head office of the LPO Aquitaine: 433, chemin de Leysotte, 33140 Villenave d'Ornon, Tel: 05 56 91 33 81 - Mail: aquitaine@lpo.fr -
Le Groupe Ornithologique des Deux-Sèvres
WebsiteThe Ornithological Group of the Deux-Sèvres is a non-profit association whose objectives are the study and protection of birds and their environments. The association is affiliated at the regional level in Poitou-Charentes Nature and at the national level at France Nature Environnement. -
Societe pour l'Etude et la Protection des Oiseaux en Limousin
WebsiteDans le Limousin, un suivi des rapaces forestier depuis 1976 et plus spécifiquement de l’aigle botté depuis 1981 est mené par Thérèse Nore (Sepol)...
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BR Teich Bird Reserve
WebpageSatellite ViewOn the shore of the Bassin d'Arcachon, Le Teich Bird Reserve, recognized as being of international importance, is a natural and unique space, built to accommodate wild birds and enable their observation. -
Ile de Re
WebsiteSatellite ViewThe island's main town, Saint-Martin-de-Ré is famous for its fortifications, built by Vauban and listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. But it's also famous for its dynamic and engaging local life and its emblematic marina, located in the heart of the citadel. -
NR Lilleau des Niges
WebpageSatellite ViewNature Reserve Lilleau of Niges, located north of the island of Ré, is inside a large almost closed bay, Fier d'Ars. It is relatively sheltered from the swell and offshore winds. The complex nature reserve / Fier d'Ars faces the Aiguillon Bay and is close to other protected natural areas of Charente-Maritime... -
NR Pôle Nature de Vitrezay
InformationSatellite ViewPort Vitrezay is located in Pays de Haute Saintonge, on the southern limit of the department of Charente-Maritime. It is the last port of the estuary located in Charente-Maritime before the department of Gironde -
RP Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park
InformationSatellite ViewThe park maintains a bird sanctuary on Arcachon Bay, the parc ornithologique du Teich (See below) Throughout the year, over 300,000 migratory birds take refuge in its wetlands.
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Nouvelle-Aquitaine Rare Bird Alert
SightingsThe report below shows observations of rare birds in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Includes both unreviewed and reviewed/approved observations.
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Teich Bird Reserve
Guided ToursJoin a small group to discover the birds of the Teich Bird Reserve. A naturalist guide will lead the tour to introduce you to bird watching in Arcachon bay.
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2018 [05 May] - Chris Durdin
PDF Report...a Cetti’s warbler that then called regularly. Marsh spurge was abundant, and a little farther up we found several early marsh orchids. In the meantime we’d located three juvenile ravens: one was on a nest in a hole in the cliff overlooking the marsh and two, clearly recently fledged, were taking rather tentative steps and flights in and around two large poplars. A turtle dove called but didn’t show itself... -
2019 [09 September] - Chris Durdin
PDF Report...A chiffchaff was singing and there was the ‘tac’ of a blackcap from a patch of scrub. Other birds were common ones like robin and great tit, plus glimpses of the nuthatch that was calling for much of the time...
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Le Studio Wildlife Photography Holidays in France
WebsiteLe Studio' is situated in central France in a region noted for Natural Beauty and ideal for photographic holidays, Wildlife, Historical Architecture, and Great Food and Wine. These varied areas of beauty and interest perfectly complement the study of Photography. -
Moulin de la Geneste
WebsiteMoulin de la Geneste is located in the Correze region of the Limousin, affectionately known as the "Lake District" of France (fantastic for fishing) and is situated in almost 10 acres of undulating land with a lake and a small trout river. Part of the land and small wood have been "left to nature" and is home to an abundance of birds, butterflies and lizards etc.