County Tipperary
County Tipperary is the largest inland county in Ireland situated in the province of Munster covering an area of over 4,300 km2 (c.1660 square miles). It has a relatively small population around 168,000 people. The county town is Nenagh, although Clonmel is by far the largest town. Tipperary is bordered by eight counties, more than any other in Ireland… Offaly, Laois, Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Clare and Galway. It is famous for its horse breeding industry and is the home of Coolmore Stud, which is the largest thoroughbred breeding operation in the world. The County forms a large part of the Golden Vale (or Vein) of Munster, boasting a rich and fertile agricultural landscape.
The region is part of the central plain of Ireland, but the diverse terrain contains several mountain ranges: the Knockmealdown, the Galtee, the Arra Hills and the Silvermine Mountains. Most of the county is drained by the River Suir; the north-western part by tributaries of the River Shannon; the eastern part by the River Nore; the south-western corner by the Munster Blackwater.
River Suir – ©Robert Linsdell CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The centre is known as ‘the Golden Vale’, a rich pastoral stretch of land in the Suir basin which extends into counties Limerick and Cork. Yellowhammer is used to illustrate this page as Tipperary is dominated by farmland.
Birding County Tipperary
Cabragh Wetlands is the biggest single area of freshwater semi-natural floodplain habitats on the River Suir covering 200 acres. The wetlands comprise a mosaic of habitats, including reedbed, tall herb swamp, wet grassland, carr fen, transition mire, alluvial woodland, watercourse, lake, ponds and springs. It is a vital haven for migratory birds as well as supporting breeding and overwintering waders and wildfowl.
Nenagh River – ©Petr Kraumann CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Redwood Bog Nature Reserve is a raised bog on the southern margin of the Little Brosna flood plain at its confluence with the Shannon. It forms part of the Little Brosna Callows Area of Scientific Interest, which is of international importance as a wildfowl habitat and as a classical example of a flood plain ecosystem.
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Cabragh Wetlands
WebsiteSatellite ViewIt is the home of the green-listed Grey Heron and feeding ground to the dwindling population of native Bumble Bees. Within its boundaries grow undisturbed, Bronze Fennel, Wavy Bitter-cress, Shepherds Purse, Golden-saxifrage, Common Mouse-ear, Barren Strawberry, and a huge variety of Wild Orchids. Here also one can view numerous varieties of Dragonfly... also see siteguide here: https://birdwatchireland.ie/app/uploads/2019/03/Site-Guide-Cabragh-Wetlands.pdf
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Wikipedia
GNU Free Documentation License
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Tipperary
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Number of bird species: 213
(As at March 2026)
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Avibase
PDF ChecklistThis checklist includes all bird species found in Tipperary , 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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Birds of Ireland - A Field Guide
| By Jim Wilson | Gill Books | 2024 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 288 pages, 1600+ colour photos, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781804580721 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Finding Birds in Ireland - The Complete Guide
| By Eric Dempsey & Michael O'Clery | Gill Books | 2014 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 389 pages, 300 colour photos, colour maps | ISBN: 9780717159253 Buy this book from NHBS.com
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Bird Watch Ireland - Tipperary Branch
Facebook PageBird Watch Ireland. Tipperary Branch. -
BirdWatch Ireland Tipperary Branch
WebsiteAt this site you will find everything you need to know about birds and birdwatching in Co. Tipperary. We have up-to-date sightings and a fabulous photo gallery. We have details of up-coming branch outings and talks. There are site guides to the best birdwatching sites in the County and individual species profiles.
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NR Redwood Bog
WebpageSatellite ViewRedwood is the most northerly townland in Tipperary and in Munster. The bog was acquired from Bord na Móna for conservation purposes. It is a raised bog that has developed on the southern margin of the Little Brosna flood plain at its confluence with the Shannon. It forms part of the Little Brosna Callows Area of Scientific Interest, which is of international importance as a wildfowl habitat and as a classical example of a flood plain ecosystem. The reserve includes the last relatively intact bog dome on the flood plain margin as well as a dried out portion of another dome and an area of fen. The intact dome has a typical raised bog flora and in the centre it retains quaking areas and numerous bog pools. -
WS Marlfield Lake
WebpageSatellite ViewMarlfield Lake is a wild bird sanctuary located to the south west of Clonmel and just north of the village of Marlfield. It supports a large population of water birds including swans, mallard duck, coots, and herons. The birds are, in fact, quite tame and will approach visitors expecting food to be thrown to them. There is a road along one side of the lake which makes access very easy.
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BIRD-Watching in Ireland’s county Tipperary
ArticleCounty Tipperary, located in Ireland’s midlands, offers diverse birdwatching opportunities due to its mix of lakelands, rivers, wetlands, bogs, woodlands, and uplands, including the Galtee Mountains and Slievefelim Hills.