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País Vasco

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus ©Derek Keats

The Basque Country is also known as País Vasco in Spanish or Euskadi in the Basque language. It is an autonomous community in northern Spain and includes the old provinces of Álvava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa and surrounds two enclaves of another region Treviño and Valle de Vilververde. Currently there is no official capital but the city of Vitoria-Gastiez in the province of Álava is the de facto capital as it is the location of the Basque Parliament and the headquarters of Basque Government. However, Bilbao is the largest city in the area with a population of just under 350,000 people within a built-up area containing over 875,000. Overall Basque Country has a population in excess of 2.25 million people and covers an area of 7,230 km2 (2,790 square miles).

Basque Country borders Cantabria and the Burgos Province to the west, the Bay of Biscay to the north, the Department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France, and Navarre Province of Spain to the east, and La Rioja to the south. The territory has three distinct areas, which are defined by the two parallel ranges of the Basque Mountains. The main range of the mountains forms the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean basins. The highest point of the range is the Aizkorri Massif at over 1,500 meters. The three areas are the Atlantic Basin, a middle section, and the Ebro Valley. Each area has a slightly different climate.

View from Mt. Urkulu – ©Iñaki LLM CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Atlantic Basin is formed by many valleys with short rivers that flow from the mountains into the Bay of Biscay. These include the Nervión, the Urola and Oria. The coast itself is rough with high cliffs and small inlets, with the main features being a number of bays and estuaries, some of which form the border with France.

The middle section between the two mountain ranges roughly occupies the high plateau called the Llandaa Alavesa, where the capital is located. The rivers here flow south from the mountains to the Ebro River. The main rivers are the Zadorra and the Bayas.

The Ebro Valley runs from the southern mountains to the Ebro and it shares the Mediterranean characteristics of other Ebro Valley zones. Some of Spain’s production of Rioja wine takes place here.

Birding the Basque Country

The Basque Country’s natural border with France is formed by the foothills at the western edge of Pyrenees, that roll down to the coast of Gulf of Vizcaya. Inland in the region, the mountain chains scarcely top 500 feet. The area can be divided into two different ecosystems: Atlantic and coastal influences in the north, and Mediterranean characteristics in the southern half. Because of this the region has an important number of resident bird species in the different biotopes: marine, coastal environment, inland wetlands, Atlantic Forest, rocky mountain peaks and groves of evergreen oaks and scrub.

Izki Canyon – ©Basotxerri CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

So, in Basque Country there can be seen many of Europe’s raptors including Eurasian Griffon, Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle, Red Kite, Black Kite, Booted Eagle, Short-toed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Western Marsh-Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owls and most of the Iberic Strigiformes. There are also interesting Woodpecker populations with Eurasian Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Eurasian Wryneck and especially its high population of Middle Spotted Woodpecker in the Forest of Izki (Alava). Other birds include good numbers and variety of Larks, Thrushes, Bluethroats, Flycatchers, Pipits, Wagtails, and Shrikes, especially in the mountain range of Entzia and Badaia.

The region is within one of the main migration routes making Spring and Autumn the best seasons to visit. The coastal wetlands (Txingudi, not far from Donostia-San Sebastian and Urdaibai, next to Bilbao being the best) are bird magnets. It is also great at inland wetlands (top sites include Salburua, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, which make up part of the ‘green belt’ of the city and Laguardia in the middle of the wine production region of Rioja alavesa). In the north there are several natural parks such as Aiako Harria and Pagoeta worth a visit and in the centre of the region sites like Urkiola, Aralar, Gorbea and Aitzgorri have great birding. Top spots in the south include Sierra Salvada and Ordunte on the border with Cantabria, Rioja and Castilla. Montes de Izki on the border with Navarra is also very good.

Urkiola Natural Park – ©Tiia Monto CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Plaiaundi Ecology Park is a 24-hectare coastal wetland lying where the Bidasoa River meets the sea in the Bay of Biscay. The nature of Plaiaundi consists of a wide variety of flora (visitors view them mainly in the spring) and fauna (visitors with binoculars tend to arrive during migration times).

Cape Machichaco (15 miles from Bilbao) and Cape Higuer (10 miles from Donostia-San Sebatian) are good points for birdwatching during pelagic movements. Basques would like their region to be better known not only because their excellent wines and the large number of excellent gourmet restaurants, but also because its terrific birds, rolling green hills and beautiful landscapes and the unique Basque culture.

Contributors

  • Josema Verdugo & Ramón Elosegui

Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 422

    (As at April 2026)
Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in País Vasco , 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 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.
Useful Reading

  • Where to Watch Birds in Northern & Eastern Spain

    | By Ernest FJ Garcia & Michael Rebane | Helm | 2017 | Edition 3 | Paperback | 384 pages, 30 b/w illustrations, 125 b/w maps || By Ernest FJ Garcia & Michael Rebane | Bloomsbury Publishing | 2017 | Edition 3 | Paperback | 384 pages, 30 b/w illustrations, 125 b/w maps | ISBN: 9781472936752 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Observatories

  • Urdaibai Bird Center

    Observatory WebsiteSatellite View
    Urdaibai Bird Center is a nature museum. It provides an excellent observation point from which visitors can enjoy the world of birds and their migratory journeys.
Museums & Universities

  • Urdaibai Bird Center

    Information
    Urdaibai Bird Center is a nature museum. It provides an excellent observation point from which visitors can enjoy the world of birds and their migratory journeys.
Organisations

  • SEO/BirdLife Donostia

    Website
    Grupo perteneciente a la Sociedad Espa

  • Sociedad de Ornitolog

    Website
    ASOCIACIÓN VASCA DE ORNITOLOGÍA DEDICADA AL ESTUDIO, CONSERVACIÓN Y DIVULGACIÓN DE LAS AVES Y LA NATURALEZA, CON SEDE EN LA CIUDAD DE DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN (GIPUZKOA - Euskal Herria). Una Organización sin ánimo de lucro.

  • Urdaibai Bird Center

    Website
    Urdaibai Bird Center is a great living museum of the nature, open to the public for enjoying with the world of birds and their migrations. The equipment itself is a unique observatory of the marshland and is located on the heart of Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve…
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • BR Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve

    InformationSatellite View
    Geographically three distinct areas can be distinguished: The mountains, the marshes and the coast with its cliffs and beaches.

  • EP Plaiaundi Ecological Park

    InformationSatellite View
    The Plaiaundi Ecological Park is located in the area between Bidasoa River and the irrigation channel of Jaizubia, in a setting with views to the Txingudi Bay, in full contact with the urban area of Irun…

  • NR Izki Natural Park

    InformationSatellite View
    The park encompasses the valley of the Izki river, which is mostly covered by Quercus pyrenaica forests.

  • NR Parque Natural de Gorbeia

    WebsiteSatellite View
    La declaración del Parque Natural de Gorbeia fue el 21 de junio de 1994, fecha en la que se aprobó la Ley de Conservación de la Naturaleza del País Vasco…

  • NR Parque Natural de las Marismas de Santoña

    WebsiteSatellite View
    …En las Marismas de Santoña desemboca el río Asón, uno de los 4 principales ríos salmoneros de Cantabria. En las piscifactorías se producen millares de alevines de salmón, con un coste económico muy importante (infraestructuras, personal, alimento, tratamientos sanitarios, transporte)…

  • NR Urkiola Natural Park

    InformationSatellite View
    The Urkiola Natural Park covers the highest part of the Aramotz mountain range, forming a limestone barrier between the localities known as Arratia and Duranguesado (Bizkaia), and the Aramaio valley (Alava).

  • Sierra Salvada

    WebsiteSatellite View
    Licenciado en Biología y Técnico Especialista Forestal. Agente forestal de caza y pesca en la Cuenca del río Nervión de la Diputación Foral de Bizkaia…

  • The 9 Naturalm Parks of the Basque Counbtry

    InformationSatellite View
    The Basque Country is known for its nature, the bright green mountains are one of the most characteristic elements of our geography and one of our attractions.
Sightings, News & Forums
Guides & Tour Operators

  • Birding Gorbeia

    Guided Treks
    We offer in the Birding Gorbeia experience two guided routes to learn about the birds and nature of Gorbeialdea. Participants will choose which route they want to do of the 2 possibilities:

  • Naturetrek

    Tour Operator
    A varied 9-day holiday to enjoy the birds, botany, gastronomy and historical sites of this most diverse region.

  • The Land of the Basques

    Local Tour Operator
    Visit and discover the best places for raptors watching and enjoy ecotourism activities in the Basque Country

  • Urdaibai Bird Center

    Day Tours
    This is the most comprehensive day-tour that you can take in the Basque Country. This tour can be taken from San Sebastian or Bilbao.

  • Wildside Holidays

    Tour Operator
    https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/urdaibai-biosphere-reserve/

  • Wilex

    Local Tour Operator
    Wildlife Experience Tours - WILEX Tours organizes for you an incomparable weeklong tour in the North of Spain, one of the last wild places in Europe. An astonish scenery fulfill with delightful natural figures, and genuine heritage values will be the selected playground, to develop the trip. Bird and wildlife watching, cultural sitting, and leisure sports, such as mountain biking or horse riding are the main activities of the tour, whereas it will be complimented with the delicious local gastronomy and the rural ambient accommodation
Places to Stay

  • Urdaibai Bird Center

    Hostel Accommodation
    Urdaibai Bird Center in Gautegiz Arteaga offers comfortable rooms with garden views, private bathrooms, air-conditioning, and free WiFi. Each room includes a seating area, wardrobe, and free toiletries.
Other Links

  • Birding Basque Country

    Website
    Despite its smallness, the Basque Country has several areas ideal for bird watching: griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, seabirds and more.

  • Organbidexka Pass

    Webpage
    Whether you are a bird enthusiast , a confirmed ornithologist or a nature enthusiast, the spectacle offered by migratory birds at the Organbidexka pass is unique and fantastic. Every year since 1979, the LPO Aquitaine (League for the Protection of Birds) has organized a special event in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques at the Organbidexka pass, an unmissable encounter with nature. Grab your binoculars to admire thousands of species flying freely!

  • Raptors watching in the Basque Mountains

    PDF Guide
    Download a guide on Where and when to watch them
Blogs

  • Bilbo Riando

    BLOG
    Lasy updated 2018

  • Inguruko Hegaztiak

    BLOG
    Project to learn about the birds in our environment, using winter feeders, promoted by Urdaibai Bird Center

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