Best Birding Destinations

Bird watching is an activity that allows us to slow down, observe nature’s incomparable creatures, and find peace and wonder in small moments. Whether perched near your backyard feeder or in a remote tropical jungle, birds can transport our spirits with their beauty, song, and clever antics.

If you seek the ultimate birding trips, plan a visit to these spectacular destinations, where your “life list” is sure to grow. Here, surrounded by shimmering lagoons, lush forests, and vibrantly colored birds, you will discover an avian wonderland beyond imagination.

Best 10 Bird Watching Destinations

Chile

Stretching over 2,600 miles along the western edge of South America, Chile offers birders a dazzling diversity of birds and habitats within a relatively compact area. From the Atacama Desert in the north to the temperate rainforests of Patagonia in the south, Chile's varied landscapes provide homes to over 700 bird species. Mountain peaks soar over 20,000 feet, harboring species like the Chilean flamingo and Andean condor, while coastal areas teem with waders, gulls and penguins.

Have you ever seen a hummingbird the size of an eagle? The Chilean pigeon is one of South America's largest hummingbirds, found only in Chile's central and southern forests and shrublands. Adventurous birders will find themselves enchanted by the colorful band of wildlife that calls this slender nation home.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria, nestled at the crossroads of Europe, boasts over 400 species of birds within its wide range of habitats. Rivers, mountains, forests, lakes and wetlands abound, providing diverse homes for breeding and migratory birds. Have you will be able to spot imperial eagles feasting on brown hare deep within the Balkan Mountains. Ever observed the jaw-dropping aerobatics of a European bee-eater diving to snatch insects from Bulgaria's Danube River tributaries? Bulgaria has all this in store for you.

Expert birding guides lead tours showcasing Bulgaria's impressive array of birds. From bluethroats and golden eagles of the alpine meadows, to nightingales and ortolans filling the air of Rhodope Mountains forests with song. Bulgaria's exotic avian treasures await your discovery on your next birding adventure.

Costa Rica 

Costa Rica's exceptional biodiversity has rightfully earned it a stellar reputation as one of the best bird-watching destinations in the world. The biologically rich landscape features humid rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, and active volcanoes providing a symphony of habitats for feathered friends.

Over 800 species call this small country home, from colorful toucans and hummingbirds sipping nectar to peregrine falcons and oropendolas weaving their nests high in the treetops. Are you ready to hear the dawn chorus of a thousand tropical birds awakening the jungle? Expert guides ensure you spot the secretive three-wattled bellbird. You will also experience resplendent quetzals in the cloud forests, so you truly experience the country’s exceptional avifauna for yourself.

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea will captivate seasoned birders and novices alike with its extraordinary treasure trove of avian endemics waiting to be discovered. Home to over 700 species of birds, this land of isolated mountains, untouched forests, and island archipelagos harbors the highest concentration of endemic birds on Earth.

Your expert guides will help you spot birds like the magnificently-plumed king of Saxony bird of paradise as it performs acrobatic courtship rituals to woo its mate, the effervescent and metallic plumage of emperor and superb birds of paradise, and colorful parrots and honeyeaters of countless species. Prepare for an off-the-beaten-path birding adventure through this biodiversity hotspot.

South Africa

South Africa stands out as a bird-watching paradise boasting over 1000 different species due to its diverse habitats and favorable climate. The country's fynbos vegetation found nowhere else supports a spectacular variety of sunbirds, sugarbirds, southern ground hornbill and flower peckers that feed off endemic proteas and heathers.

Beach-side birding locations draw magnificent shorebirds like African oystercatcher, curlew sandpiper, and three kinds of plover. The grasslands like the Kruger National Park with high veld are alive with finches, larks, pipits, pel's fishing owl, and chats, while open savanna teems with flycatchers, weavers, and abundant gamebirds.

Although the focus is on birds, rewarding encounters with Africa's charismatic megafauna like lions, elephants, and buffalo are sure to delight.

Australia

Australia offers birdwatchers a unique opportunity to see exotic and colorful birds found nowhere else due to its extreme isolation. The bushland habitats of Queensland and Western Australia are bursting with species like the stunning rainbow lorikeet with its bright red head and yellow belly or the quaintly named colorful little butcherbird.

Entire islands like Lord Howe and Norfolk provide rich biodiversity to explore with endemic species like the Lord Howe woodhen or Norfolk Island pademelon.

Colombia

Home to over 1,900 species of birds, Colombia ranks among the world's top bird watching destinations. It has an incredible diversity of habitats and species. The Andes mountain range as well as lowland rainforests, cloud forests, and deserts provide the perfect ecosystem for avian life.

Regional specialties abound like the multicolored blue-billed curassow, tiny glittering emerald toucanet, and shy bare-necked umbrellabird. The staggering array of hummingbirds alone with over 140 species makes Colombia a must visit for bird lovers.

Kenya

If you love searching for birds in exotic locales, Kenya should be at the top of your list. Open grasslands, wetlands, mountain forests, and a long coastline provide an array of habitats for over 1,100 resident and migratory species.

Visit the Masai Mara National Reserve, and spot the elusive Denham's bustard among herds of wildebeest. Hike Mount Kenya and search for the mountain buzzard among its snow capped cliffs. You will also be happy to hear the haunting call of Fischer's lovebird and pel's fishing owl from the treetops along the Tana River. Each day in Kenya brings some new avian wonder for the patient birder.

Ecuador

Ecuador is a small country packed with a spectacular diversity of habitats and birds. Gain access to the cloud forests of the Andes, home to 70 species of hummingbirds alone. You spot the tiny large flanked sunangel or shimmering sword-billed hummingbird. Head to the Galapagos Islands to see incredible endemic species of birds up close, like the Darwin's finches, giant tortoises, and the flightless cormorant.

Explore the Amazon rainforest by canoe and listen for the raucous call of the screaming piha. Ecuador has more than 1,600 bird species, all seeking to dazzle you.

Peru

If diversity is what you seek in a birding destination, look no further than Peru. You can journey through Andean highlands to search for the elusive Andean condor soaring above sacred Incan ruins. Trek to cloud forest sanctuaries teeming with colorful tanagers, antpittas, and euphonias.

Marvel at the immense diversity of birds in the Peruvian Amazon, from toucans and macaws in primary forests to limpkins and hoatzins in oxbow lakes. Explore coastline beaches to see Inca terns plunging for fish. Peru has the most endemic and endangered species of any country in the Americas due to its vast range of habitats squeezed into a relatively small area.

Criteria for Selection of Birding Destinations

Here are some of the things to look out for when selecting a birding destination.

Biodiversity and Variety of Bird Species

The most basic criterion is the number and diversity of species of birds that can be seen at a particular destination. Locations with the highest biodiversity and endemism of birds are at the top of birders' lists. Areas that are natural crossroads for bird migrations also attract more bird watchers. An abundance of wetlands, forests, grasslands and other habitats mean more opportunities to spot a variety of colorful feathered friends.

Conservation Efforts and Protection of Habitats

Destinations with lands and habitats that are well protected and conserved tend to have more bird sightings. Locale with forests and reserves maintained by environment organizations and the government are preferred. Ongoing conservation efforts like habitat restoration and species reintroduction programs further boost the bird populations.

Accessibility and Infrastructure for Birdwatchers

Practical factors like the availability of tourist facilities, services and gear for birders matter a lot. Birdwatching hotspots that are easy to reach via major airports and roads attract more visitors. Amenities ranging from trails and bird hides to hotels, restaurants, guides and binocular rental services make the experience more enjoyable.

Cultural and Natural Attractions in the Vicinity

Birders typically prefer destinations that also offer other attractions for a well-rounded trip. Locations embedded within diverse natural landscapes like mountains, beaches and rainforests are an added bonus. Sites with historical and cultural points of interests provide options for sightseeing in between birding activities.