Portugal Birding Tour: Birds, Wine & Culture
November 2026/2027

Sitting in Europe’s southwestern corner gives Portugal the perfect position to offer a huge variety of experiences for any visitor and an excellent location for a birdwatching tour. Portugal is sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean to its west and south, and its north and east borders are occupied by Spain. This relaxed-pace Portugal birding tour will focus on the wonderful birding possible during the late fall (autumn) period. We have timed this Portugal bird tour to give a unique view of the country, as vast numbers of winter migrants arrive in the country.

The handsome Black-winged Kite is likely on this Portugal birding tour.

Continental Portugal’s bird list stands at 486 species (following International Ornithological Congress (IOC) v13.1 taxonomy, as of July 2023), a high total for such a small country, and its variety of habitats, climates, ecosystems, as well as its small size make it a fantastic country to go birding in, and our Portugal birding tour gives you the chance to enjoy some iconic Iberian species.

We are delighted to offer this Portugal birdwatching tour at a more relaxed pace than our more typical birding tours (such as our intensive Spain birding tour), by combining the fabulous birding with visits to some of Portugal’s best vineyards and cultural highlights. With wine tasting taking place almost every couple of days, and several cultural and geographical highlights to enjoy, we feel this tour has something to offer everyone, from the dedicated birder to the more casual visitor. It is also a great tour for a group of friends who might like somewhere to travel together!

We begin our Portugal birding tour in the beautiful city of Porto, from here we will head straight into the picturesque Douro River Valley, east of the city, for our first look at rural Portugal and its wonderful vineyards. While in the area we will enjoy not only vineyards but also beautiful scenery from several viewpoints, and we will also get to grips with mountain birding with species such as Griffon Vulture, Blue Rock Thrush, Iberian Grey Shrike, White-throated Dipper, and Black Wheatear all among some of our first targets.

Sagres in Portugal is one of several places on our Portugal birding tour where we can get great views of the giant Griffon Vulture.

From here we will slowly meander our way south through the country’s interior, observing how the habitat changes from lush river valleys to drier landscapes more like those of neighboring Spain. Along the way we will take in the beautiful town of Marvão before we reach the plains of the central regions of southern Portugal. It is this area that will hold some of Portugal’s really special species, with Spanish Imperial Eagle, Great Bustard, Iberian Magpie, and Black-bellied Sandgrouse all possible in this region, along with a whole host of other plains species.

We will then continue south to the Algarve, a beautiful coastline and famous among birders and non-birders alike. Here we will enjoy yet more wine tasting and cultural highlights and the birding will also be exciting, with large numbers of wintering shorebirds (waders) and other migrants present at a variety of different locations. We will also visit Portugal’s extreme southern corner and look across the vast Atlantic Ocean to see what might be passing Cape St Vincent, with highlights like Great Shearwater and Cory’s Shearwater both possible.

Finally, we will head north to the beautiful city of Lisbon. Here we visit the superb Tagus Estuary, a vitally important area for birds in Western Europe. Highlights here include Little Bustard, Savi’s Warbler, Calandra Lark, Black-winged Kite, and Bonelli’s Eagle, plus tens of thousands of shorebirds (waders) and wildfowl which spend the winter in the estuary. We will also have time to enjoy some of Lisbon’s cultural aspects before our tour concludes.

Calandra Lark has a restricted range within Europe however is widespread in southern Portugal and is a target bird during our Portugal birdwatching tour.

Itinerary (11 days/10 nights)

Day 1. Arrival in Porto, Quinta de Aveleda wine tasting, travel to Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo

Welcome to Portugal! We will meet for lunch together, afterwards we will travel east, to our first stop on the tour; wine tasting at the superb Quinta de Aveleda, just a 30-minute drive from central Porto. This beautiful estate sits in 100 hectares of vineyards and grows Alvarinho, Loureiro, Arinto, and Fernao Pires grapes. The vineyard has been in the same family since 1870 and offers an incredible experience to get this exciting Portugal tour going.

Our accommodation for the first evening offers breathtaking panoramic views of the region. The area also has plenty of great birds, which we will likely see during our stay.

Overnight: Casa da Cisterna, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo

Day 2. Birding in Douro Valley, Douro Valley wine tasting

We will have a leisurely start today with some birding in the beautiful Douro Valley. The Douro Valley is classically Mediterranean and the area around our hotel features iconic species of the region including Spotless Starling, Black Redstart, Iberian Magpie, Sardinian Warbler, Cirl Bunting, and Rock Bunting.

Our focus for the day will be the area within the Parque Natural do Douro Internacional. We will travel east, right to the border with Spain, a beautiful area with rolling hills around the fertile river valley. Key species we will look for here include Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Common Kingfisher, Iberian Grey Shrike, Iberian Magpie, Thekla’s Lark, Crested Lark, Eurasian Crag Martin, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Dartford Warbler, White-throated Dipper, European Serin, and Hawfinch.

We will finish the day with wine tasting at the superb Quinta do Vale Meao, a classic Douro Valley vineyard of 98 hectares, with a variety of superb and famed wines, with olive oil to taste too.

Overnight: Casa da Cisterna, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo

Day 3. Transfer to the Alentejo (via Marvão)

Today we will make the journey south through the heartland of Portugal. We will break up the journey by visiting the ancient town of Marvão, a location featured in ‘1,000 Places to See Before You Die’, a New York Times best seller. We will then continue our journey to Terena, where we will spend the next three nights.

Overnight: Herdade D Pedro, Terena

Seeing the ancient town of Marvão will be a cultural highlight of our tour (photo Lara Broom).

Day 4. Birding Cuba, visit to Évora World Heritage Site

Today we will begin by visiting the special protected area around the village of Cuba. This dry grassland habitat is home to some really special species, including Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Red-legged Partridge, Black-winged Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Hoopoe, Iberian Grey Shrike, Iberian Magpie, and Corn Bunting.

Other species of note here include Red Kite, Red-rumped Swallow, Crested Lark, Thekla’s Lark, Eurasian Blackcap, Zitting Cisticola, Northern Wheatear, and Meadow Pipit, while nearby wetlands should give us chances to see Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, and White Stork.

In the afternoon we will visit the town of Évora, the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated for its fantastically preserved Roman ruins. In the Middle Ages, the town reached its golden age as it became the residence of Portuguese kings. We will spend time exploring the town and taking in one of Portugal’s cultural wonders.

Overnight: Herdade D Pedro, Terena

Day 5. Birding Mourão, Herdade do Esporão wine tasting

Today we once again head east towards the Spanish border. We will begin by birding around the town of Mourão. This is an excellent area for raptors (birds of prey) with possible targets including Griffon Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Black-winged Kite, Red Kite, Common Kestrel, and Common Buzzard all occurring here. Western Barn Owl and Little Owl also occur and we will be sure to keep our eyes peeled for them too.

The dry grassland here gives us another chance of seeing Great Bustard, Little Bustard, and Black-bellied Sandgrouse, as well as other exciting species like Common Crane, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Calandra Lark, Iberian Magpie, Iberian Grey Shrike, Mistle Thrush, Sardinian Warbler, Spanish Sparrow, European Serin, Corn Bunting, and many others.

In the afternoon we will visit Herdade do Esporão for some more fantastic wine tasting.

Overnight: Herdade D Pedro, Terena

Great Bustard may be seen in the grasslands near the town of Mourão.

Day 6. Birding at Castro Verde, transfer to Algarve

Today we will visit the area known as Castro Verde. Classic grassland species here are similar to those on previous days, but we also stand a good chance of adding the iconic Bonelli’s Eagle, Golden Eagle, and Spanish Imperial Eagle while in the area. Other species of note here include Black-winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Eurasian Stone-curlew, Great Egret, Black Stork, Cinereous Vulture, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Hen Harrier, Western Marsh Harrier, Little Owl, Merlin, Common Kestrel, Dartford Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Whinchat, Spanish Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, and Western Yellow Wagtail.

In the afternoon we will transfer to Alte on the Algarve, our base for the next three nights.

Overnight: Alte Hotel, Alte

Day 7. Birding Ria Formosa Natural Park and Castro Marim

Today we will visit the Ria Formosa Natural Park (this site is also identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International and is a Ramsar site – a wetland of international importance). This fantastic coastal area is one of Portugal’s most productive birding spots and the species list here is vast.

The following interesting species are possible: Booted Eagle, Black-winged Kite, European Nightjar, European Bee-eater, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Iberian Magpie, Woodchat Shrike, Bluethroat, Western Subalpine Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Eurasian Penduline Tit, and Rock Sparrow.

Today we will also take a boat trip around a section of the park to get us closer to the wonderful wetland birds found here, which include Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Spoonbill, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Squacco Heron, Western Swamphen, Audouin’s Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, and many others.

European Bee-eater is always such an uplifting species.

In the afternoon we will visit the vast saltpans near Castro Marim. This is a mecca for shorebirds (waders) with beautiful species like Pied Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Grey Plover, Common Greenshank, and Kentish Plover being the main highlights. Other species of note here include Greater Flamingo, Eurasian Spoonbill, Slender-billed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Kingfisher, Mediterranean Short-toed Lark, Bluethroat, Western Subalpine Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, and Tawny Pipit.

Overnight: Alte Hotel, Alte

Day 8. Birding Sagres and Cape St Vincent, visit to Fortaleza de Sagres, Monte da Casteleja wine tasting

Today we will travel west along the Algarve to Portugal’s southwestern corner. Our first stop will be the open areas inland of Sagres where we will visit a well-known raptor (birds of prey) watchpoint. Here we will hope to come across many of our target species including Griffon Vulture, Bonelli’s Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, and Booted Eagle. The area is also usually busy with many other species and is a real migrant hotspot, so we can expect a great range of species here.

We will then make the short journey to Cape St Vincent, a beautiful location and excellent for seabirds. Top species like Cory’s Shearwater and Great Shearwater can be close to shore and if conditions are favorable, we may even be able to see the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Balearic Shearwater. Many migrants can also be found in the scrubby habitat here during the fall, such as Ring Ouzel, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, and Eurasian Siskin.

Cory’s Shearwater may be seen during this Portugal bird tour.

After the morning’s birding session we will head to the nearby town of Sagres, where we will have lunch and explore the fascinating Sagres Fortress, a stunning headland area where we can combine culture, history, and some birding (at this time of year the joy of visible migration is very much in evidence and looking to the sky is often rewarding!). Later in the afternoon we will visit Monte da Casteleja for wine tasting of traditional Algarve wine. The grapes for this wine are grown using responsible organic agricultural techniques, which works directly with the environment.

Overnight: Alte Hotel, Alte

Day 9. Birding Lagoa dos Salgados, transfer to Lisbon, Companhia das Lezírias wine tasting

Today we will be birding in the central Algarve, at the bird rich Lagoa dos Salgados. This is another excellent area for relaxed birdwatching and should hold many migrants during our visit, as well as numerous interesting resident species. Species of interest here include Ferruginous Duck, Eurasian Spoonbill, Little Bittern, Black-winged Kite, Mediterranean Gull, Audouin’s Gull, Slender-billed Gull, Iberian Magpie, Bluethroat, Eurasian Penduline Tit, and many others.

Bluethroat is possible in the central Algarve.

In the afternoon we will head north towards Lisbon. This will see us arrive in good time at Companhia das Lezírias, our final vineyard visit of the tour. This vineyard is known for the Tyto Alba wine, a biological wine, named after the Western Barn Owl. This bird is extremely abundant on the property, and all steps are taken to assure they thrive here. After our wine tasting session, we will head into Lisbon itself and to our hotel for the final two nights of the tour.

Overnight: Praia do Sal Resort, Lisbon

Day 10. Birding Tagus Estuary, Fado in the evening

The final full day of our Portugal birding tour will be spent exploring the superb Tagus Estuary on the outskirts of Lisbon. This is one of Europe’s premier birding locations and a must-visit for any Portuguese tour. Not only is it the largest estuary in western Europe, but it is also a staging area for hundreds of thousands of wintering and migrating wildfowl and shorebirds (waders).

The list of the more common species found here is vast but some of the highlights of the area include Little Bustard, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-winged Kite, Montagu’s Harrier, Bonelli’s Eagle, Long-eared Owl, White-winged Tern, Savi’s Warbler, Dartford Warbler, Iberian Magpie, Calandra Lark, European Stonechat, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Spotless Starling, Common Waxbill, and so much more.

Pied Avocet is one of the shorebirds we might see in the Tagus Estuary.

After a leisurely day exploring the Tagus Estuary, we will return to Lisbon for a final group dinner. Here we will experience the traditional Fado of Lisbon, which provides a wonderful send-off after what is sure to have been an enjoyable tour through this enchanting country.

Overnight: Praia do Sal Resort, Lisbon

Day 11. Departure from Lisbon airport.

Sadly, it will now be time to depart Portugal from Lisbon Airport. After a final breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flights.

Overnight: Not included

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes must use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling or reasons beyond our control.

PORTUGAL: BIRDING, WINE, AND CULTURE TOUR: GENERAL INFORMATION

TOUR OUTLINE

This set departure Portugal tour will start in Porto and end in Lisbon. The tour will enjoy wonderful fall/autumn birding and many Iberian specials. During the tour we will visit beautiful vineyards for wine tasting and we will also take in a range of fascinating cultural sites. This relaxed-pace, fully guided tour will also enjoy wonderful traditional meals, local wines, and excellent traditional accommodation.

PASSPORT AND VISA

US citizens do not require a visa to visit Portugal for a stay of under 90 days. See specific details here and check for any recent changes to ensure you are suitably covered. Your passport must be valid for a period of at least three months beyond the length of your stay in Portugal. Please make sure that there is at least one full empty page available in your passport. Please make sure that you also bring a photocopy of your passport, to be kept in a different location from your original passport, in case of loss/damage.

UK citizens can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Make sure your passport is valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave Portugal, or any other Schengen country and is less than ten years old. The three months you need when leaving a country must be within ten years of the passport issue date. Please see further details from the UK Government website on Portugal entry requirements here.

If you are arriving in Portugal from another destination, please refer to those specific government requirements.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance as per the Terms & Conditions of the tour to protect yourself against accidents, medical issues, illness, loss of valuables and luggage etc., and travel interruptions or delays of all kinds.

HEALTH AND PESTS

Please consult your doctor regarding any vaccine requirements. All travelers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters (e.g. Chickenpox (Varicella), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Flu (Influenza), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), and Polio for example, others may also be recommended, please check your government recommendations and requirements). Some travelers may require Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Measles immunization if they have underlying health conditions. Please update yourself on the Covid-19 vaccination entry requirements.

Insect repellent is recommended for some of the areas we visit. Malaria is not present in Portugal though Leishmaniasis, Dengue, and Zika have been recorded from sand fly and mosquito bites, respectively. Cream for reducing itchiness of bites is also recommended.

Please refer to CDC for further health issues to be aware of in Portugal. Other specific government advice should also be sought. The UK “Travel Health Pro” website provides important information for UK travelers visiting Portugal here.

Sunscreen (rated SPF 30 or higher) should be carried, and a hat should be worn to protect from the powerful rays from the sun, with sunglasses to help prevent glare. A plentiful intake of water (please bring a reusable water bottle) should be adhered to at all times to maintain hydration, however temperatures during the period of our tour should not reach uncomfortable levels, for most travelers (see “Weather and Climate” below).

Please also be sure to check “Dangerous Animals” below.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Please make sure that you are covered with medical insurance in case of an emergency while on this tour. Without insurance the cost of medical care can be extremely high. Please notify us at the time of registering for this tour of any medical conditions you think we should know about (including allergies, heart conditions, epilepsy, etc.). This will greatly help us to cater to your needs and update emergency services if required.

CURRENCY

The currency of Portugal is the Euro (€), which comes in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 Euro denominations in note form. Euro coins are used for €1 and €2 values. Below €1 the currency is known as Euro cents and is in coin form only. Visa & Mastercard are widely accepted, including for drawing cash from ATM’s (as everywhere, bank charges may apply). Note: We will be able to exchange or draw money at the airport upon our arrival and in the various towns and cities we pass through during the tour. Cash will be useful for personal purchases and gratuities.

WEATHER/CLIMATE   

The temperatures should be around 72-77 F (22-25 C) throughout the tour. Nights are comfortable with temperatures around 52-57 F (11 – 14 C). The sun is still strong at this time of year but we should also be prepared for rain.

ELECTRICITY

230V and frequency of 50 Hz, two-pronged round sockets. Adaptors are needed for overseas appliances. Type C plugs fit most sockets in Portugal and Type F also work. Further details, including information on the different plug sockets can be found here.

COMMUNICATIONS

Mobile (cell) phone signal should be present at most locations on the tour (roaming charges might apply depending on your phone contract). Wi-Fi should be available at all hotels.

DAILY ACTIVITIES, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, AND TOUR PACE

As this is not a tour purely focused on birding (we will be enjoying lots of cultural activities), we will not be making too many early starts and we will likely take breakfast before beginning our day’s activities. There is only one long drive on this tour, of around 6 hours (on Day 3), which is broken up with stops for birding, refreshments, and restrooms (toilets) etc., and on this journey, we will also visit the ancient town of Marvão. Most walking is an easy level of exertion and at a gentle pace (dictated by the group), for the most part, this will all be on easy tracks, roads, and trails.

SPECIES RECORDING (BIRD LISTS AND ANIMAL LISTS)

On arrival in Porto, you will be provided with a printed detailed daily itinerary for the tour (this will also be emailed across to you ahead of the tour in PDF format), this document will give information on the planned daily activities. Your tour leader will go through this with you at the first opportunity and thereafter each day in the evening to let you know any specifics to be aware of for the following day.

We will provide you with a printed blank diary page to allow you to jot down any specific site notes you might want to record to go with the printed bird list that we will give you. The bird list will follow the latest International Ornithological Congress (IOC) taxonomy. At Birding Ecotours we follow IOC taxonomy for birds and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for all other animals recorded during the tour. All itineraries and checklists follow these taxonomies. We will go through the bird list each evening of the tour, recording all the species from that day. This activity is optional and if you do not want to take part in the nightly bird list that is perfectly fine, but it is a really useful way to remember what was seen during the day.

Birding Ecotours leaders also maintain eBird checklists from all group birding activities during a tour (from unscheduled roadside stops to scheduled birding activities) that they will share with all participants who use eBird. You will need to provide your eBird user details to the tour leader at the beginning of the tour for us to be able to do this.

After the tour you will be provided with an emailed PDF copy of a trip report, this will cover the sites visited each day in diary fashion with a checklist at the end. If the tour leader manages to get any interesting bird, animal, or landscape photographs during the tour these will be included in the trip report (and of course, if you get pictures, you are willing to share, we can sometimes include those too). Leader photos will also be added to our Flickr page in a gallery where you will be able to view them for yourselves.

TRANSPORTATION AND SEAT ROTATION

During this fall/autumn tour, your local guide will be driving you in a comfortable (9-seater minibus) vehicle. At Birding Ecotours we employ a seat rotation policy on all our small-group set departure tours. Seat rotation will ensure everybody has equal opportunities throughout the tour. Unfortunately, motion sickness will not excuse you from our seat rotation policy and thus if you are prone to motion sickness you should ensure you bring the necessary medication. We also require that you are fit and flexible enough to maneuver yourself to the back of the vehicle. Tour participants should also be mindful of the extra equipment they bring into the general seating area of the vehicle (rather than the luggage section) and should ensure they do not clog up general thoroughfare or extra seats with camera equipment, tripods, etc. from a comfort and health and safety point of view.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

There are no domestic flights included in this tour. Note the tour starts in Porto and ends in Lisbon.

ACCOMMODATION

All of the hotels we stay in on this tour will be 3-star or above and are comfortable and well appointed, with excellent facilities, while still retaining the culture of the country as far as possible. The majority of the hotels have excellent on-site restaurants for dining, where we will enjoy evening meals.

WINE TASTING

A total of five wine tasting sessions are included in this tour. These are at Quinta de Aveleda, Douro Valley (Quinta do Vale Meao), Herdade do Esporão, Monte da Casteleja, and Casa Ermelinda Freitas vineyards and represent a fantastic cross section of famed Portuguese wine.

WHAT TO BRING: CLOTHING

Casual and informal dress is fine in the hotels/motels. Loose, lightweight field clothing works best for our birding activities. Shorts/trousers and T-shirts are fine, although please do consider potential insect issues, mentioned above. You will also need to bring some warmer clothing, certainly a minimum of a warm fleece for early morning/evening when temperatures might drop. Rain is a possibility, so rain gear (and a small umbrella) is always useful to have.

Sunglasses, sunhat, and sunscreen (rated SPF 30 or higher) are useful. A pair of trousers or a long skirt, and a long-sleeved shirt should be included to help protect against the sun. Swimwear can be brought as there are swimming pools at some of the hotels.

We would recommend lightweight walking boots for when out on foot to give extra ankle support while walking. You might like to consider sandals/trainers (tennis shoes) for use in the vehicles and for walking between your room and restaurant in the hotels and lodges.

WHAT TO BRING: OTHER ITEMS

Do not forget: Binoculars, prescription drugs (also bring the generic names for these drugs), toiletries, prescription glasses (and a spare pair), insect repellent, sunscreen and sunglasses, camera, flashlight (torch), batteries (for electronic equipment and chargers for the re-chargeable batteries, if required), converter plug set if needed and plug adaptors, alarm clock, money pouch, field guide(s), and daypacks. Our local guide will have a telescope for use during the tour.

Other important things to remember include: key documents, cash, passport, proof of vaccinations (and photocopies of vaccination record), your travel or health insurance cards – photocopies of which can be carried by the tour leader in case of emergency, credit cards – see info above, US Dollars can be changed to Euros if you prefer not to simply draw from ATM’s, cash for drinks, gifts, tips, items of a personal nature etc. not included within the tour cost.

Bringing two colored pens (e.g. blue and red biros) and a 12 inch (30 centimeter) ruler will help immensely when it comes to filling in the bird list and animal list each evening. Using alternating colors for different days makes the listing activity much easier! Trust us, we have done it a lot!

LUGGAGE

Due to restricted space in the vehicles, please pack as lightly as possible. A medium, soft-sided duffle bag (not the hard sided cases) works best for packing in the vehicles. Please bring a daypack to keep items that you wish to use daily when in the vehicle or in the field.

DANGEROUS ANIMALS

Portugal, like much of Europe, has a low risk of harm from wild animals, and we are unlikely to come across any/many of those that are considered dangerous. Animals of note, if you would like to look them up prior to the tour, include Portuguese man o’ war, Wild Boar, Grey (Iberian) Wolf, Iberian Lynx, European (European Yellow-tailed) Scorpion, Seoane’s Viper, Lataste’s Viper, Mediterranean (European) Black Widow spider, Brown Recluse spider, Asian Hornet, and Portuguese Processionary Caterpillar. The tiny Tiger Mosquito is also occasionally found.

CRIME

Portugal is generally a safe place to travel, with very friendly people, however, as with anywhere in the world, it is advisable to take care and remain cautious and observant for the unexpected, especially in busy cities where there are many people around. Please use safety/lock boxes, when provided in hotels, for storage of personal possessions like passports, money, jewelry, and any other valuable items and follow any advice given to you by the Birding Ecotours tour leader, our local guide, or the hotel staff.

LANGUAGE

Portuguese is the national and official language of Portugal and is spoken by a large majority of the population. English is also widely spoken. Our local guide will help translate when needed.

BOOKS

Recommended field guide for this tour:

Collins Bird Guide: The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe – Lars Svensson (2010), HarperCollins (note this book is published by Princeton in the US). This publication is also available as an app on Apple and Android systems. This is the guide we recommend for this, and all of our European birdwatching tours. See our useful recommended bird books blog post here.

Other bird books of note:

Aves de Portugal (Birds of Portugal) – Helder Costa et al. (2018), Lynx Edicions.

Flight Identification of Raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East – Dick Forsman (2016), Helm.

Flight Identification of European Seabirds – Anders Blomdahl et al. (2007), Helm.

Other books of note and specific interest:

Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Britain and Europe – Jeroen Speybroeck et al. (2016), Bloomsbury Publishing.

Mammals of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East – Stéphane Aulagnier et al. (2009), Bloomsbury Publishing.

Europe’s Sea Mammals: Including the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde – A Field Guide to the Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises and Seals – Robert Still et al. (2019), Princeton University Press.

Collins Butterfly Guide: The Most Complete Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain and Europe – Tom Tolman (2009), HarperCollins.

Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe – Klaas-Douwe B Dijkstra et al. (2020), Bloomsbury Publishing.

A Photographic Guide to Insects of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean – Paul D Brock (2017), NatureBureau.

Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Southern Europe – P Davies and B Gibbons (1993), Crowded Press.

SOUND RECORDINGS

It is possible to listen to, and download, calls of the birds of Portugal from the excellent xeno-canto website.

USEFUL APPS AND WEBSITES

Aves Vox – this app allows you to download bird songs and calls from xeno-canto to your phone.

eBird – this website/app contains a wealth of information; you can explore the sites we will visit on the tour to find birds that you ‘need’ or would like to see. You can explore photo, video, and sound galleries for practically every species in the world through The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library. If you subscribe to Birds of the World, you can get further detailed information of the life histories and all kinds of useful information, this is an incredible resource and pulls information from the Macaulay Library, eBird, and The Internet Bird Collection. You can also keep checklists of your bird sightings very easily using the eBird app and this is a great way to keep track of your world bird list.

Merlin – this app can help you identify birds by sight (from images) and sound (from recordings) and is a useful tool to aid identification.

IOC World Bird List – this website contains all the latest details on taxonomic revisions and updates. You can read about newly discovered and described species, splits (creation of a new species) and lumps (deletion of a species) of existing species, and loads of other important and interesting information.

Lonely Planet – a huge resource on places of interest around the world. If you are interested in, or planning to, extend your stay in the country before or after your tour, this guide will help you find some must-see places.

Download Portugal: Birding, Wine, and Culture Tour General Information