The fantastic Wilson's Bird-of-paradise, photographed on the island of Waigeo in West Papua by Dubi Shapiro. Many of the few who have seen this bird say it is the best bird in the world.
BIRDING or
BIRD WATCHING
The destinations listed and linked below are the ones we believe are the best in the world to go bird watching.
If there are any other destinations you think should be on the list then please Email us.
The destinations are listed alphabetically. For more details click on the destination name.
For more specific types of birds see those linked below ...
A
Alaska
Spectacled Eider, Bristle-thighed Curlew and millions of seabirds on the Pribilofs.
Amazon (Brazil)
Macaws, toucans, jacamars, antbirds and cotingas possibly including Crimson Fruitcrow.
Antarctica - Emperor Penguins
Fly in (at great expense) to spend a few days at an Emperor Penguin colony.
Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands
Penguins, albatrosses and other seabirds in the most amazing settings on Earth make this A Top Ten Destination.
Arctic Russia
The richest tundra in the world with birds such as Siberian Crane and Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
Argentina - Northern
Andean Condor, Rufous-throated Dipper and a brilliant hummingbird called a Red-tailed Comet.
Argentina - Southern
Magellanic Penguin, Hooded Grebe, Andean Condor and shorebirds such as Tawny-throated Dotterel.
Arizona - Southeast
A greater variety of breeding birds than any other area of comparable size in the United States.
Atlantic Odyssey
Possibly 40 seabird species from Antarctica via South Georgia to Ascension Island.
Australia - Eastern (Queensland)
Southern Cassowary, lyrebirds, birds-of-paradise, bowerbirds and fairywrens for starters.
Australia - Northern
Hooded Parrot, Gouldian Finch, Rainbow Pitta, Purple-crowned Fairywren and Pied Heron.
Australia - Northwestern
Tens of thousands of shorebirds at Broome, and Black Grasswren in the Kimberley.
Australia - Outback
Malleefowl, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, Letter-winged Kite and Chestnut-breasted Whiteface.
Australia - Southeastern (Victoria-Tasmania)
Plains-wanderer, Little Penguin, Superb Lyrebird, Satin Bowerbird, parrots, fairywrens and robins.
Australia - Western
Malleefowl, parrots, fairywrens, Western Bowerbird, Western Bristlebird and Noisy Scrub-bird.
Austria
Pygmy Cormorant, Great Bustard, possibly Saker and fine alpine scenery.
Azores
The rare endemic Azores Bullfinch and North American vagrants.
B
Baffin Island - Canada
King Eider, Gyr Falcon, Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull and possibly Ivory Gull.
Belarus
Azure Tit, Aquatic Warbler, Great Snipe and Great Grey Owl in some really wild places.
Belize
Keel-billed Toucan, hummingbirds, Red-capped Manakin and Ocellated Turkey.
Bhutan
So many brilliant Himalayan birds, just part of the Gross National Happiness.
Borneo - Malaysia
Great endemic birds like Blue-headed Pitta and Bornean Bristlehead help make this A Top Ten Destination.
Bolivia
From flamingos to macaws including the endemic Blue-throated.
Bosque del Apache (New Mexico) - USA
Tens of thousands of Snow Geese and thousands of Sandhill Cranes wintering.
Brazil - Amazon
Macaws, toucans, jacamars, antbirds and cotingas possibly including Crimson Fruitcrow.
Brazil - Southeast
More endemic birds than any other corner of South America including lots of cotingas.
Brazil - Southern (Pantanal-Iguassu)
Hyacinth Macaws, waterbirds galore and Jaguars help make this A Top Ten Destination.
Bulgaria
Wallcreeper inland, a migration flyway along the coast, and especially good for waterbirds.
C
Cambodia
Giant and White-shouldered Ibises, Greater Adjutant, Bengal Florican and Spot-billed Pelican.
Cameroon
Endemics, Quail Plover, Brown-chested Lapwing and Red-headed Picathartes.
Canada - Baffin Island
King Eider, Gyr Falcon, Long-tailed Skua, Sabine’s Gull and possibly Ivory Gull.
Canada - Eastern (New Brunswick-Nova Scotia)
Seabirds, shorebirds and warblers.
Canada - Point Pelee (Ontario)
A migration bottleneck in spring, great for up to 30 species of New World warblers.
Chile
Seabirds such as Inca Tern, flamingos and shorebirds such as Diademed Sandpiper Plover and Magellanic Plover.
China - Eastern (Poyang Hu)
The 'Birds of Heaven', that is cranes, lots of wintering cranes, including Siberian.
China - Hong Kong
Thousands of summer-plumaged shorebirds possibly including Spoon-billed Sandpiper in April.
China - Sichuan
Many superb birds, not least colourful pheasants and Firethroat.
China - Yunnan
The richest province for birds in China particularly good for babblers.
Colombia
Birds, birds, birds, nearly 1900 species of them, more than any other country in the world.
Colorado - USA
Seven species of displaying grouse in spring.
Costa Rica
one of the best selections of the world's most spectacular birds, not least Resplendent Quetzal.
Cuba
Over 20 endemics including a tody, a trogon and the world's smallest bird; Bee Hummingbird.
E
Emperor Penguins - Antarctica
Fly in (at great expense) to spend a few days at an Emperor Penguin colony.
Ecuador - Northern
More birds per square mile than any other country in the world.
Ecuador - Southern
Endemics, Tumbesian endemics and other specialities such as Jocotoco Antpitta.
Estonia
Hundreds of thousands of birds, mainly ducks, geese and swans, on the move, in the spring.
Ethiopia
Vulturine Guineafowl, Golden-breasted Starling and 30 endemics including Spot-breasted Plover and Stresemann's Bushcrow.
Extremadura - Spain
The best place in western Europe for bustards and raptors, including Spanish Eagle.
F
Falkland Islands
Penguins including King, colonies of Black-browed Albatrosses and Striated Caracara.
Fiji
Quintessential tropical islands with outrageous birds such as Orange Dove.
Finland and Arctic Norway
Owls, Gyr Falcon, King and Steller’s Eiders, White-billed Diver, Siberian Jay and breeding shorebirds.
Florida - USA
Waterbirds, Swallow-tailed and Snail Kites, and the endemic Florida Scrub Jay.
France - Southern
A wonderful combination of wetland and mountain birds in the Camargue and Pyrenees.
French Polynesia
Lots of seabirds including White Tern, and endemic birds such as Tuamotu Sandpiper.
G
Gabon
A long list of spectacular birds not least Red-headed Picathartes, Black-headed Bee-eater and African River Martin.
Galapagos
Seabird colonies up close and over 20 endemics including Galapagos Penguin and Flightless Cormorant.
Gambia
Easy birding in a small country with Egyptian Plover, White-backed Night Heron and Blue-bellied Roller.
Georgia
Caucasian Grouse, Caucasian Snowcock, Guldenstadt's Redstart and Caucasian Great Rosefinch.
Ghana
Upper Guinea Forest birds including Yellow-headed Picathartes.
Greece
Greater Flamingo, Pygmy Cormorant, pelicans and a vulture feeding station.
Guyana
Guianan Cock-of-the-rock and possibly Crimson Fruitcrow, plus Grey-winged Trumpeter.
H
Halmahera (and Sulawesi) - Indonesia
Such spectacular birds as Wallace’s Standardwing and Knobbed Hornbill.
Hawaii
Bristle-thighed Curlew, seabirds and the endemic honeycreeper family.
Hebrides (Outer) - Scotland
Corn Crake, and White-tailed and Golden Eagles.
Holland
Hundreds of thousands of geese, as well as swans and Smews wintering.
Honduras
Motmots, manakins and Lovely Cotinga.
Hong Kong - China
Thousands of summer-plumaged shorebirds possibly including Spoon-billed Sandpiper in April.
Hungary
Saker, tens of thousands of Cranes in November and Red-footed Falcons in summer.
I
Iceland
Gyr Falcon, Harlequin Duck, Barrow's Goldeneye, nesting shorebirds and seabird cities with Brunnich's Guillemots.
India - Northern
Numerous waterbirds, raptors and Indian Skimmers help make this A Top Ten Destination.
India - Northeastern
So many brilliant Himalayan birds, from Himalayan Monal to Fire-tailed Myzornis.
India - Southern
Many endemics and near-endemics plus Indian Pitta and Indian Blue Robin.
India - Western
Indian and MacQueen’s Bustards, and Cream-coloured and Indian Coursers, as well as Hypocolius.
Indonesia - Java
Endemics including a trogon and a cochoa, as well as Banded Pitta and Blue Nuthatch.
Indonesia - Sulawesi and Halmahera
Such spectacular birds as Wallace’s Standardwing and Knobbed Hornbill.
Indonesia - Sumatra
Endemics including a trogon and a cochoa, as well as pittas and Blue Nuthatch.
Indonesia - West Papua
Fantastic birds-of-paradise including Wilson's, Red and Magnificent, as well as Western Parotia.
Israel
A migration bottleneck, especially for raptors and storks, plus some localised landbirds.
J
Japan
Steller's Eagles, Red-crowned Cranes 'dancing' in the snow, Blakiston's Fish Owl and seabirds.
Java
Endemics including a trogon and a cochoa, as well as Banded Pitta and Blue Nuthatch.
K
Kamchatka (and the Kuril and Commander Islands) - Russia
Steller's Eagle and numerous seabirds such as Laysan Albatross, and Tufted and Horned Puffins.
Kazakhstan
Ibisbill, Pallas's Sandgrouse, White-browed Tit Warbler, and Black and White-winged Larks.
Kenya
Too many amazing birds to mention and the best overall wildlife experience in the world, therefore A Top Ten Destination.
M
Madagascar
About 100 endemics including ground rollers, Cuckoo Roller, asities, vangas and three mesites.
Madeira
Bulwer's, Fea's and Zino's Petrels, and Madeiran and White-faced Storm Petrels.
Malaysia - Borneo
Great endemic birds like Blue-headed Pitta and Bornean Bristlehead help make this A Top Ten Destination.
Malaysia - Malay Peninsula
Pittas, broadbills, hornbills, trogons, kingfishers, Rail Babbler and Blue Nuthatch.
Malawi
Pel's Fishing Owl, Boehm's Bee-eater and the fabulous White-winged Apalis.
Mexico - Southern (Yucatan-Chiapas)
Ocellated Turkey, Russet-crowned and Turquoise-browed Motmots, and Yucatan Jay.
Mexico - Veracruz
The best raptor migration in the world, with 4-6 million birds each autumn/fall.
Mongolia
One of the last wild places, with Relict Gull and Oriental Plover.
Morocco - Southern
Bald Ibis, Moussier’s Redstart, Desert Sparrow, a dozen larks, several wheatears and lots of warblers.
Mozambique
Some spectacular localized birds including African Pitta.
Mull (and Scottish Highlands) - Scotland
White-tailed and Golden Eagles, and Puffin.
N
Namibia
Blue and Wattled Cranes, Slaty Egret and White-tailed Shrike.
Nebraska (Platte River) - USA
A resting and refuelling place for half a million migrating Sandhill Cranes during March.
Nepal
Mountain specialities such as monals, myzornises and Ibisbills in the magnificent Himalayas.
Netherlands
Hundreds of thousands of geese, as well as swans and Smews wintering.
New Brunswick-Nova Scotia (Eastern Canada)
Seabirds, shorebirds and warblers.
New Caledonia
The unique Kagu and other endemic birds including a tool-using crow.
New Mexico (Bosque del Apache) - USA
Tens of thousands of Snow Geese and thousands of Sandhill Cranes wintering.
New Zealand
Over 45 endemics including kiwis and numerous seabirds such as New Zealand and White-faced Storm Petrels.
New Zealand - Subantarctic Islands
Millions of seabirds including Royal Penguins, as well as the very rare Shore Plover.
Norway (Arctic, and Finland)
Owls, Gyr Falcon, King and Steller’s Eiders, White-billed Diver, Siberian Jay and breeding shorebirds.
Nova Scotia-New Brunswick (Eastern Canada)
Seabirds, shorebirds and warblers.
O
Oman
Crab Plover, Sooty Falcon and a chance of Hypocolius in some splendid desert scenery.
Ontario (Point Pelee) - Canada
A migration bottleneck in spring, great for up to 30 species of New World warblers.
Outer Hebrides - Scotland
Corn Crake, and White-tailed and Golden Eagles.
P
(Western) Pacific Odyssey
An incredible selection of seabirds including Short-tailed Albatross and New Zealand Storm Petrel.
Panama
Resplendent Quetzal, Three-wattled Bellbird, Sapayoa and about ten endemics.
Pantanal (Southern Brazil)
Hyacinth Macaws, waterbirds galore and Jaguars help make this A Top Ten Destination.
Papua New Guinea
Fantastic birds-of-paradise, including Blue Bird-of-paradise and Ribbon-tailed Astrapia.
Peru - Northeastern (Iquitos)
Over 600 species in a small area of Amazonia including Black-necked Red Cotinga.
Peru - Northern
Many hummingbirds including Marvellous Spatuletail and a chance of Long-whiskered Owlet.
Peru - Southern (Cuzco-Manu)
Clay-licks which attract many macaws, and many other birds such as Pale-winged Trumpeter.
Philippines
About 200 endemics including Philippine (Monkey-eating) Eagle, and Steere’s and Whiskered Pittas.
Platte River (Nebraska) - USA
A resting and refuelling place for half a million migrating Sandhill Cranes during March.
Point Pelee (Ontario) - Canada
A migration bottleneck in spring, great for up to 30 species of New World warblers.
Poland
Ancient lowland forest and largest inland wetland left in Europe; Great Snipe and Aquatic Warbler.
Polynesia
Lots of seabirds including White Tern, and endemic birds such as Tuamotu Sandpiper.
Portugal
Greater Flamingo, Azure-winged Magpie, bustards and Black-shouldered Kite.
Poyang Hu - Eastern China
The 'Birds of Heaven', that is cranes, lots of wintering cranes, including Siberian.
Q
Queensland (Eastern Australia)
Southern Cassowary, Albert's Lyrebird, two birds-of-paradise and bowerbirds.
R
Romania
Waterbirds in the Danube Delta, including Dalmatian and Great White Pelicans, and Pygmy Cormorant.
Russia - Arctic
The richest tundra in the world, and birds such as Siberian Crane and Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
Russia - Kamchatka, and the Kuril and Commander Islands
Steller's Eagle and numerous seabirds such as Laysan Albatross, and Tufted and Horned Puffins.
Rwanda
Shoebill and 25 Albertine Rift Endemics such as Ruwenzori Turaco and Purple-breasted Sunbird.
S
Scotland - Highlands to Mull
White-tailed and Golden Eagles, and Puffin.
Scotland - Outer Hebrides
Corn Crake, and White-tailed and Golden Eagles.
Scotland - Shetland
Seabird cities and nesting shorebirds including Red-necked Phalaropes.
Senegal
Waterbirds, bustards, Black Crowned Crane, Swallow-tailed Kite and Egyptian Plover.
Seychelles
Rare endemic landbirds including a paradise flycatcher, and seabird colonies.
Shetland - Scotland
Seabird cities and nesting shorebirds including Red-necked Phalaropes.
Sichuan - China
Many superb birds, not least colourful pheasants and Firethroat.
Sierra Leone
Spectacular birds such as Yellow-headed Picathartes, Egyptian Plover and Emerald Starling.
South Africa - Eastern
Blue and Wattled Cranes, Taita Falcon, Orange-breasted Rockjumper and Gurney's Sugarbird.
South Africa - Western
Seabirds, Jackass Penguin, Blue Crane, Black Harrier, Cape Rockjumper and Cape Sugarbird.
South Georgia (and Antarctica and the Falklands)
King Penguin colonies, nesting albatrosses and millions more seabirds in one of the most amazing settings on Earth make this
A Top Ten Destination.
Spain - Extremadura
The best place in western Europe for bustards and raptors, including Spanish Eagle.
Spain - Northern
Lammergeier, Wallcreeper and Snow Finch in the beautiful Pyrenees.
Spain - Southern
Many waterbirds, Spanish Eagle and the spectacular migration of storks and raptors.
Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
Little Auks and Brunnich's Guillemots, nesting Grey Phalaropes, and Ivory and Sabine's Gulls.
Sri Lanka
30 endemics and 20 near-endemics plus Indian Pitta, Pied Thrush and Indian Blue Robin.
Subantarctic Islands - New Zealand
Millions of seabirds including Royal Penguins, as well as the very rare Shore Plover.
Sulawesi and Halmahera - Indonesia
Such spectacular birds as Knobbed Hornbill and Wallace’s Standardwing.
Sumatra - Indonesia
Endemics including a trogon and a cochoa, as well as pittas and Blue Nuthatch.
Suriname
Grey-winged Trumpeter and some great cotingas including a big Guianan Cock-of-the-rock lek.
T
Tasmania (Southeastern Australia)
Twelve endemics including Tasmanian Native Hen, Forty-spotted Pardalote and Black Currawong.
Texas - USA
Thousands of migrating hawks, shorebirds and small birds, especially colourful warblers, in spring.
Thailand - Southern
Pittas, broadbills, hornbills, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo and Rail Babbler.
Tibet
Przevalski’s Finch, pheasants, Black-necked Crane and Tibetan Sandgrouse.
Trinidad and Tobago
Some fine birds, not least Scarlet Ibis and Oilbird.
U
Uganda
Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta and African Green Broadbill help make this A Top Ten Destination.
Ukraine
Demoiselle Crane, Saker, Great Bustard and Great Black-headed Gull.
USA - Alaska
Spectacled Eider, Bristle-thighed Curlew and millions of seabirds on the Pribilofs.
USA - Bosque del Apache, New Mexico
Tens of thousands of Snow Geese and thousands of Sandhill Cranes wintering.
USA - Colorado
Seven species of displaying grouse in spring.
USA - Florida
Waterbirds, Swallow-tailed and Snail Kites, and the endemic Florida Scrub Jay.
USA - Hawaii
Bristle-thighed Curlew, seabirds and the endemic honeycreeper family.
USA - Platte River, Nebraska
A resting and refuelling place for half a million migrating Sandhill Cranes during March.
USA - Texas
Thousands of migrating hawks, shorebirds and small birds, especially colourful warblers, in spring.
V
Venezuela - Eastern (Rio Grande-Escalera)
Harpy Eagle, many cotingas including Guianan Cock-of-the-rock and much more.
Venezuela - Western (Llanos)
Many spectacular birds, some in the amazing Llanos wetlands, not least Scarlet Ibis and Scarlet Macaw.
Veracruz - Mexico
The best raptor migration in the world, with 4-6 million birds each autumn/fall.
Vietnam
Pittas, broadbills, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and endemics such as Grey-crowned Crocias.
W
Western Pacific Odyssey
An incredible selection of seabirds including Short-tailed Albatross and New Zealand Storm Petrel.
West Papua - Indonesia
Fantastic birds-of-paradise including Wilson's, Red and Magnificent, as well as Western Parotia.
Y
Yunnan - China
The richest province for birds in China particularly good for babblers.
