Catalonia is a territory of rocky and sandy coasts, mountain ranges parallel to the coast and the Pyrenees of Catalonia, a central depression, wetland areas... perfect environments for different types of birds to coexist. So far, more than 400 different birds have been cited in Catalonia, which indicates the diversity of the territory. This is thanks to the wide variety of types of terrain, its different climates and its biogeographical position. Of the species mentioned, some are native and live in Catalonia all year round. Others avoid the heat of Africa and spend the spring and summer here to return to Africa in the autumn. Others reside here in the winter and some are only passing through on their migration route. The best areas for bird watching in Catalonia are: Pyrenees of Catalonia and Val d'Aran Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park: it is one of the best preserved natural areas in Catalonia . It is home to all the typical species of the Catalan Pyrenees, such as the buzzard, the common vulture, the pyrenean owl, the white-breasted blackbird, etc. Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park: here you can find birds typical of the Pyrenees of Catalonia, absent in much of Europe, such as the grebe, the yellow-billed jackdaw, the blackbirds or the chattering partridge. Alt Pirineu Natural Park: it is the most extensive in Catalonia and is the refuge of species such as the black grouse, the water blackbird, the chatter partridge and the bearded vulture. Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser Natural Park: this is a high mountain park, but close to the Mediterranean, which becomes the habitat of high mountain and Pyrenean species such as the barn owl, the Pyrenean owl, the western capercaillie and the citril finch. Collegats gorge and Boumort range: this landscape has large vertical walls that become more thermal and Mediterranean in the summer. It is the perfect home for birds of prey such as the 4 species of European vultures (common vulture, black vulture, bearded vulture and buzzard). Costa Brava Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park: its geographical location, at the foot of the Pyrenees of Catalonia and dominated by the nothern wind, makes them the perfect place for observing migratory birds such as the grebe, the red-throated plover or the red-legged hawk. Cap de Creus Natural Park: large part of the park is marine areas, so it is in a perfect area to see birds that are typical of these areas such as the pale falcon, the masked woodpecker and the grebe or the yellow coot. Montgrí, les Illes Medes i el Baix Ter Natural Park: this park brings together a great variety of landscapes (rocky coastline, sandy coast and wetlands) that allow a great diversity of birds to live there, such as the laughing gull, the feathered cormorant or the masked raven. Terres de Lleida Estany d'Ivars and Vila-sana: the combination of the different environments in the area mean that a large number of different species can be observed in a short time such as partridges, or the grey sparrow. Mas de Melons Natural Reserve: here you can find a large number of threatened species such as the picampall (the Iberian Mediterranean variant of the red-bellied woodpecker), the whiskered mallerenga, the mustached woodcock or the bittern. Serra del Montsec: the golden eagle, the bald eagle, the golden eagle and the peregrine falcon are some of the species that can be found in this high and limestone mountain area. Costa Barcelona and Landscapes Barcelona Montserrat Mountain Natural Park : in this landscape of steep relief, there is a combination of rupicolous species with species of Mediterranean distribution, such as the crested eagle, the eagle, the black-capped woodpecker or the red partridge. Llobregat Delta Natural Areas: this territory is the habitat of international species such as the Corsican gull, the little tern or the Balearic baldric, and the chocolate morel in winter. Barcelona: Collserola: this area is home to a great diversity of forest birds of prey such as the woodpecker, sparrowhawk and goshawk. Montjuïc: its large expanse of urban gardens and the effect of a coastal island surrounded by urban areas make it the habitat of the herring gull, the peregrine falcon, the sparrowhawk or the common sparrow. Coast: during the winter it is easy to see seagulls on the Barcelona coast, but not only this bird can be seen, you can also see masked gulls, cormorants or procellariidae. Terres de l'Ebre and Costa Daurada Delta de l'Ebre Natural Park: it is one of the best places to observe birds, where sea and river waters meet. There is the most important breeding colony of Corsican gulls in Catalonia, one of the most outstanding populations of grebes or the second largest colony of flamingos and capons in the Iberian Peninsula. Els Ports Natural Park: the avifauna of the area is characterised by rupicolous species and dry Mediterranean environments with others from Central Europe. You can see grebes, common owls, puffins, bee-eaters or ruffed grouse, among others. Serra de Montsant Natural Park: it is an important mountain range with cliffs to the south and ravines and a river to the north, it is home to nesting, wintering or forest rock birds such as the crested eagle, the rock-peel or the torrential sandpiper. Interesting Natural Area Nacional de Poblet: this whole area is rich in Mediterranean forest birds, such as mallards, grebes and woodpeckers, and is also home to some biogeographical particularity such as the blue woodpecker. Reserva Natural de Sebes (Flix): it is the only place in the regions of Tarragona where the white stork breeds, in addition, it is also easy to see birds such as the black kite, the little martin or purple heron. Ports of l'Ampolla, Ametlla de Mar, Cambrils and Tarragona: these places attract seabirds in search of fishing waste or that feed on rest of the activity of the ports. This makes it easy to find seagulls, sea ducks, cormorants or bald eagles. Enjoy a unique birdwatching experience in Catalonia! From the Ebro Delta to the Pyrenees via the Secans de Lleida drylands... A journey to discover the bird biodiversity of Catalonia. Visit the Birding Ebre Pirineus website.