Bird watching
Around 360 bird species have been recorded in Serbia, around 240 of which nest here. Around 40% of the species of birds which nest in Serbia are included in the Species of European Conservation Concern list, including five species which are globally endangered: the Ferruginous Duck, Imperial Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Great Bustard and the Corncrake.
Keeping in mind the size of Serbia and its relatively well-developed infrastructure, with careful planning and the help of local experts, it is possible to see over 150 species of birds in around 10 days.
Each year around the 1stof May, the open Great Day of Birds competition is held, the aim of which is to spot as many species of birds over 24 hours within a circle 50 metres in diameter. EuroBirdwatch takes place in Serbia each year during the first weekend in October.
The Important Bird Areas Programme (IBA) identifies, monitors and protects such areas. An area is given IBA status if it meets strict criteria based on the presence of endangered bird species in significant numbers. Although the IBA network focuses on preserving the bird kingdom, the protection of these areas also contributes to the preservation of significant numbers of other animals and plants.
A total of 35 IBAs have been identified in Serbia so far: Gornje Podunavlje, Subotica lakes and wilderness, Ribnjak Bečej pond, Jegrička, Koviljski Rit marsh, Fruška Gora, Bosutske Šume forest, Zasavica, Obedska Bara pond, Dunavski Lesni Odsek (Danube Loess Bluffs), Pašnjaci Velike Droplje nature reserve, Slano Kopovo, Carska Bara pond, Ribnjak Uzdin pond, Vršački Breg hill, Deliblatska Peščara sands, Cer mountain, Valjevske mountains, Tara mountain, Ovčarsko-Kablarska Klisura gorge, Uvac (Mileševka), Kopaonik mountain, Prokletije mountains, Šar Mountains, Pčinja, Vlasina, Jerma, Suva mountain, Stara Planina mountain (Vidlič), Sićevačka Klisura gorge, Zlotska Klisura gorge (Dubašnica), Resavska Klisura gorge, Dubovac (Ram), Đerdapska Klisura gorge and Mala Vrbica.
Most common bird species in Serbia
Urban birds: White Wagtail, Northern House Martin, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-dove, Little Owl, Eurasian Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Black Redstart and Common Swift.
Grassland and shrubland birds: Northern Lapwing, Hooded Crow, Rook, Grey Partridge, Skylark, Common Pheasant and Stonechat.
Bird of prey: Common Kestrel, Western Marsh-Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Northern Goshawk, Hobby, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle and Black Kite.
Water birds: Common Moorhen, Reed Bunting, Common Snipe, White Stork, Whiskered Tern, White-tailed Eagle, Sand Martin, Eurasian Curlew, Great Cormorant, Goosander, White-throated Dipper, Common Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night Heron, Mallard, Little Ringed Plover, Eurasian Wigeon, Spoonbill, Garganey, Mute Swan, Common Coot, Little Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Grebe, Common Tern, Common Black-headed Gull, Common Goldeneye, Ferruginous Duck, Common Pochard, Common Sandpiper, Grey Heron, Yellow-legged Gull, Reed-Warbler, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Gadwall and Northern Pintail.
Birds of agricultural land: House Sparrow, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Fieldfare, European Serin, Chaffinch, Eurasian Green Woodpecker, European Greenfinch, Barn Owl, European Roller, Winchat, Common Redstart, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Common Quail, European Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Red-backed Shrike, European Magpie, Brambling, Spotted Flycatcher, Yellowhammer, Eurasian Scops-Owl, Jackdaw, Common Starling, European Goldfinch and Eurasian Siskin.
Woodland birds: Hawfinch, Collared Flycatcher, Eurasian Nuthatch, Willow Warbler, Firecrest, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Wood Pigeon, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Eurasian Treecreeper, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Red Crossbill, Common Nightingale, Common Cuckoo, Common Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Willow Tit, Garden Warbler, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, Eurasian Jay, Crested Tit, Long-eared Owl, Winter Wren, European Robin, Sardinian Warbler, Tawny Owl and Wood Warbler.
Birds of mountain forests and rocky terrain: Alpine Swift, Griffon Vulture, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Wood Grouse, Common Raven, Alpine Chough, Eurasian Bullfinch, Linnet, Ring Ouzel, European Nightjar, Spotted Nutcracker, Northern Wheatear, Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor, Wallcreeper, Peregrine Falcon, Black Woodpecker, Tree Pipit and Eurasian Woodcock.