Istanbul Birding Day Trip – With one foot on Europe and the other on Asia, Istanbul is exactly on the crossroads of bird migratory routes. It is squeezed not only between two continents, but also two climate systems, the European and Mediterranean climate. The northern shores are fringed with humid forests, whereas the southern shores are drier. The sea shore and lagoons provide excellent birding opportunities.
Being surrounded by water on three sides, Istanbul is home to quite a few water birds. Easy to spot Great cormorants and Mallard ducks. Waterside neighborhoods of Istanbul, like Sultanahmet and Beyoglu, are good for looking for water birds. The most obvious birds in Istanbul are the seagulls. Hundreds, if not thousands of them, circle above the ancient monuments filling the air with their haunting cries. There are a few species in the mix, notably the Yellow-legged gulls, Black-headed gulls and what appeared to be Heuglin’s gulls.
| Month | Key Theme | Must-See Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Jan-Feb | Wintering | Ducks, Grebes, Flamingos, Pelicans (rare), Woodpeckers |
| Mar | Early Migration | First Warblers, Wheatears, Swallows, Early Raptors |
| Apr | SPRING PEAK | Raptor River, Storks, Bee-eaters, Rollers, All Warblers |
| May | Late Spring/Breeding | Nightingales, Orioles, Late Raptors, Breeding Shrikes |
| Jun-Jul | Summer/Breeding | Seabirds, Fledglings, Early returning waders (from July) |
| Aug | Autumn Build-up | Wader Peak, Early Raptors, Bee-eater Flocks |
| Sep | AUTUMN PEAK | Raptors, Osprey, Massive Passerine Waves |
| Oct | Late Autumn Shift | Finches, Last Raptors, First Winter Ducks, Robins |
| Nov-Dec | Wintering | Duck Flocks, Flamingos, Divers, Winter Forest Flocks |