Top Birding Spots in the World for Birdwatching

Bird watching is a wonderful hobby, and people all over the world love spending time in nature observing these incredible creatures. With thousands of beautiful, fascinating species of bird in every country in the world, there are limitless opportunities for keen ornithologists to travel and experience birds that they can’t see in their own country. There is nothing better than traveling the world to look at wonderful new species through the lenses of your binoculars. With the end of the Covid-19 Pandemic insight, travel restrictions are starting to lift, so it will soon be time to start booking your next bird-watching trip. Five of the most amazing and interesting Places for Birdwatchers to Visit if you are looking for ideas for your next vacation.

Best Birdwatching Destinations

1. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Arguably the most special place on the planet to see animals, the Galapagos Islands are a birdwatchers’ dream. Only accessible by a two-hour flight from the city of Guayaquil, the Galapagos Islands were the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking work on evolution. It is worth having some top-notch birding binos to use while out visiting the different islands on a boat trip.

Here there are many bird species totally unique to the island as they have evolved in this most isolated of places. Blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, Darwin finches, and even Galapagos penguins are just some of the ornithological treats. As well as birds, you can see the famous giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions, and countless marine animals from hammerhead sharks to bottlenose dolphins.

2. Brecon Beacons, Wales

The Brecon Beacons are a mountain range in South Wales, and they are a must-visit for all British bird watchers and visiting bird enthusiasts. Best known for being the home of Red Kites, these once-endangered birds were painstakingly reintroduced to the Brecon Beacons after being hunted to the point of extinction in Britain.

There is the Black Mountain Red Kite Feeding Station at Llanddeusant where up to fifty red kites visit every day along with buzzards, ravens, and countless other birds. It is best to bring a good pair of binoculars or a long lens telescope so you can see these majestic birds up close. You will find that just driving around the area you will see many red kites, with their distinctive forked tails, soaring above the hills.

3. Colca Canyon, Peru

The Colca Canyon in Peru is the best place in the whole of South America to see the awe-inspiring Andean Condor. These enormous raptors nest right on the cliff edge of the canyon, and you can get within meters of these incredible birds. One amazing way to experience Colca Canyon is to do a two-day trek, in which you hike down one side of the canyon on the first day, eat dinner and sleep in charming bungalows with the other trekkers overnight, and then hike up the other side in the morning. 

4. The Florida Everglades, USA

The Everglades National Park is a 1.5 million acre tropical wetlands found in Florida, and it is one of the most exciting places for all nature lovers to visit. As well as the famous alligators, there are hundreds of species of snake, panthers, pythons, dolphins, turtles, and, of course, some incredible birds. The USA’s iconic bald eagle can be frequently seen soaring the skies scouting for fish, and there are also many species of vulture, hawks, falcons, and different wading birds. There is so much for visitors to do in Florida that your trip into the Everglades can easily be part of a family holiday combining birdwatching with theme parks and other amazing things.

5. Cuyabeno National Park, Ecuador

Situated in the incredible Ecuadorian Amazon, the Cuyabeno National Park is a dream for all nature lovers. Jaguars, pythons, sloths, caymans, and pink river dolphins can all be found in Cuyabeno along with thousands of astounding bird species. Adventurous bird watchers can book a tour in Cuyabeno from the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, and can expect to see blue and yellow macaws, harpy eagles, potoos, egrets, and many more. The only way to experience Cuyabeno is to stay in one of the lodges right there in the jungle, where you will be taken out each morning and evening to trek through the forest or sail down the river itself. As well as incredible bird watching, you will see many other impressive animals and maybe even do a little piranha fishing.

There are so many wonderful places in the world where birdwatchers can find amazing species that we really are spoilt for choice. From the exotic Amazon rainforest to the wild hills of Wales, the world is a paradise of ornithological opportunities. Now that the world is starting to open up again, there has never been a better time to start planning a bird watching vacation. Try out some of the places on this list, and you won’t be disappointed!