Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a predominantly mountainous Balkan country shaped by the Dinaric Alps, with rugged limestone ranges, deep river valleys, karst fields and extensive forests. The central and eastern mountains contain large areas of beech, fir and pine woodland, while the south around Herzegovina has a warmer Mediterranean influence with dry grasslands, scrub and rocky landscapes. Major rivers include the Neretva, Bosna and Drina, and the country's karst geology has created caves, underground drainage systems and seasonally flooded fields. The climate ranges from continental in the interior to Mediterranean-influenced conditions in the south.
Overview
Bosnia and Herzegovina offers particularly good Balkan mountain, forest and karst birding. The Dinaric highlands support Rock Partridge, Golden Eagle, Alpine Chough and various montane species, while extensive mature forests provide habitat for Ural Owl, Black Woodpecker and White-backed Woodpecker. In Herzegovina, rocky Mediterranean habitats add Western Rock Nuthatch, Blue Rock Thrush and Eastern Subalpine Warbler. Hutovo Blato, near the lower Neretva, is the country's most important wetland and attracts large numbers of herons, ducks and migrating waterbirds. Birding tourism remains relatively undeveloped, but guides and nature tours are available and many areas can be explored independently. Landmines remain a concern in some rural and former conflict areas, so marked trails and local advice should be followed.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Tit Parus major | 39.7% | 48.1% | 36.2% | 50.8% | 45.4% | 34.3% | 31.2% | 19.0% | 32.7% | 42.1% | 44.9% | 41.7% | 49.8% |
| Hooded Crow Corvus cornix | 37.5% | 32.1% | 32.9% | 44.9% | 41.4% | 40.4% | 36.8% | 39.9% | 28.4% | 42.3% | 39.9% | 48.6% | 22.7% |
| Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | 34.4% | 35.8% | 35.0% | 42.6% | 38.2% | 35.7% | 31.3% | 26.8% | 29.1% | 33.5% | 33.1% | 36.0% | 35.6% |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 29.2% | 16.1% | 15.7% | 23.7% | 35.1% | 30.8% | 38.2% | 45.5% | 30.7% | 36.5% | 31.0% | 31.7% | 14.8% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 27.4% | 24.8% | 21.6% | 32.8% | 33.3% | 39.4% | 42.1% | 19.9% | 22.4% | 24.1% | 23.2% | 18.6% | 27.0% |
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 27.0% | 14.6% | 20.2% | 24.1% | 31.5% | 24.8% | 26.6% | 38.5% | 27.1% | 28.5% | 26.4% | 36.4% | 25.1% |
| Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | 25.7% | 23.9% | 24.6% | 27.5% | 22.4% | 25.2% | 20.9% | 21.1% | 15.1% | 29.4% | 34.0% | 35.4% | 28.6% |
| Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs | 24.9% | 26.6% | 15.7% | 32.6% | 30.4% | 28.6% | 36.8% | 16.9% | 16.3% | 23.5% | 28.3% | 25.8% | 17.3% |
| White Wagtail Motacilla alba | 22.8% | 4.6% | 16.4% | 30.9% | 25.8% | 26.5% | 31.3% | 29.2% | 25.7% | 24.4% | 31.4% | 22.6% | 4.9% |
| Common Buzzard Buteo buteo | 22.6% | 32.4% | 33.8% | 24.7% | 20.0% | 15.3% | 12.2% | 8.8% | 14.7% | 19.7% | 24.4% | 32.6% | 33.2% |