Belarus
Belarus is characterised by broad lowlands, forests, wetlands, lakes and river valleys, with relatively little mountainous terrain. Forest covers a large part of the country, including ancient woodland shared with neighbouring Poland at Białowieża/Belavezhskaya Pushcha. Southern Belarus contains the vast Polesia region, a landscape of marshes, peatlands, floodplain meadows and forests associated with the Pripyat River. Thousands of lakes occur particularly in the north. The climate is temperate continental, with cold winters, warm summers and moderate precipitation throughout the year.
Overview
Belarus has outstanding habitat for wetland and old-growth forest birds, especially within the Pripyat floodplains and Polesia wetlands. These areas support Aquatic Warbler, Great Snipe, Common Crane, Black Stork and numerous marshland species, while mature forests hold White-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Hazel Grouse and Eurasian Pygmy Owl. Open wetlands and fishponds also attract large numbers of migrating waterbirds. Historically, Belarus offered excellent birding in extensive, relatively undisturbed habitats, but current political conditions and international travel restrictions make tourism difficult, and official travel advice should be checked before planning a visit. Its principal ornithological importance lies in its large surviving wetlands and forests, which preserve habitats increasingly scarce elsewhere in Europe.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Tit Parus major | 55.6% | 62.9% | 66.6% | 64.8% | 56.6% | 42.6% | 36.1% | 36.0% | 35.7% | 52.9% | 69.6% | 70.4% | 72.5% |
| Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | 49.3% | 46.1% | 41.6% | 49.3% | 58.1% | 48.4% | 35.3% | 43.3% | 52.5% | 52.3% | 55.2% | 61.3% | 48.1% |
| Hooded Crow Corvus cornix | 42.5% | 46.1% | 48.9% | 51.8% | 49.7% | 40.9% | 30.4% | 31.4% | 28.0% | 37.4% | 47.6% | 47.1% | 50.7% |
| Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus | 35.4% | 43.8% | 44.1% | 45.7% | 37.7% | 23.9% | 19.2% | 19.8% | 21.1% | 37.0% | 42.2% | 44.6% | 45.7% |
| Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | 31.2% | 35.0% | 39.1% | 37.0% | 33.8% | 25.4% | 22.9% | 21.1% | 17.8% | 24.2% | 37.4% | 39.2% | 41.5% |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus | 30.5% | 28.1% | 34.3% | 31.8% | 30.5% | 32.1% | 32.6% | 34.6% | 28.3% | 25.0% | 31.4% | 28.6% | 28.4% |
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 28.1% | 30.4% | 28.6% | 25.1% | 29.2% | 26.2% | 23.3% | 28.0% | 29.7% | 27.6% | 33.5% | 25.8% | 29.6% |
| European Starling Sturnus vulgaris | 28.1% | 2.1% | 3.8% | 38.7% | 62.4% | 59.7% | 42.2% | 30.7% | 31.8% | 33.9% | 25.0% | 3.8% | 2.5% |
| Fieldfare Turdus pilaris | 26.7% | 27.5% | 20.7% | 27.9% | 44.6% | 38.9% | 33.8% | 17.9% | 10.8% | 17.8% | 27.1% | 27.0% | 26.3% |
| Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs | 26.5% | 6.7% | 4.7% | 24.8% | 63.1% | 57.7% | 54.9% | 29.9% | 21.7% | 26.1% | 17.8% | 6.1% | 4.0% |