France
France stretches from the Atlantic and English Channel to the Mediterranean, encompassing an unusually varied range of landscapes. The Alps and Pyrenees contain high mountain environments, while the Massif Central, broad river valleys and extensive agricultural lowlands dominate much of the interior. Atlantic marshes, Mediterranean scrub, forests, alpine meadows and the wetlands of the Camargue add considerable habitat diversity. Climate ranges from oceanic in the west through continental influences in the east to Mediterranean conditions in the south. Metropolitan France also includes Corsica, a mountainous Mediterranean island with extensive forests and rugged coastline.
Overview
France offers highly varied birding, from Mediterranean wetlands and mountains to Atlantic migration sites. The Camargue is particularly famous for Greater Flamingos, herons, terns and large numbers of migrating and wintering waterbirds. The Pyrenees and Alps support Lammergeier, Griffon Vulture, Wallcreeper and alpine specialists, while Mediterranean areas hold European Roller, European Bee-eater and various warblers. Corsica adds the endemic Corsican Nuthatch and other distinctive island populations. Major migration watchpoints include Cap Gris-Nez and sites along the Mediterranean coast. France has an extensive network of protected areas, good roads and abundant accommodation, making independent birding straightforward. Its main strength is the ability to combine northern European, alpine and Mediterranean bird communities within one easily accessible country.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus | 44.3% | 38.6% | 42.2% | 51.2% | 50.7% | 46.3% | 48.9% | 50.6% | 48.7% | 43.2% | 39.1% | 36.0% | 36.4% |
| Carrion Crow Corvus corone | 42.9% | 47.2% | 46.7% | 48.1% | 41.6% | 37.6% | 37.0% | 36.2% | 36.2% | 40.1% | 47.2% | 48.9% | 48.2% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 42.2% | 44.1% | 44.1% | 48.2% | 49.9% | 51.3% | 49.7% | 36.8% | 26.8% | 26.7% | 39.9% | 44.4% | 45.0% |
| Great Tit Parus major | 39.7% | 44.8% | 49.7% | 51.5% | 46.3% | 37.2% | 28.1% | 27.1% | 30.4% | 36.5% | 39.4% | 42.4% | 43.3% |
| European Robin Erithacus rubecula | 39.2% | 46.6% | 44.7% | 47.0% | 34.5% | 29.2% | 26.9% | 20.3% | 22.2% | 34.2% | 58.2% | 57.0% | 49.7% |
| Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs | 38.4% | 44.8% | 44.6% | 47.5% | 40.2% | 38.7% | 40.3% | 31.0% | 20.7% | 21.0% | 37.8% | 46.7% | 47.0% |
| Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus | 35.6% | 43.6% | 45.9% | 42.8% | 35.9% | 26.5% | 25.4% | 25.0% | 29.4% | 32.1% | 35.7% | 41.7% | 42.7% |
| Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | 32.6% | 37.0% | 36.6% | 37.3% | 31.8% | 27.9% | 28.9% | 26.3% | 25.1% | 30.9% | 33.1% | 37.7% | 38.0% |
| European Starling Sturnus vulgaris | 29.4% | 31.2% | 31.4% | 32.1% | 32.2% | 31.9% | 27.5% | 18.9% | 20.1% | 26.4% | 33.4% | 35.2% | 32.7% |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 28.6% | 24.3% | 26.5% | 29.6% | 31.8% | 34.0% | 36.1% | 35.9% | 27.8% | 23.2% | 26.3% | 24.3% | 23.7% |