Hungary
Hungary lies largely within the Pannonian Basin, giving it a predominantly flat or gently rolling landscape. The Great Hungarian Plain dominates the east, with agricultural land, grasslands and remnants of natural steppe, while low mountain ranges and extensive forests occur in the north and west. The Danube and Tisza are the principal rivers, accompanied by floodplains, marshes, oxbow lakes and fishpond systems. Lake Balaton, Central Europe's largest lake, is another defining geographical feature. Hungary has a continental climate with warm summers, cold winters and generally drier conditions than much of western Europe.
Overview
Hungary is one of Europe's classic destinations for steppe birds, raptors and wetlands. Hortobágy National Park is the premier birding area, famous for Great Bustard, Saker Falcon, Red-footed Falcon and spectacular autumn gatherings of Common Cranes. Wetlands and fishponds support Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, herons and large numbers of migrants, while grasslands elsewhere hold Eastern Imperial Eagle and European Roller. Forested hills add woodpeckers and Ural Owl. Hungary has a well-established birding-tourism sector, numerous reserves and generally easy road access. Its combination of Pannonian grasslands, productive wetlands and sought-after eastern European specialties makes it particularly rewarding in spring and autumn.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Tit Parus major | 51.3% | 59.9% | 61.5% | 59.6% | 51.3% | 40.5% | 39.3% | 35.5% | 43.1% | 48.1% | 60.1% | 58.1% | 58.7% |
| Hooded Crow Corvus cornix | 46.2% | 47.9% | 49.1% | 50.1% | 47.3% | 42.9% | 43.3% | 39.3% | 41.7% | 43.5% | 50.4% | 48.4% | 50.5% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 41.1% | 43.6% | 44.3% | 52.9% | 51.0% | 46.6% | 49.9% | 33.4% | 25.7% | 25.7% | 39.1% | 38.8% | 42.4% |
| Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | 36.0% | 38.4% | 36.5% | 40.3% | 40.6% | 34.4% | 26.5% | 28.2% | 34.1% | 33.5% | 38.2% | 40.6% | 40.8% |
| Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus | 32.9% | 3.2% | 8.1% | 45.8% | 56.0% | 50.5% | 50.9% | 51.9% | 53.1% | 39.4% | 28.2% | 5.0% | 2.4% |
| European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis | 31.6% | 31.7% | 33.4% | 37.0% | 35.7% | 29.3% | 32.6% | 32.5% | 27.4% | 21.8% | 34.3% | 32.4% | 30.4% |
| Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus | 29.9% | 39.7% | 40.8% | 33.1% | 22.5% | 14.5% | 16.4% | 16.3% | 23.3% | 29.1% | 44.3% | 38.9% | 39.9% |
| Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | 29.1% | 30.5% | 33.0% | 31.3% | 27.5% | 25.1% | 25.3% | 22.8% | 23.4% | 27.2% | 35.2% | 33.9% | 34.3% |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major | 28.6% | 32.6% | 30.6% | 29.9% | 24.2% | 23.0% | 23.3% | 22.3% | 29.4% | 28.6% | 32.6% | 32.0% | 34.4% |
| Common Buzzard Buteo buteo | 28.5% | 29.4% | 30.9% | 34.6% | 28.8% | 25.7% | 22.6% | 23.2% | 23.1% | 27.6% | 34.8% | 31.2% | 29.7% |