Lithuania
Lithuania is the southernmost and largest of the Baltic states, characterised by gently rolling lowlands, forests, lakes, wetlands and agricultural landscapes. Its Baltic coastline includes sandy beaches, dunes and the remarkable Curonian Spit, a long barrier peninsula enclosing the shallow Curonian Lagoon. Inland, numerous rivers, peatlands and glacial lakes provide varied freshwater habitats, while extensive pine and mixed forests remain across the country. Lithuania has a cool temperate climate, with maritime influences near the Baltic becoming more continental inland, producing warm summers and cold winters.
Overview
Lithuania is particularly rewarding for wetland birds, forest species and Baltic migration. The Nemunas Delta is the country's premier birding region, with flooded meadows, reedbeds and lagoons supporting Great Snipe, Aquatic Warbler, White-tailed Eagle and large numbers of migrating waterbirds. The Curonian Spit funnels impressive numbers of migrating passerines and raptors, and Ventė Cape is famous for its long-running bird-ringing station. Extensive forests hold Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Hazel Grouse and several woodpeckers and owls. Lithuania is straightforward to explore independently, with good roads and accessible reserves, while local guides are available for difficult specialties. Its combination of Baltic migration, productive wetlands and extensive forests makes it an excellent birding destination, particularly 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 | 54.4% | 63.1% | 64.2% | 63.9% | 54.0% | 44.9% | 38.3% | 32.0% | 38.7% | 53.9% | 63.8% | 68.5% | 67.2% |
| Hooded Crow Corvus cornix | 51.2% | 58.8% | 58.6% | 55.4% | 49.0% | 45.8% | 41.7% | 39.3% | 38.8% | 48.8% | 57.7% | 60.7% | 59.3% |
| Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus | 38.1% | 42.0% | 45.8% | 48.5% | 38.1% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 22.9% | 33.2% | 47.8% | 44.7% | 40.0% | 43.5% |
| Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | 37.8% | 37.3% | 34.6% | 40.4% | 47.4% | 40.3% | 34.0% | 32.7% | 37.7% | 36.8% | 37.7% | 35.7% | 39.0% |
| European Starling Sturnus vulgaris | 30.6% | 3.9% | 6.8% | 43.1% | 56.5% | 55.7% | 43.6% | 34.8% | 29.3% | 39.6% | 37.6% | 9.5% | 6.7% |
| Common Raven Corvus corax | 30.5% | 30.3% | 32.7% | 37.5% | 30.9% | 22.5% | 19.8% | 23.4% | 29.7% | 33.7% | 37.2% | 33.4% | 34.4% |
| Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs | 30.4% | 8.4% | 10.4% | 25.8% | 58.5% | 53.5% | 54.9% | 30.9% | 25.6% | 39.9% | 33.5% | 14.8% | 8.5% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 27.7% | 14.1% | 12.3% | 36.2% | 45.9% | 49.6% | 47.1% | 28.3% | 15.2% | 25.2% | 31.7% | 14.1% | 12.4% |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major | 26.8% | 26.9% | 28.0% | 29.1% | 23.3% | 19.4% | 24.3% | 23.3% | 29.1% | 30.8% | 30.8% | 27.5% | 29.7% |
| Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus | 25.7% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 26.2% | 48.5% | 45.8% | 45.8% | 45.1% | 43.3% | 32.4% | 18.2% | 1.8% | 0.2% |