Latvia
Latvia is a predominantly flat Baltic country characterised by extensive forests, peat bogs, rivers, lakes and agricultural lowlands. Its long Baltic coastline includes sandy beaches, dunes, coastal meadows and shallow lagoons, while the Gauja Valley provides a more varied landscape of forested slopes, sandstone cliffs and river habitats. Large wetlands and raised bogs remain across the interior, and forests cover more than half the country. Latvia has a cool temperate climate with maritime influence near the coast and increasingly continental conditions inland, producing mild summers and cold winters.
Overview
Latvia is particularly strong for forest birds, wetlands and migration. Extensive woodlands support Black Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Hazel Grouse and Black, White-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, while bogs and marshes hold Common Crane and various breeding waders. Lake Engure and Lake Pape are important for waterbirds and migration, and Cape Kolka can concentrate large numbers of passerines and raptors moving along the Baltic coast. Floodplain meadows add Great Snipe and Corn Crake in suitable areas. Latvia's low population density, good road network and numerous protected areas make independent birding relatively easy, although local guides can greatly improve chances of finding scarce forest species. Its combination of large forests, intact wetlands and concentrated Baltic migration is its main attraction.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hooded Crow Corvus cornix | 60.1% | 62.8% | 70.3% | 67.4% | 58.0% | 58.1% | 50.1% | 45.8% | 48.4% | 57.1% | 66.9% | 68.3% | 68.3% |
| Great Tit Parus major | 59.3% | 66.8% | 67.8% | 67.7% | 56.5% | 47.0% | 40.6% | 37.5% | 44.4% | 63.6% | 71.2% | 75.1% | 72.8% |
| Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus | 38.0% | 43.6% | 44.4% | 49.3% | 39.2% | 30.2% | 23.4% | 21.7% | 32.1% | 47.7% | 40.5% | 40.0% | 43.5% |
| Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | 35.1% | 31.4% | 30.7% | 40.7% | 43.1% | 37.7% | 26.9% | 28.7% | 34.8% | 38.0% | 40.1% | 38.0% | 31.4% |
| European Herring Gull Larus argentatus | 33.4% | 28.7% | 32.8% | 37.9% | 37.5% | 34.4% | 30.3% | 36.0% | 37.2% | 30.0% | 34.3% | 35.4% | 26.1% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 29.7% | 17.7% | 17.5% | 32.1% | 45.7% | 48.8% | 54.5% | 34.5% | 16.1% | 27.2% | 34.1% | 15.5% | 12.3% |
| Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs | 29.0% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 17.2% | 59.3% | 58.5% | 58.9% | 35.6% | 29.8% | 42.8% | 26.4% | 9.1% | 3.8% |
| Common Raven Corvus corax | 28.8% | 32.6% | 35.9% | 34.1% | 27.0% | 18.4% | 16.5% | 19.6% | 21.1% | 34.2% | 34.3% | 37.2% | 34.6% |
| Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | 26.4% | 33.2% | 30.9% | 24.2% | 24.0% | 21.8% | 16.5% | 15.0% | 14.1% | 25.7% | 33.1% | 39.2% | 39.2% |
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 25.1% | 30.0% | 28.6% | 23.4% | 18.8% | 21.0% | 15.1% | 19.0% | 22.0% | 28.4% | 31.1% | 31.5% | 32.1% |