Monaco
Monaco is a tiny principality on the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by France and backed by the steep foothills of the Maritime Alps. Almost its entire territory is densely urbanised, with development extending up hillsides and onto land reclaimed from the sea. Natural habitats are therefore very limited, although rocky coastal areas, landscaped parks and gardens provide pockets of vegetation. Monaco has a mild Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Its exceptionally small area and dense development make it one of Europe's most intensely urban landscapes.
Overview
Monaco has limited dedicated birding habitat, but its position on the Mediterranean coast allows migrants and seabirds to occur regularly. Parks and gardens can attract migrating warblers, flycatchers and other passerines, particularly during spring and autumn, while offshore waters may produce Scopoli's and Yelkouan Shearwaters, gulls and other seabirds. Peregrine Falcons can also occur around cliffs and tall buildings. There are no endemic or major specialist targets, and dedicated birding tourism is essentially absent. Monaco is therefore best regarded as a short urban and coastal birding stop, with the much richer wetlands, mountains and Mediterranean habitats of southeastern France easily accessible nearby.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis | 82.2% | 74.4% | 75.6% | 75.5% | 79.8% | 86.3% | 83.7% | 82.9% | 78.8% | 81.8% | 89.7% | 92.0% | 85.9% |
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia | 71.0% | 70.8% | 63.7% | 66.5% | 61.4% | 72.6% | 72.6% | 77.5% | 79.9% | 61.5% | 71.1% | 75.0% | 80.1% |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus | 57.5% | 54.8% | 58.0% | 64.2% | 60.4% | 54.5% | 64.3% | 70.4% | 49.0% | 63.5% | 59.1% | 55.1% | 37.2% |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto | 55.8% | 38.1% | 50.3% | 48.3% | 63.7% | 62.3% | 67.9% | 53.7% | 59.7% | 71.4% | 60.3% | 61.7% | 32.5% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 53.8% | 63.1% | 56.5% | 42.8% | 76.3% | 53.0% | 63.8% | 50.5% | 27.6% | 54.2% | 39.7% | 67.8% | 50.8% |
| European Robin Erithacus rubecula | 36.8% | 67.3% | 41.7% | 24.6% | 24.4% | 25.6% | 12.8% | 18.2% | 13.6% | 27.6% | 45.7% | 62.3% | 77.5% |
| Carrion Crow Corvus corone | 34.4% | 36.9% | 46.1% | 34.3% | 33.9% | 13.5% | 28.7% | 19.6% | 30.9% | 29.7% | 43.0% | 46.1% | 49.4% |
| Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla | 34.3% | 41.7% | 25.6% | 29.3% | 47.6% | 43.3% | 39.9% | 40.9% | 16.6% | 12.5% | 26.9% | 28.5% | 58.6% |
| Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus | 24.0% | 32.1% | 44.9% | 23.6% | 5.4% | 6.4% | 7.7% | 18.2% | 26.5% | 24.5% | 29.7% | 28.6% | 40.0% |
| Common Swift Apus apus | 23.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 17.4% | 55.1% | 50.6% | 65.2% | 44.5% | 41.7% | 11.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% |