Brasov Tourism

Romania is one of the best places in Europe for bird watching in terms of its wealth of rare and threatened species and sheer numbers of birds not seen elsewhere in the continent. It is also probably the least explored.

 
Those who know of Romania’s potential think mainly of the Danube Delta – an extraordinary area of wetland, some 4000 square kilometres – but the country has many other outstanding areas for bird watching. Romania has a surprising variety of habitats: from the alpine and sub-alpine slopes of the Carpathian Mountains, the dense beech and spruce forests of the Carpathian lower slopes, the oak woods and moorlands of Transylvania, to the rolling hills and warm flat plains of Muntenia and Dobrogea to the south and east.

Bird watching in the mountains requires energy and patience as the area is vast and access is not always straightforward. The bird watcher who is prepared to explore on foot will be rewarded by the possibility of seeing the Ural Owl, Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, Nutcracker, Black Woodpecker, Crossbill, Ring Ouzel, Rock Thrush, Stonechat, Wheatear, Siskin, Coal Tit, Firecrest, Goldcrest and Yellow Wagtail. Several mountain locations are also noted for Wallcreeper, Capercaillie, Hazelhen, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Three-toed Woodpecker, and Crested and Sombre Tits.

The spectacular limestone gorges of Turda, Intregalde, Rameti and Bicaz provide the perfect habitat for several species of raptors, Eagle Owl, Nightjar, Hoopoe, Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, and Wallcreeper. The rolling hills of Transylvania contain several areas of fish ponds which are known for their interesting birds. In addition to an impressive array of water birds and birds of prey, the specialities include: White Stork, Little Bittern, Black Godwit, Spoonbill, Ruff, Ferruginous Duck, Corncrake, Spotted Crake, Marsh Harrier, Lesser Spotted Eagle, several Warblers, Bee-eater, and various Yellow Wagtails including black-headed and blue-headed hybrids.