Hungary has 10 national parks and is home to around 400 species of birds that live, breed or stay in winter. The country has forests with hiking routes where visitors can find unique hunting species such as the imperial eagle or the common buzzard.
Among the most iconic species living in the country is the majestic European bee-eater, known for its vibrant plumage and aerial acrobatics. The elegant white stork, symbolising fertility and prosperity is another species worth the wait and watch. Hungary is also a popular place among migrating birds. One of the most spectacular happenings is the crane gathering in the Hortobágy when the weather starts to get colder. The Eurasian hoopoe also lives in Hungary which was nominated as Bird of the Year thrice by the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society.
Budapest
The Hungarian capital offers excellent birdwatching opportunities, thanks to its large, nearly 100 hectares of parks, the Buda Hills and the Danube. The City Park (Városliget), Margaret Island and Normafa are the most accessible places to see birds in the capital. The old woods of the City Park, its artificial ponds and the vicinity of the Zoo where birds can find free lunch. The Margaret island’s attractions include romantic walkways, medieval ruins, a small zoo, a musical fountain, a water tower, swimming pools and the whole island has a relaxing atmosphere. Thanks to the old trees, parks, and the Danube, many birds live or feed on the island thus it’s a perfect place to find some birds in the city if you do not have the time to leave the capital. Normafa is a popular excursion destination, on the Eastern skirts of the Buda Hills with a stunning view of the city. Besides hiking, the location also offers picnicking and biking opportunities. The birds you can find here: Green, Grey-headed, Great Spotted, Middle Spotted, Black Woodpecker, Hawfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling, Thrushes, and Treecreepers. Normafa can be reached by public transport or chairlift which can be a unique experience for the whole family.
The migration of wild geese is a unique and spectacular phenomenon in Hungary. One of the most spectacular and photogenic locations, the Old Lake of Tata, sits just 50 minutes away from Budapest. Tata is the “City of Waters”, where the natural and built environment intertwine. In the middle of the city, on the shore of the lake, is the most important water castle in Hungary. The lake’s shores are lined with footpaths, making it the perfect place for birdwatching, especially in the autumn season. The wild geese from Scandinavia and Siberia spend the night here, with two migrations during the day. First in the morning and then in the afternoon, but the most spectacular is in the evening when thousands or even tens of thousands of wild geese return.
Hortobágy National Park
Hortobágy with Lake Tisza is surely the number one birding hotspot in Hungary. Out of the four hundred birds recorded in Hungary, more than 340 species were also seen here. The grasslands and wetlands of Hortobágy offer excellent habitats for example for the Great Bustard, Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Red-footed Falcon and for the other more than three hundred species. During autumn the cranes arrives to Hortobágy and yet start the most attractive natural event of the season, the crane migration, which is a must-see for all birders. The crane is the symbol of the Hortobágy National Park and one of the most treasured natural assets in the region. From the second half of September to the beginning of November, the Hortobágy National Park Directorate organises tours during the evenings to see the daily movement of tens of thousands of cranes. Hortobágy is also a Unesco World Heritage site with a stunning ‘puszta’ landscape.
More information here.
Lake Tisza
Lake Tisza offers a special blend of nature and waterside that cannot be found anywhere else in Central Europe, therefore there is no better place for an unforgettable wildlife trip in Hungary. Lake Tisza provides ideal conditions: the magic world of multifarious aqueous spaces and the services devoted to guide the wanderer to such places. A voyage along such corridors helps visitors explore the hidden treasures of the lake and see the living wildlife including birds. One can pass along the big lake-basins and round the corners of small narrow channels to watch life thriving in the spaces surrounded by reed-beds and forests. Canoe trips offer a special opportunity to discover birds in their natural habitat. Tisza-tó is also famous for its special water lookouts, which are only accessible by boats. Bölömbika Lokout is located in the middle of an open wetland reedbed and was nominated as the lookout of the country in 2021. There are 3 other lookouts, each named after a specific protected bird species that can be found in the immediate vicinity of the viewpoints.
Kiskunság National Park
Kiskunság is a similar habitat to Hortobágy (grasslands, wetlands), but is much closer to Budapest, so it’s very popular among birders of Budapest and foreign birders have only one day for birding. Like in Hortobágy, you can see here the Great Bustard, Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Saker, Red-footed Falcon, White-tailed Eagle, Little Bittern, Night Heron and several other species. In the region especially the pusztas and fishponds near Apaj are popular among birders, but the southern saline lakes are also excellent birding areas. There are several seasonal programs organized by the Kiskunság National Park such as ‘Star walks in the National Park’ or the ‘Early morning bustard watching hike in Apajpuszta’.
More information here.
Balaton Uplands National Park
Lake Balaton and Kis-Balaton sit in Transdanubia, western Hungary and can be reached approximately in 2 hours by car or train. Lake Balaton, the Hungarian Sea is a very popular place during summer and its shore is densely built-up. However, it plays a significant role for migrating birds like Bean, Greylag and Greater White-fronted Geese, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye. In autumn each year some rare migrant birds (like Sandwich Tern) are recorded at Lake Balaton. Kis-Balaton is a protected area and most parts can be visited only with permission of the Balaton Uplands National Park. The extensive reed- and sedge beds offer excellent habitats for Bittern, Little Bittern, Purple, Squacco and Night Heron, Great White Egret, Moustached Warbler. Pygmy Cormorant, Common, Black and Whiskered Terns as well as Ferruginous Duck is also breeding here. Like Lake Balaton, Kis-Balaton is also an important stopping place for migrating birds.
More information here.
Fertő-Hanság National Park
Heading west, the Fertő-Hanság National Park on the Austrian-Hungarian border offers for adventurous visitors the chance to explore the wildlife of Lake Fertő by canoe on a 6 km guided tour. The route leads along the channels cut into the dense reed of the lake into an almost untouched world, where numerous wonders await the visitor. Among them maybe the most interesting are the invertebrate-eating golden-flowered bladderwort, the reed songbirds (Great Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Bearded Tit), the Great Egret, the Purple Heron, the Coot and various duck species.
More information here.
Take professional photos with Bence Máté
If you want to take part in a really special and professional birding tour, Bence Máté’s, the world-famous and award-winning wildlife photographer’s tours are definitely the best choice. He pioneered the one-way glass photography technique now popular among hide-based nature photographers all around the world. The tours are recommended especially for birders who would like to take quality pictures of the birds in their natural habitat. He built up hides, little bunkers in southeast Hungary in Pusztaszer, around his own farm. The hides can be reached in 1,5 hours drive from Budapest. The visitors can choose from several tours according to the season, the species they would like to see, for example, birds in hides called ‘Bee-eater’, ‘Hoopoe hides’, ‘Drinking station’ or the time of the day.
More information here: Bence Máté’s photography hides.
A useful website for bird watching in Hungary with maps and recommendations.
Author: Jaun Shahi
Journalist, Sub-Editor, Travellers’ World Jaun is a soft-spoken and gentle soul who thrives as a Journalist with his exceptional observation skills and an eye for intricate details. He is a true multitasker who efficiently handles various tasks and always brings a professional approach to everything he does. His genuine team spirit makes him an integral part of the TW family, as he consistently collaborates and supports his colleagues.
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