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Hungary, like much of central Europe has cold winters and warm summers as the climate is profoundly effected by the continental landmass. Although it was always among the most developed and affluent of the old soviet block it is still relatively under developed and agricultural practices have not yet been so intense as to ruin the land's potential for wildlife. The birds which were once familiar all over European farmland still thrive including Turtle Doves and Tree Sparrows, Corn Buntings and Red-backed Shrikes, White Storks and Hoopoes. A supporting cast of Golden Orioles, Bee-eaters and Serins are a delight to birders from the UK. The most interesting areas, from the birders point of view, include the Puszta and the wooded Bukk Hills. The former is the remnant of the great grassy steppes formerly used to run cattle - notably Hungarian Grey Cattle. These grassy areas are still home to the highest densities of Red-footed Falcons and Eastern Imperial Eagle in Europe and high populations of Great Bustard and Aquatic Warblers. The most well known area being Hortobagy, although it is not the only area of Puszta left, and is also renowned for its Autumn accumulation of Common Cranes by the thousand. The Bukk Hills and surrounding copses, villages, farmlands are home to Wryneck and all but one of the species of European Woodpecker. The woodlands are alive in spring with Hawfinches and Collared Flycatchers and, if you are lucky you may spot a day-flying Ural Owl. Ponds, lakes, marshes and fishponds abound and are home to the three marsh terns, many wildfowl, and sought after passerines such as Bluethroats and Savi's Warbler, as well as other goodies such as Pygmy Cormorant, Night Heron and the like. What is more Hungary remains a relatively cheap destination with low cost accommodation and restaurants and a pleasant landscape of neat villages and attractive farms, good wine and bird friendly people with no tradition of hunting of small birds. The woodpeckers alone are sufficient reason to take a trip. |
Laszlo Albert
Birding Guide
kopike@freemail.hu
Number of bird species: 392
National Bird - Great Bustard Otis tarda
National Bird - Great Bustard Otis tarda
Finding Birds in Hungary
D Gosney Series: FINDING BIRDS SERIES 32 pages, maps. Gostours 1993ISBN: 1898110085
Buy this book from NHBS.com
The Birds Of Hungary
Gerard Gorman - 1996 (Helm)ISBN: 0713642351
Buy this book from NHBS.com
Proact
Coordinator: none (why not apply?) see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: 3 Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team
Birding.hu
WebsiteThe objective of birding.hu is to provide quick, helpful information to field-birders in Hungary. Our aim is to give quality information in hopes of improving field-birding, so anyone anywhere can get up-to-date news about interesting birds. Aside from anything in connection with birding (pictures, expositions of areas and groups, news, trip reports, links, classified ads etc) that can be presented on our site, we welcome suggestions...
Hungarian Ornithological & Nature Conservation Society
Website(MME) Kolto u. 21, 391, H-1536Budapest. + 36 1 275 6267 mme@c3.hu
Hungary Rarities Committee
WebsiteComprehensive lists of Hungarian avifauna plus rarity submissions etc.
Hungarian Bird Ringing Centre
ObservatoryHungarian Bird Ringing Centre - MME/Birdlife Hungary, H-1121 Budapest, Költo u. 21., Hungary. Tel.: +36-1-275-6247 Fax: +36-1-275-6267 E-mail: ringers@mme.hu
Hortobagy National Park
WebsiteSatellite View
Mostly in Hungarian...
Wetlands
WebsiteHungary presently has 21 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of 154,147 hectares...
This section sponsored by: 
2000 [May] - Pat & Judy Hayes
ReportThe trip was booked through a specialist birding company (Birding) and was lead by Gerard Gorman. Gerard has lived in Hungary for many years and is arguably the foremost authority on birds of Eastern Europe...
2000 [May] – David & Amanda Mason – Hungary
Report…in the Aggtelek region our highlights were Lesser Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Black Woodpecker (a nesting pair in the woods behind the hotel), River Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Barred Warbler and a nest-building male Penduline Tit...
2001 [June] - Jon Hornbuckle
ReportRoy Frost and I visited Hungary and Slovakia for a week at the invitation of my Sakertour friends, Zoltán Ecsedi and János Oláh. The timing was a little late, mid-April – end May being the optimum, because they were occupied with guiding bird tours till then, but was very successful...
2002 [April] - David Pearce - Hungary and Romania (Transylvania)
ReportWe drove along the M3, which took about three hours stopping twice for Eastern Imperial Eagle in artificial nests in solitary large trees in arable fields. There were birds on nests and flying. They looked huge with very rectangular wings with trailing straight edges. The wings were generally held flat or drooped as they banked. I could see yellow brown head and nape and small areas of white on shoulders. Zoltan said they had moved out of their traditional pusta habitat...
2002 [October] - Christopher and Alison Hall - Hortobágy, Danube
ReportOur second autumn visit to Hungary in two years reminded us of the magic of this special time and place. Zsolt Végvári, our local guide to the wonderful Hortobágy National Park, recommended we start with the difficult species. Within minutes we were scoping a Saker Falcon, followed by a stream of other raptors; Sparrowhawk, Common and Rough-legged Buzzards, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harriers galore and three White-tailed Eagles flashing their white tails with each soaring turn. What a start...
2003 [October] Shena Maskell
ReportDawn saw the group watching a Great White Egret fly past the hotel, while a Kingfisher darted along the stream. After a tasty buffet breakfast, the group boarded their Ford Transit minibus, complete with packed lunches. Our initial exploration was along the western bank of Tisza Lake, where we saw the first Great Grey Shrike, Gadwall, Teal, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Yellow-legged Gulls, Grey Herons and Little Grebe. By a small farm we had close views of Little Owl, while the local farmyard pigs and chickens ran around us. Then heading to Hortobagy we encountered our first flocks of Cranes...
2003 [September] dba
ReportAfter the DBA's long distance trips to Kenya, Canada and India over the past three years it was a pleasant diversion to go on a week's birding trip to Hungary...
2003 [Summer] Kasper Hendriks &Rob van Bemmelen
ReportPoland – Hungary – Croatia - Austria
2004 [March] - Bob Swann
ReportThis report gives details of the birds seen and the sites visited during a week`s holiday in eastern Hungary. This was an organised tour run by Ornitholidays and led by local guide Sandor Konyhas. It is the first time I had gone birding on an organised tour...
2004 [May] - Neil Arnold
ReportEverything went smoothly until we discovered that three bags had failed to arrive in Budapest. After a session of form filling we met Sándor, our local leader. We then set off for our hotel in Sárospatak. The most notable bird species en route were two Common Kestrels, five Marsh Harriers and some twenty-five Common Buzzards...
2005 [April] - Fatbirder
ReportChasing woodpeckers with Gerard Gorman...
2005 [April] - Peter Wells - Kiskunsági-Nemzeti Park
ReportThis page describes the Kiskunsági-Nemzeti Park in Hungary as I found it during a visit from 18 to 22 April 2005...
2005 [July] - Ed O'Hara & John O'Hara
Report...Dr. Teleki and Antal Bagdi, our guide for the first two days met us after breakfast and we went for a walk in the woods around the hotel for woodpeckers. Within a few minutes we were observing Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Short-toed Treecreepers, Green Woodpeckers, Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Syrian Woodpeckers and perhaps the most impressive of all the genus, Black Woodpecker. Several other woodland species were also seen Tree Sparrow, Golden Oriole, Nuthatch, Hawfinch Collared Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk...
2005 [June] - Jim & Sandi Ruch
Report...We met out first local guide, Lazlo, and on our first afternoon in Hungary, hiked the canal banks and the marsh habitat at the southeast corner of Lake Ferto. Geese, Black-headed Gulls, Lapwings, Great White Egrets, Grey and Purple herons and numerous ducks and shorebirds abounded including a Little Ringed Plover and an up close visit with the, new to us, Ferruginous Duck...
2005 [May] - Ian Kinley & Dave Thexton
Report...It proved a good choice with highlights including stunning views of a pylon-perching Eastern Imperial Eagle, several hundred dancing and trumpeting Cranes, a huge Eagle Owl silhouetted atop a quarry at dusk and a dazzling flock of almost 1000 White-winged Black Terns as well as eight species of woodpecker, regional specialities such as Saker Falcon and Aquatic Warbler and much, much more. In addition, it was a pleasure to find that species such as Cuckoo, Tree Sparrow and Corn Bunting were still very common...
2005 [September] - Honeyguides - Eastern Hungary
Report2006 [April] - Chris Hall
Report...The weather had been unseasonably cold, just as in Britain, and so the wintry leafless landscape of the wooded Zemplén hills, the setting for our first birding day, did not look promising. Nevertheless we soon had a Lesser Spotted Eagle in flight and also perched for a scope view. Alongside Zoltán today, we had an extra local guide, Zoltán II aka ‘Woodpecker Man’, who new every tree hereabouts and had an amazing rendition of Black Woodpecker, which came in handy later in the day...
2006 [June] - Rob Macklin
ReportHoneyguides tour - pdf
2006 [September] - Honeyguides - Eastern Hungary
Report2008 [July] - Kerry Gardner - Kiskunsag National Park
ReportI was gong to be in Budapest for three days at the end of an organized tour and decided to try for the Great Bustard. I went online and booked a one-day birding trip to the Kiskunsag National Park area with Hungarian Birdwatching...
2008 [March] - Gerry Westdean
Report...The temperature gauge of the car showed minus 15C and upon our return it had become a pleasant plus 5C. Even allowing for false readings it was very cold at first. One Black, two Middle Spotted, and two Grey-headed Woodpeckers were seen very well...
2008 [May] - Ken Musgrove & Wayne Geater
Report...We found the birding difficult and apart from a few Buzzards, one Golden Oriole, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Hawfinch, Chiffchaff, Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, the odd Cockoo and numerous Red-backed Shrikes and Starlings, the morning was something of a disappointment...
2008 [September] - Attila Steiner
ReportWe saw 2 adult Imperial Eagles and a Saker within 5 minutes. At another place in the Little Hortobágy we watched 3 immature White-tailed Eagles, a juvenile Imperial Eagle and 3 juvenile Montague's Harriers circling over the lake. The Zemplen Hills were productive too with 2 Golden and 3 Lesser Spotted Eagles, a white phase Booted Eagle, Goshawk, Hobby and Peregrine. The number of raptors was also amazing. We counted over 40 Marsh Harriers during a day in the Hortobágy, but Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon was also numerous...
2009 [May] - Janos Olah
Report...We saw 15 ‘diamond’ species and recorded 16 species of raptors, 7 species of owls, 10 species of woodpeckers and 17 species of warblers. Trip highlights included superb ‘walk away’ views of Ural Owl and White-backed Woodpecker in the Zemplén Hills, Hazel Grouse and yet more White-backed Woodpeckers in Slovakia, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting around Torockó, stunning looks at both drumming male Three-toed and Black Woodpeckers plus Wallcreepers in Transylvania, a breeding plumaged Dalmatian Pelican, a family party of Sakers, displaying Great Bustards, secretive Little Crakes, Great Snipe and skulking Moustached and Aquatic Warblers in the Hortobágy...
2009 [May] - Robert & Sonia Adderley
ReportOur flight from Manchester touched down in Budapest at around 6pm, where we were met at the Airport and transported to the Hotel at Eger. Our first Hungarian birds seen from the car on the journey included a Crested Lark and several Common Buzzards...
2009 [September] - Bob Shiret
Report...Our holiday was organised through Inghams and we stayed at the hotel Baachus, which was in the town centre. For the purpose of this wildlife report I have split it into four areas; Keszthely, Kis Balaton, Tihany Peninsula and Badascony Mountain....
2010 [June] - Mavi Rice
ReportWe see little bittern, little egret, great white egret, grey heron, purple heron, white stork, graylag goose, mallard, garganey, pochard, ferruginous duck, marsh harrier, buzzard, kestrel, red-footed falcon, hobby, coot, great bustard, black-winged stilt...
2010 [November] - János Oláh
ReportThere are not many places in the World where you can see the endangered Red-breasted Goose and the vulnerable Lesser White-fronted Goose within a short bird watching break, but Hungary in November certainly offers this possibility...
This section sponsored by:
Birdfinders
Tour OperatorWith excellent pensions, superb scenery, wonderful birds and the country's top bird guide and author of the much acclaimed books Where to Watch Birds in Eastern Europe and The Birds of Hungary, how can you go wrong with a visit to Hungary, one of Eastern Europe's most visitor-friendly countries? This tour is specially timed with the school summer holiday in mind.
Birding Pal
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Caligo Ventures
Tour OperatorWe visit the fabulous steppes, lakes, and marshes of the Hortobágy and the Hungarian forests at the very best time in the birdwatching calendar. Join us for some of the best birdwatching in Europe...
E-Tours
Tour OperatorWe have been organizing the birdwatching tours since 1991. We work for leading UK and world birding tour operators and various associations. We have three main criteria in designing the BW holidays: Professional competence and personality of expert group leaders and the local ornithologist Choice of the most interesting sites Smooth organization and a comfortable environment to ensure customer enjoyment and commercial success. E-mail us for a detailed itinerary and birdlists! info@etours.cz
Ecotours Hungary
Tour OperatorOur company was formed with the intention of popularising Hungary as a perfect ecotouristic destination both for amateur naturalists and for those with a more academic interest in plant and animal species, habitats and geology...
Green Eye Ecotours
Tour OperatorToday we provide outdoor-oriented tours, adventures, expeditions...
Honeyguide Wildlife Holidays
Tour OperatorIf you are looking for a quality natural history holiday, this is a great place to start. The Honeyguide programme offers a mix of the very best of wildlife in fascinating parts of Europe...
Hungarian Bird Tours
Tour OperatorHungarian Bird Tours is run by Roy Adams, a retired police wildlife crime officer who served almost thirty two years with the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. Staying at the newly opened Villa Volgy Hotel in Eger, visitors take advantage of the Crystal clear air, a quiet environment and a calm atmosphere. Relax in this high-quality, three-star hotel. There are two, three and four-bedded rooms, each with a bathroom, phone, refrigerator and colour tv...
Hungarian Birdwatching
Tour OperatorHungarianbirdwatching.com organises birding tours and birdwatching holidays in Hungary. Tours are mainly bespoke tours for small groups (4-6 people). You just decide what kind of birds you would like to observe, what kind of meal and accommodation you require Hungarianbirdwatching.com Team does the rest. Our English speaking experienced tour leaders guarantee that you will see the birds you wish to observe without disturbing them in their living environment. We also assist you to visit the cultural heritages of Hungary if you are interested in architecture, rural life or theatres...
Hungarobirds
Tour OperatorOur Birdwatching trips cover almost the whole year and we also organize special tours focusing on special occasions such as great bustards display or crane migration...
Probirder
Tour OperatorHungary`s most experienced birding guides are available year-round to assist individuals, groups of friends, bird clubs & tour companies. From a few hours, one day, one week, to as long as you request. Save time & effort and let Birding Hungary guides show you the regulars, rarities and hard-to-find species. With 15 years of experience in Hungary our guiding skills and services are second to none!
Rockjumper Birding Tours
Tour OperatorA brief foray into Hungary is included in our Central & Eastern Europe tour, which also explores the prime birding areas in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Sakertour
Tour OperatorEstablished in 1994 by Prof. J. Oláh and field ornithologists. Specialising in bird tours in The Carpathians, covering Hungary, Slovakia and Transylvania...
Travelling Naturalist
Tour OperatorWe visit the fabulous steppes, lakes, and marshes of the Hortobágy and the Hungarian forests at the peak of the breeding season. Join us for some of the best birdwatching in Europe!
Wings
Tour OperatorHungary is known as the land of the Great Bustard and the steppe of raptors, as well as the homeland of Lizst, Bartók and Kodály. Some 100 miles from the famous Hortobágy National Park, itself a small piece of Asia inside Europe, and nearly midway to the high Carpathian Mountains, sleeps a quiet and forested landscape, the Zemplen foothills of the Carpathians...
Benedek Tanya Holiday Cottage - Kiskunság National Park
AccommodationThe cottage is ideal for couples and families who wish to enjoy the wonderful countryside, slow pace of life and explore central Hungary...
Fábián Panzió (Fabian Hotel)
AccommodationThe Fábián Panzió (Fabian Hotel) is in Kapolna Street, Kecskemet. ...a British Birder says: the hotel is superb, Mrs Fabian and her daughter speak fluent English, and Mrs F is an accomplished birder...
Farm Lator
AccommodationFarm Lator is specialist and host in the mountains, wetlands and plains of NE Hungary. With two restored, idyllically situated farmhouses and a natural campsite in the Bükk Mountains as a base, we travel with our guests through the region and show the best of nature and culture. We compose personalised trips, but there is also an excursion program. Yearly events are the spring and autumn birdtours, and summer butterflytours. The programs of the tours are either readymade or tailored to the exact wants of clubs, companies and societies...
Golding Tanya Farm & Holiday Cottage - Kiskunsag National Park
AccommodationOur home and holiday cottage are situated in 10 acres of glorious countryside, apart from the garden, we have fields, copse, forest and meadow. We hope you will find the photographs of interest. Hungary is a fantastic country for observing birds and other wildlife. Our visitors come from far and wide, to enjoy our garden life. They are enthralled with the bee-eaters and their nests in the side of the roads, the very elusive Golden Oriel, who sings from the treetops, but is too shy to be photographed...
Hotel Villa Volgy
AccommodationWith a brand new building, an elegant and friendly atmosphere this hotel guarantees relaxation in a natural environment. The hotel is made up of 37 rooms, a restaurant with a balcony, an exclusive wine cellar and a conference room with a capacity to hold up to 60 persons. The restaurant with its Hungarian gastronomical specialties, great tasting traditional dishes and remarkable wines is capable of catering to 70 hungry guests with appetites of all sizes. The terrace is ideal for grill parties and barbecues on hot summer days. It is also customary to taste the wines of the region, and lest we forget goulash...
Ickle Haz Cottage - Fulophaza - Bacs Kisgun National Park
AccommodationThe cottage is typically Hungarian in its structure and size, and is single storey. It comprises one bedroom, lounge, bathroom and kitchen.
Nomad Hotel
AccommodationTraditional Lodge with great Hungarian food - often used by birders in the Bukk Hills... Fatbirder Recommended
Smith Vendégház
AccommodationWe have got a small (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen-diningroom) guesthouse). Leslie Smith 00-36-70-585-7614
Birding Hungary
WebsiteWhy go birding in Hungary? Well, good reasons include Saker Falcon, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Pygmy Cormorant, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Ferruginous Duck, Great Bustard, Corncrake, Ural Owl, Aquatic Warbler and nine speciesof woodpecker. With such birds, plus much unspoiled habitat and a good and value-for-money tourist infrastructure, Hungary is now firmly established as one of Europe's very best birding destinations. And another good reason is that WE are here to help you find and see these birds...
Birds of Hungary
WebsiteBirds of Hungary by Thomas Miko, of Pasadena...
Checklist
WebsiteList of Regular Hungarian birds...
Green Spider Network
WebsiteEnvironmental campaigns.
Hungarian Birds, nature photography, digiscoping
WebsiteBirding BLOG and photos from an Hungarian birder...
Hungarian Important Bird Areas (IBAs)
Website...describes the 43 Hungarian Important Bird Areas (IBAs)...
Report of Budapest Ringing Scheme
WebsiteThe Hungarian Bird Ringing Centre is run by Birdlife Hungary (MME, Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society) since 1976. Bird ringing started in Hungary in 1908...
White stork webcam - Nagyhalász
WebsiteLive camera on stork’s nest in Hungary….
BirdphotographyHungary
GallerySite showcasing a number of Hungarian photographers of birds…
NicoleB - Birds Photography
GalleryHungarian photoblog
Photographer - Csaba Lóki - Naturephoto Gallery
GalleryHungarian photographers excellent gallery of bird pictures…
Photographer - Eduardo Balogh - Birdwatcher
GalleryExcellent photographs from this Hungarian birder...
Photographer - Farkas Balázs
WebsiteBird photos from Farkas Balázs
Photographer - Lantai-Csont Gergely
GalleryLantai-Csont Gergely's online photo galery - This website is about publishing wonderful photos about nature, mammals, birds ...
Photographer - Miklos Onodi
GalleryPhotographer from Pecs where he also leads birding tours...
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This site was last updated on Sunday, 29th January 2012.
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