Cyprus is home to a variety of incredible birds, with over 400 different species having been recorded in the country. The island’s location makes it a convenient stop off point for migrating birds, including flamingos which migrate to the island every year. There are also three endemic bird species on the island – the Cyprus wheatear, the Cyprus warbler, and the Cyprus scops owl. The island has a variety of different habitats for its birdlife, with some amazing birdwatching spots at salt lakes, rocky cliff faces, wetlands, and more. This guide covers some of the best birdwatching spots on the island for discovering the many bird species of Cyprus!
Where to see the birds of Cyprus
Larnaca Salt Lake
The Larnaca Salt Lake is one of the best places for birdwatching in Cyprus, particularly during the winter months when thousands of greater flamingos migrate to the lake. This large salt lake complex covers over 15 square kilometres, and is made up of 4 smaller lakes – Lake Aliki, Lake Orphani, Lake Soros, and Lake Spiro.
Bird species that can be seen at the Larnaca Salt Lake include Eurasian hoopoes, lesser kestrels, crested larks, little egrets, red-backed shrikes, Eurasian spoonbills, black-necked grebes, and a variety of ducks.
The greater flamingos are migratory visitors to the lake, and tend to be seen from around November through to March – although the exact dates vary from year to year. During this period it’s possible to see hundreds, if not thousands, of flamingos at the Larnaca Salt lake.
At times it’s possible to get amazing close-up views of the flamingos by the shores of the lake, and you can also see large groups of flamingos huddling together as they walk in the centre of the lake. Learn more about these amazing migratory visitors with our post on the flamingos at Larnaca Salt Lake, as well as our article on the best places to see flamingos in Cyprus!
The best way to see birds at the Larnaca Salt Lake is to walk around a section of the lake. There are several sections with trails to walk along, particularly near the Hala Sultan Tekkesi mosque and along the Larnaca Salt Lake hiking trail.
Akrotiri Marsh
The Akrotiri Marsh is another brilliant birdwatching spot in Cyprus, and this natural wetland is a designated IBA (Important Bird Area). Covering an area of 150 hectares, the marsh is a valuable habitat for the birds of Cyprus.
A range of different bird species can be observed at Akrotiri Marsh, including marsh harriers, bluethroats, glossy ibis, European bee-eaters, Eurasian hoopoes, black storks, terek sandpipers, Eleonora’s falcons, and many more. It’s an important breeding site for some bird species including ferruginous ducks, spur-winged lapwings, and Cyprus wheatears.
Depending on the time of year of your visit to Cyprus, the bird species at Akrotiri Marsh will vary. A number of birds that can be observed here are migratory species, including red-footed falcons, glossy ibis, and demoiselle cranes.
There are two bird hides at Akrotiri Marsh, one ground level hide and one tower hide. Both offer the chance to see some of the wonderful birdlife of Cyprus, and on our visits we saw more bird activity from the ground hide.
The ground hide is located a short distance off the road, and you can park by the roadside in order to visit. Click here to see the location of the ground hide on the what3words website!
Although we saw less from the tower hide, it’s still worth a visit as it overlooks a different section of the marsh. Click here to see the location of the tower hide on the what3words website!
You can find plenty more information about the area’s bird and wildlife species, as well as the restoration of the marsh on the Akrotiri Marsh website.
Episkopi Cliffs
Located on the Akrotiri peninsula, the Episkopi cliffs are one of the 34 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Cyprus. The towering cliffs offer wonderful views along the coast, and make brilliant nesting sites for some of the island’s birdlife.
In particular the Episkopi cliffs are known as the breeding site of the largest birds in Cyprus – griffon vultures. Unfortunately these impressive birds are endangered on Cyprus, with some estimating there are as few as 20 individuals left on the island.
The inaccessibility of the cliff faces provides them with a safe nesting site, and the breeding season runs from as early as November through to around September when the chicks fledge. A good pair of binoculars or a camera with a strong zoom is extremely useful if you want to try and spot the vultures in the cliffs, but sightings aren’t guaranteed.
We tried on two different occasions to see griffon vultures here without success, but we did meet locals who had seem them recently. Like with birdwatching anywhere else in the world, you do need a bit of luck on the day of your visit!
It’s not just vultures that make use of the cliffs, with peregrine falcons and Eleonora’s falcons breeding here as well. It’s also possible to see a number of other bird species in the area including Cyprus wheatears, Cyprus warblers, Eurasian hoopoes, and more!
Oroklini Lake
Just a short distance outside Larnaca lies Oroklini Lake – a haven for birdwatchers in Cyprus. Designated as a Special Protected Area (SPA), 190 different bird species have been recorded at the lake.
Species recorded at Oroklini Lake include black-winged stilts, spur-winged lapwings, squacco herons, Eurasian bitterns, spotted redshanks, pied avocet, and many more. During the winter months it’s also common to see greater flamingos at the lake.
Although Oroklini Lake is fairly small, it’s one of the most important bird nesting sites in Cyprus. Bird species that nest at the lake include black-winged stilts and spur-winged lapwings. The lake is also the only place in Cyprus that red-crested pochards nest.
There are two bird hides at Oroklini Lake, one on the north side of the lake and one on the south. Both hides have free parking available beside them, and as they are tower hides they offer a great vantage point for viewing the area’s wonderful birdlife.
Despite being a natural wetland, Oroklini Lake does run dry in some years due to the weather in Cyprus, which of course affects the area’s birdlife. If you visit during winter the lake should be fairly full with water, but at other times it’s worth checking recent reviews on Google to see if the lake currently has much water in it!
Trozena Bridge/Gerovasa Village
The 9 kilometre circular trail encompassing the Trozena Bridge and the abandoned Gerovasa Village is a lovely walk with a mix of wildlife to see. A range of bird species can be seen in this area of Cyprus, as well as snakes, frogs, kourkoutas lizards, and a number of butterfly species.
It’s a relatively secluded part of the countryside, so it’s possible to visit and see no one else on the entire walk. Bird species you may encounter include Cyprus wheatears, hooded wheatears, chukars, and warblers. Large birds of prey can also be seen in this area of Cyprus.
The walk itself is a bit challenging at times as there are some uphill sections, but it’s not anything extreme. It’s a very interesting walk, particularly when you get to visit the abandoned Gerovasa Village – which was previously inhabited by Turkish Cypriots.
Another interesting part of the walk is by a small pond where you will find hundreds of frogs. They are quite noisy so you will likely hear them before you see them, and once they notice your presence they will jump en masse into the pond and swim off – which is an impressive sight!
We really liked the walk and as we saw some of the endemic birds of Cyprus here, we think it also doubles up as a good birdwatching spot too. It’s nice and quiet which means you can enjoy the country’s wildlife without anyone else around!
Click here to find the exact walking route on the All Trails website!
Kalavasos Reservoir
A lesser-known sport for birdwatching in Cyprus is the Kalavasos Reservoir. Situated around a 10-minute drive north of Kalavasos village, this secluded reservoir is in a beautiful setting with the backdrop of the Troodos Mountains.
Kalavasos Reservoir is not known to most tourists, and on our visits there were only a few locals fishing in the area. The area’s relatively undisturbed countryside makes it a brilliant spot for birds, even if it isn’t as abundant with birdlife as some other parts of Cyprus.
Bird species that can be seen at the Kalavasos Reservoir include purple herons, Cyprus wheatears, egrets, and many more! Although there is no trail that leads completely around the reservoir, it’s possible to walk around a large part of it during which you will hopefully spot a variety of bird species!
Best time for birdwatching in Cyprus
There is no exact best time to go birdwatching in Cyprus, although certain times of year are better depending on what you want to see. During spring there are more migratory birds in Cyprus, which makes this an ideal time to visit if you want to see as many species as possible.
Another advantage of visiting in spring is that you avoid the intense summer heat. Temperatures can sometimes reach 40 degrees celsius during the summer months, which is far too hot to be outside for long periods.
If seeing flamingos is a priority for you then it’s best to visit during the winter months. Thousands of flamingos migrate to Cyprus every winter, and they normally leave the island by the end of March. It’s also possible to see flamingos in Spain’s Ebro Delta, if you want to try and see these flamboyant birds elsewhere in Europe!
Please note that some links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This money is used to support this website and cover the costs of keeping it online and free to access!
Like this guide to the best places to see birds in Cyprus? Pin it!
