List of waterbirds of Provence
Thierry Riols ( Provence Luberon News) - 18/02/2010
List of birds of Provence attending mediterranean coast, wetlands and Camargue.
Provence > Provence Kiosk > Nature and Environment > Fauna > List of waterbirds of Provence
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Laridae
Present in France from April to October. Mediterranean shore, rivers, Rhone and Durance.
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Ordre : Pelecaniformes - Famille : Ardeidae
All coastal areas of France, wintering mainly in the Mediterranean. Marshes, ponds, coastal lagoons, rivers, Durance, Rhone.
Pied Avocet
Recurvirostra avosetta
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Recurvirostridae
Present throughout the year especially on the shores of the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Wetlands, salt marshes, mudflats, lagoons, Camargue.
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinago
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Scolopacidae
Present throughout France. Meadows, muddy shores of lakes, ponds.
Mallard
Anas platyrbynchos
Ordre : Anseriformes - Famille : Anatidae
Present throughout the year in France. Lakes, ponds, rivers.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Present throughout the year in France. Lakes, ponds, rivers.
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Recurvirostridae
Present in France in wetlands and coastal. Freshwater marsh and salt, mud flats, shallow lakes, coastal lagoons, flooded fields, rice paddies.
Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
Order : Phoenicopteriforme - Family : Phoenicopteridae
Symbol of the Camargue where it breeds, it is present throughout the Mediterranean coast, including Corsica. Brackish lagoons, salt marshes and coastal ponds.
Eurasian Coot
Fulica atra
Order : Gruiformes - Family : Rallidae
Present all the year in France and Corsica. Lakes, ponds, streams, Camargue.
Common Pochard
Aythya ferina
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Present everywhere in France on lakes and ponds lined with reeds from september to april and lagoons. Abundant in Camargue.
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Order : Gruiformes - Family : Rallidae
Present all the year in France and Corsica. Pools, ponds and streams with bushy banks.
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus Larus michahellis
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Laridae
Specifically Mediterranean, Corsica, Rhone basin. Coastal areas and major rivers, lagoons, coastal ponds, rocky islets.
Great Cormoran
Phalacrocorax carbo
Order : Pelecaniformes - Family : Phalacrocoracidae
Sandy or rocky shores, estuaries, lakes and major rivers. Rhone Durance, Camargue.
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
Order : Podicipediformes - Family : Podicipedidae
Present throughout France, rarer in the south. Lakes, large ponds lined with reeds.
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Order : Pelecaniformes - Family : Ardéidae
Common everywhere in France where there is water. Lakes, ponds, rivers, wet grasslands.
Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Haematopodidae
Present on the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean, especially in the Camargue. Bays, estuaries, mudflats.
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Order : Coraciiformes - Family : Alcedinidae
Present throughout France. Rivers, lakes and ponds.
Mediterranean Gull
Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Laridae
Present on all coasts, it nests mainly in Camargue and in Herault. Coastal marshes, rivers, lakes.
Black-headed Gull
Larus ridibundus
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Laridae
Present throughout France every year. Coastal areas, ponds, marshes, rivers.
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Abundant during periods of migration, October to November and February-March. Wet meadows, marshes, crops near water. Wintering in the Camargue.
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensis
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Laridae
Present throughout the year, primarily marine. Sandy shores, lagoons, estuaries. Nest in the Camargue.
Little Tern
Sternula albifrons
Order : Charadriiformes - Family : Laridae
Presents from April to October in France. Sandy Mediterranean shore, great rivers. Nest from Spain to saline of Hyeres especially in the Camargue.
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Lives all the year near the sea. Sandy sectors, bays, estuaries, coastal marshes, dunes.
Nothern Pintail
Anas acuta
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Present everywhere in France in winter. Ponds, bays, estuaries, mudflats, particularly in the Camargue.
Eurasian Wigeon
Anas penelope
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
In winter in France from September to March. Mediterranean coastline and Camargue mudflats, salt marshes.
Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Present everywhere in France, especially in winter. Lakes, ponds, lagoons and coastal ponds, Camargue.
European Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Order : Pelecaniformes - Family : Phalacrocoracidae
French coasts and recently on the Mediterranean coast. Seabird, rocks and islets.
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Everywhere in France in winter, common in Camargue. Lakes, ponds, rivers and gravel pits.
Western Great Egret
Ardea alba
Order : Pelecaniformes - Family : Ardeidae
Present everywhere in France. Lakes, ponds, lagoons, swamps, rivers: Durance, Rhone, Camargue.
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
Order : Podicipediformes - Family : Podicipedidae
Only in winter in Provence. Coastal areas, especially on the pond of Berre.
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
Order : Podicipediformes - Family : Podicipedidae
Present throughout France. Lives in freshwater, lakes and river banks.
Western Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Order : Pelecaniformes - Family : Ardeidae
Lives mainly in the Camargue, as throughout the Mediterranean. Fields with oxen, rid it of insects
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
Order : Pelecaniformes - Family : Ardeidae
Large wetland, basins of major rivers, Mediterranean coast and mainly in Camargue.
Red-crested Pochard
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Uncommon in France, significant concentration in Camargue during the winter. Ponds, lakes and lagoons.
Eurasian Teal
Anas crecca
Order : Anseriformes - Family : Anatidae
Wintering in the Camargue and visible everywhere in France during migration, July to December and February to April. Lakes, ponds, marshes.
