List of birds of Provence

On 277 species of birds present in metropolitan France, a lot of them frequent Provence. Some are sedentary, the others winter in the South or on the contrary arrive in the summer months. According to the circles, each adapts itself to the environment according to its habits of nesting and reproduction or still according to its food.

The list which follows is not exhaustive, but will allow to recognize and to identify such or such sort. Descriptive sheets enriched by photos are proposed in link according to our meetings.

Dunnock

Prunella modularis
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Prunellidae
Present only in Provence in winter. Trees and bushes of clearings or parks.

>> Dunnock

Northern Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis
Order : Accipitriformes - Family : Accipitridae

Present throughout France. . Mixed hardwood and coniferous forests, cultivated areas.

White Wagtail

Motacilla alba
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Motacillidae

Present everywhere in France, except in Corsica. Open areas, rocky outcrops, quarries.

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Motacillidae

Present in France from mid-March to October. Floodplains, ponds, wet heathlands, Camargue.

Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoeniclus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Emberizidae

Everywhere in France. Swamps, ponds, lakes, shores of rivers, with high grass, reeds, rushes.

Common buzzard

Buteo buteo
Order : Accipitriformes - Family : Accipitridae

Present throughout France every year. Fields, hedges, woods.

European Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Fringillidae
Sedentary throughout France. Planted areas with trees and shrubs, orchards, gardens, parks.

>> European goldfinch

Tawny Owl

Strix aluco
Order : Strigiformes - Family : Strigidae
Present throughout France. Wood, forest, garden and sometimes in house.

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus
Order : Accipitriformes - Family : Accipitridae

Present in southern France for mid-March to mid-October, particularly in Provence. Rocky hills, garrigue, scrub, valleys of the Luberon.

Spotless Starling

Sturnus unicolor
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Sturnidae

Present on the Mediterranean and locally in Provence. Agricultural and urban areas, parks and gardens.

Common Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus
Order : Falconiformes - Family : Falconidae

Present throughout France. All types of habitat with grass and low woodlands.

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Sylviidae

Lives across France, settled in Provence. Edges and clearings, parks and gardens.

Sardinian Warbler

Sylvia melanocephala
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Sylviidae

Common in Provence. Garrigue, forests of oak trees, hedges and gardens

European Pied Flycatcher

Fidecula hypoleuca
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Muscicapidae

In Provence in April-May and especially August to September during migration. Forests of oak and beech.

Northern Raven

Corvus corax
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Corvidae

Present in France, especially in mountainous areas. High mountains, cliffs, woodland.

Eurasian Eagle-owl

Bubo bubo
Order : Strigiformes - Family : Strigidae

Present everywhere in France. Nocturne. Cliffs, rocky cliffs, steep-sided wood, steppe.

Short-toes Treecreeper

Certhia brachydactyla
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Certhiidae

Present throughout France, except in Corsica. Forests, groves, parks and gardens.

Song Thrush

Turdus philomelos
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Turdidae

Present throughout France. Mixed hardwood forests, parks gardens.

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Fringillidae

Present throughout France. Hardwood or mixed forests until 1000 m altitude.

European Bee-eater

Merops Apiaster
Order : Coraciiformes - Family : Meropidae
Breeds primarily in Provence. Sunny land near the water with dry trees.

>> European Bee-eater and >> A bee-eater observatory in Maubec

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus
Order : Strigiformes - Family : Strigidae

Present throughout France, rare in Corsica. Nocturne. Groves, hedges, forest edges.

Eurasian Hoopoe

Upupa epops
Order : Bucerotiformes - Family : Upupidae

Present mainly in the south of France from March to September. Fields, vineyards, orchards, fallow land.

>> Eurasian Hoopoe

Eurasian Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Paridae
Present throughout France and Corsica. Woodlands, groves, orchards.

>> Eurasian Blue Tit

Great Tit

Parus major
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Paridae

Common throughout France. All natural environments with trees.

European Crested Tit

Lophophanes cristatus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Paridae

Present throughout France, including Corsica. Coniferous forests, especially in the mountains up to 2000 m altitude.

Black Kite

Milvus migrans
Order : Accipitriformes - Family : Accipitridae

Present everywhere in France from March to September. Large trees on the slopes near streams, ponds, lakes.

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Passeridae

It is found everywhere in France. Villages, cities, ports, gardens, parks, ...

Woodchat Shrike

Lanius senator
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Laniidae

It occurs mainly in the south of France. Bushy scrub, orchards, groves.

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Laniidae

Popular in France from May to September. Meadows bordered by hedgerows, fallow shrubs.

Common Chaffinch

Fringilla montifringilla
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Fringillidae

Present throughout France and Corsica. Forests, copses, hedgerows, parks, orchards, individual trees and gardens.

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Phylloscopidae

More rare in Provence as in the rest of the country. Bushes, forest edges, hedges, bushes.

Common Firecrest

Regulus ignicapilla
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Régulidae

The smallest bird in Europe is present throughout France. Primarily in conifers, firs, spruces, pines, cedars, but also deciduous forests, thickets, hedgerows, parks and gardens.

European Robin

Erithacus rubecula
Order : Passeriformes - Familly : Muscicapidae
It is found throughout the year in France. Forests, trees and bushes.

>> European Robin

Common Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Muscicapidae

Present throughout France from April to September. Deciduous woodlands, hedgerows, orchards, gardens.

Black Redstart

Phoenicurus ochruros
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Muscicapidae
Present throughout France, rare in Corsica. Steep rocky cliffs, towns and villages.

>> Black Redstart

European Serin

Serinus serinus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Fringillidés

Present throughout France, wintering mainly in Provence. Garrigue, vineyards, parks, gardens.

European Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Muscicapidae

Present throughout France. Fallow land, thickets, scrub, slopes, meadows, fallow.

European Turtle Dove

Streptopelia turtur
Order : Columbiformes - Family : Columbidae

Everywhere in France from April to October. Cultivated areas interspersed with copses, woods, large hedges.

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia turtur
Order : Columbiformes - Family : Columbidae

Present throughout France. Wooded areas, parks, gardens.

Griffon Vulture

Gyps fulvus
Ordre : Accipitriformes - Famille : Accipitridae
Exclusively in Bearn, Pays Basque, Diois, Baronnies Verdon. Cliffs and gorges, mountains.

>> The Vultures of Rémuzat

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus
Order : Accipitriformes - Family : Accipitridae

Present in the Pyrenees and from Provence to Cévennes, March to September. Cliffs, valleys, gorges, valleys of the Luberon.

European Greenfinch

Carduelis chloris
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Fringillidae

Common throughout France. Hedges, orchards, parks and gardens.

Les oiseaux de Provence en photos >>>

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos
Order : Accipitriformes - Family : Accipitridae

Present in the Pyrenees, Languedoc, Cevennes, the Alps and Corsica, sometimes in the Luberon. Mountains.

Eurasian Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Fringillidae

Present throughout France except the Mediterranean and Corsica. Woodlands to dense undergrowth, large hedges, orchards.

Rock bunting

Emberiza cia
Ordre : Passeriformes - Famille : Emberizidae

Present from October to March in all Provence. Bushy and rocky hills, boulders, rocky cliffs with vegetation, vineyards, terraced crops.

Yellowhammer

Emberiza citrinella
Ordre : Passeriformes - Famille : Emberizidae

Present throughout France, except in Corsica, from November to March in the Mediterranean. Meadows, pastures, crop stubble and tilled fields, bushes and shrubs.

Ortolan bunting

Emberiza hortulana
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Emberizidae

Present mainly around the Mediterranean and in Provence, where it breeds. Rocky hills and scrub, vineyards, crops, hedgerows, scrubland.

Cirl bunting

Emberiza cirlus
Ordre : Passeriformes - Famille : Emberizidae

Abundant near the Mediterranean, settled in Corsica. Bushy land, hedges, gardens, scrubland and vineyards, fallow.

Common Quail

Coturnix coturnix
Order : Galliformes - Family : Phasianidae

Everywhere in France from April to September, less abundant in Provence. Prairie, grain fields.

Mallard

Anas platyrbynchos
Ordre : Anseriformes - Famille : Anatidae

Present throughout the year in France. Lakes, ponds, rivers.

Boreal Owl

Aegolius funereus
Ordre : Strigiformes - Famille : StrigidésOrder : Strigiformes - Family : Strigidae

Present in mixed forests dominated by connifères, including the Mont Ventoux. Especially at night. Forests, glades, tree holes.

Eurasian Jay

Garrulus glandarius
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Corvidae

Present throughout France. Woods, forests, thickets, deciduous or mixed and clearings, sometimes in city parks.

Hazel grouse

Tetrastes bonasia
Order : Galliformes - Family : Phasianidae

In middle and low mountains and hillsides, it is found particularly in the Mont Ventoux. Deciduous forests and coniferous woodland rich in shrubs.

Linnet

Carduelis cannabina
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Fringillidae

Present throughout France every year. Wasteland, heathland, scrub, vineyards, parks and gardens.

Melodious Warbler

Hippolais polyglotta
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Acrocephalidae

Present from April to September almost everywhere in France except Corsica. Dry and sunny, hedges, wastelands, moors, hills with bushes, old quarries.

Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Oriolidae

Arrived in France in mid-April and leaves in August, rare in Corsica. Ancient woodlands, aspen groves near the river, big trees.

Common Blackbird

Turdus merula
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Turdidae

Common throughout France. Forests, groves, parks, gardens, hedges, trees, bushes, grassy areas ..

Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus
Ordre : Passeriformes - Famille : Aegithalidae

Present throughout France and Corsica. Forest edges, large hedges, trees near streams.

Red Kite

Milvus milvus
Ordrer : Accipitriformes - Family : Accipitridae

Abundant in the Pyrenees, a couple in the Luberon, in part, present throughout the year, some migrate from February to September. Mountainous areas, valleys, rocky cliffs.

Outarde canepetière

Tetrax tetrax
Order : Otidiformes - Family : Otididae

Present throughout the year on the Mediterranean including plain of the Crau. Steppe herbaceous, forage crops, dry land.

Grey Partridge

Perdix perdix
Order : Galliformes - Family : Phasianidae

Present in Provence above 500 m altitude. Fields of grain and vegetables, meadows bordered by hedges.

Red-legged Partridge

Alectoris rufa
Order : Galliformes - Family : Phasianidae

Present throughout the south of France. Scrubland and rocky hills.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major
Order : Piciformes - Family : Picidae

Present throughout France, including Corsica. Forests, copses, hedgerows, orchards, forest parks.

European Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis
Order : Piciformes - Family : Picidae

Present throughout France except Corsica. Forest edges, thickets, hedgerows, wooded parks.

Eurasian Magpie

Pica pica
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Corvidae

Everywhere in France, except in Corsica. Campaigns, large trees in towns and villages.

Southern Grey Shrike

Lanius meridionalis
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Laniidae

Living along the Mediterranean coast. Garrigues low, vineyards, arid land shrubs.

Meadow Pipit

Anthus pratensis
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Motacillidae

Present throughout the year in France. Wet meadows, moors, marshes, bogs.

European Roller

Coracias garrulus
Order : Coraciiformes - Family : Coraciidae

Mediterranean from May to September. Arid land, wasteland, margins of cultivated areas.

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Muscicapidae

Present almost everywhere in France from April to September. Groves, bushy valleys, large hedges, gardens.

Eurasian Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Acrocephalidae

From late April to October on the Mediterranean coast and Corsica. Clumps of reeds, low bushes, reedbeds.

Eurasian Nuthatch

Sitta europaea
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Sittidae

Present throughout France except Corsica, rare in the Mediterranean. Hardwood forests, parks, woodlands, old orchards.

Wallcreeper

Tichodroma muraria
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Tichodromidae

Present in winter, in Provence and the Mediterranean. Cliffs, cliffs, gorges.

Black-eared Wheatear

Oenanthe hispanica
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Muscicapidae

Present from April to October only in Provence, Mediterranean, Cevennes, Southern Alps. Garrigues, arid lands, vineyards, limestone plateau.

Winter Wren

Troglodytes troglodytes
Order : Passeriformes - Family : Troglodytidae

Every year throughout France. Thickets, hedgerows, woodland, bushy gardens.