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Description
There's no suggestion that Strasbourg city centre is an idyllic birdwatching destination for anyone visiting on a given morning or afternoon, and day-trippers should come with fairly low expectations. However, for those able to put in the time and effort, it offers some of the finest and most diverse inner-city birding around.
Various factors make Strasbourg a popular venue for birds. These include: its location on a North-South migration route near the Rhine, between the Vosges and Black Forest mountain ranges; the surrounding water (the city centre being located on an island that also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site); and the large number of church spires and derelict lofts.
Pigeons are obviously ubiquitous but are not limited to Rock Dove. Stock Dove can be found nesting in unused chimneys and Common Wood Pigeon are seen regularly. Carrion Crow are constantly heard marking out their territory and are occasionally joined by a Rook or two. Gulls are mostly Yellow-legged Gull and Black-headed Gull.
White Stork are perhaps Alsace's most iconic bird and are commonly seen over the city, largely thanks to the highly successful breeding programme at the nearby Parc de l'Orangerie. Other large birds that can be watched passing overhead - usually following a NE-SW route - are Mallard, Great Cormorant, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose and Grey Heron.
Raptors are surprisingly common. Peregrine Falcon can be spotted on the cathedral, where they have a nesting box. Sparrowhawk and Eurasian Kestrel are regular urban hunters. Common Buzzard are often mobbed by crows. And both Red Kite and Black Kite can be seen high up during migration periods.
One species that's easy to find between late April and late July is the Common Swift. They're particularly numerous between Place Kléber and Place Broglie.
Common passerines include Blackbird, which can be heard singing in the evening, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, House Sparrow and Black Redstart, the latter of which nest here. There are also quite a lot of Greenfinch. Occasional sightings include White Wagtail, European Robin, Grey Wagtail, European Goldfinch and Common Chiffchaff.
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Access
Come to Strasbourg by any means: bus, train, tram, car... If you're driving, then the Opera car park on Place Broglie is quite useful for motorway access and for not getting caught up in the one-way system.