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Strasbourg Grande-Île

Alsace  >  France

Birding in one of France's most beautiful cities.

Added* by Philip Adams
Most recent update 18 јули 2025
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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 див гулаб. горски гулаб can be found nesting in unused chimneys and гулаб гурмиш are seen regularly. Црна врана are constantly heard marking out their territory and are occasionally joined by a полска врана or two. Gulls are mostly жолтоног галеб and езерски галеб.

штрк 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 Дива патка, голем корморан, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose and сива чапја.

Raptors are surprisingly common. сив сокол can be spotted on the cathedral, where they have a nesting box. јастреб врапчар and Обична (Црнонокна) ветрушка are regular urban hunters. глувчар are often mobbed by crows. And both црвена луња and црна луња can be seen high up during migration periods.

One species that's easy to find between late April and late July is the обична пиштарка. They're particularly numerous between Place Kléber and Place Broglie.

Common passerines include ќос, which can be heard singing in the evening, Голема сипка, сина сипка, домашно врапче and циганче, the latter of which nest here. There are also quite a lot of обична зелентарка. Occasional sightings include бела тресиопашка, црвеногушка, планинска тресиопашка, билбилче and обичен свиркач.

Details

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.

Terrain and Habitat

City/village

Conditions

Flat

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

No

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring , Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Paved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

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