Sagres peninsula is surrounded by coastal cliffs, and its habitat consists mainly of scrubland, farmland, pastures and a small pine forest. It hosts cliff nesting birds like Peregrine Falcon, Alpine and Pallid Swifts, Blue Rock Thrush and Red-billed Chough. In the wintertime the surrounding fields and coastal valleys host wintering finches, thrushes and corn-buntings as well as Lapwings, Golden Plovers, a small population of Little Bustard and scarcer species like Ringed Ouzel or Richard’s Pipit. During this time of the year, a visit to Baleeira harbour is advisable for the possibility of vagrant gulls or other scarce species like Rock Pipit or Purple Sandpiper. Breeding birds include Short-toed Lark and Spectacled Warbler. The area is included in Sudoeste Alentejano and Costa Vicentina Natural Park (PT). But Sagres is best known amongst birdwatchers for the huge diversity found here during migration time. Due to its strategic position in the SW tip of mainland Europe, Sagres peninsula concentrates high numbers and diversity of migrant and dispersive birds during the post-breeding migration period (August - November). The coastline and nearby valleys lead mostly soaring birds and passerines to the peninsula, where they congregate, and may use it as a stopover site. Most of the birds found here are juvenile or immature, astray from their main course that leads them through the Strait. From Sagres, migrants can head E along the S coast, presumably to Gibraltar, turn back, or try their luck crossing around 400 km of open ocean, to reach the nearest African grounds. The peninsula also constitutes an important seabird flyway between N Atlantic and S Atlantic or the Mediterranean Sea, so a pelagic trip (available from Baleeira harbour), as well as seawatching from Cabo S. Vicente or Ponta da Atalaia are strongly advised activities. Sagres is also an excellent place the search for vagrants and rarities during this time of year. Usually in the first weekend of October the town hosts a Birdwatching and Nature Activities Festival, with plenty of field trips and workshops, destined to celebrate bird migration. Municipalities: Vila do Bispo IBA: learn more |
![]() |
Hotspots
View Península de Sagres in a larger map |
![]() |