Slovakia

Slovakia is essentially a mountainous country with the impressive High and Low (don't be misled by the term "low") Tatras arguably the most well known outside the country. Other ranges with typical upland birds include the Mala Fatra, Male Karpaty, Pol'ana, Vihorlat, Slanske and the seldom birded Bukovske range in the very east. Each range has it's own character but overall they are typically rugged, forested and some often snow capped. But they are not totally inaccessible to birders as a good tourist - particularly winter sport - infrastructure means there are well-marked trails, chair-lifts, cable-cars and cabins and chalets in most regions. However, the time to visit for most of the key birds is in the summer (from May to September) otherwise the uncertain montane weather may make things very difficult, if not dangerous. Good lowland birding areas include Zahorie on the Austrian border and wetlands like the Orava and Zemplinske reservoirs, Parizske Marsh, the Latorica floodplain and various fishpond systems. More details in BIRDING IN EASTERN EUROPE

White Stork, Common Rosefinch, Nutcracker, and Lesser Spotted Eagle (in the east), to name a few, are all quite widespread. Special birds include Pygmy, Tengmalm's, Eagle and Ural Owls, Hazel Grouse, Alpine Accentor, Wallcreeper, and all Europe's woodpeckers. But it must be said that most of these will require some trekking and probably a local guide or great luck. It's also worth mentioning that in the very south-east of the country the Senne fish-ponds and surrounding area hosts a few Red-footed Falcons, Lesser Grey Shrike, Tawny Pipit shorebirds, egrets and other lowland birds. The south-east is also home to a few pairs of Saker Falcon and Imperial Eagle.

The capital Bratislava has an airport (with smaller ones also at Poprad and Kosice in the east) and "low-cost" carriers now land here. Budapest (Hungary) airport is often a better option for those heading to the very east of Slovakia.

TOURS TO THE MOUNTAINS OF SLOVAKIA

Our early spring birding tours to eastern Slovakia focus on finding forest owls and nine species of woodpecker in two great uplands. We walk in the wild beech, fir and spruce forests of the Volovske Mountains in search of White-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Hazel Grouse, Pygmy and Tengmalm's Owls and Nutcracker. These forests are also home to Brown Bear and Wolf and though these large carnivores can be difficult to see there we usually find their tracks and signs. In the scenic Slovensky Kras National Park we search for Eastern Imperial Eagle, Middle Spotted and Syrian Woodpeckers, Ural and Eagle Owls and Rock Bunting.

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Good Reasons to Visit Slovakia

Hazel Grouse
Pygmy Owl
Tengmalm's Owl
Ural Owl
Ring Ouzel
Corncrake
White-backed Woodpecker
Three-toed Woodpecker
Nutcracker
Wallcreeper
Alpine Accentor
Common Rosefinch