{"id":3895,"date":"2026-01-18T17:06:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T16:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/territory\/birdwatching\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T15:42:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T14:42:20","slug":"birdwatching","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/territory\/birdwatching\/","title":{"rendered":"Birdwatching"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Birdwatching in the Venice Lagoon<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Introduction to the Lagoon's Birdlife<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Venice Lagoon <\/strong>is not only a place of extraordinary beauty, but also a habitat rich in biodiversity<\/strong>, particularly for birdwatching enthusiasts.<\/p>

Nestled in a unique ecosystem, this area is home to a variety of bird species that can be observed year-round<\/strong>. From calm waters to wetlands, the lagoon offers refuge to many migratory and resident species, making every visit an unmissable opportunity for nature lovers. <\/p>

Throughout the year \u2192 <\/a><\/u>we will be able to see, for example, pairs of Mute Swans<\/strong> gliding gently on the waters of the Lagoon or the canals, the Yellow-legged Gull<\/strong> (here also called Coc\u00e0l<\/em> or Croc\u00e0i<\/em>), the Cormorant<\/strong>, which we often see sunbathing with open wings and the Little Egret,<\/strong> symbol of the Cavallino Treporti Tourist Park.<\/p>

But it is in Spring \/ Summer \u2192<\/a><\/u> that the Lagoon is populated with life, hosting hundreds of migratory birds that go to spend the winter mainly in Africa, to return to Italy when there is more abundance of food and a milder climate.<\/p>

If you’re passionate about birdwatching and photography, we look forward to seeing you at Miramare!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The true protagonist of the Lagoon: the Flamingo<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It needs no introduction: the Common Flamingo is a large aquatic bird easily recognizable by its long, sinuous neck, very long, thin legs, and characteristic thick, curved beak.
The pink color comes from the carotenoid pigments present in the small crustaceans, molluscs and algae that constitute its diet: the more pigment they ingest, the more intense the pink of their feathers becomes.<\/p>

In the Venice lagoon it can be observed mainly between March and October<\/strong>, when the shallow, brackish waters offer abundant food and suitable sites for resting and breeding.<\/p>

The chicks (i.e. the little ones) are generally born between May and July<\/strong>, with grey-white plumage that will become pink in the following years thanks to nutrition.<\/p>

The flamingo feeds by filtering water with its special, upturned, spoon-shaped beak, which captures crustaceans, small molluscs, insect larvae, and algae. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Summer Season<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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During the summer, the Venice Lagoon transforms into a true paradise for birdwatchers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Great Egret<\/strong>
March \u2013 November<\/p>

An elegant and slender bird, white with long, dark yellow legs and a slender neck. It moves slowly through the shallow waters of the lagoon and canals, searching for fish, frogs, and small crustaceans to catch with quick beak strikes. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Common Avocet<\/strong>
March \u2013 August<\/p>

It has black and white plumage and an unmistakable long, thin beak, curved upwards, with which the avocet “combs” the mud to catch insects, crustaceans and small molluscs. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Short-toed Eagle<\/strong>
April \u2013 September<\/p>

A diurnal bird of prey with light plumage on its back and darker plumage on its wings. In the lagoon, we see it flying low in search of rodents and amphibians. A migrant, it mainly passes through in spring and autumn. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Black-winged Stilt<\/strong>
April \u2013 August
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Unmistakable wading bird with black and white plumage and elegant, very long pink legs, perfect for moving in the shallow waters of the lagoon.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Eurasian Curlew<\/strong>
October – March<\/p>

We can easily recognize it thanks to its very long and strongly curved beak, which, rich in receptors, perceives the vibrations of the prey under the sediment before even touching them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Little Egret<\/strong>
March \u2013 November<\/p>

Small heron with completely white plumage and a thin neck, with dark legs and yellow feet.
During the breeding season, the male has ornamental, thread-like feathers on his head and back. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Mallard Duck<\/strong>
October \u2013 March<\/p>

Please note: in this duck, only the male has the characteristic bright, almost metallic colors: a green head, reddish breast, and a light gray body.
The female, on the other hand, has a more sober, spotted brown coloration. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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European Bee-eater
April – September<\/p>

A bird with spectacular colors: its plumage is green, blue, yellow and brown!
The beak is thin and slightly curved, with which it hunts insects in flight, especially bees and wasps.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Sacred Ibis<\/strong>
March – September<\/p>

Although it is often present in the lagoon year-round, it is most easily observed in spring and summer.
Native to Africa, it is a large white bird with a bare black head and neck and a long, curved bill.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Kingfisher<\/strong>
February \u2013 October<\/p>

With its typical brightly colored plumage, it is able to remain perfectly still in the air, rapidly flapping its wings, and then diving into the water to catch mainly small fish.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Greylag Goose<\/strong>
October \u2013 March<\/p>

Duck with grey plumage streaked on the belly, neck and wings.
We often see it in the lagoon feeding on seeds, aquatic plants and small invertebrates.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Lapwing
October \u2013 March<\/p>

With its distinctive dark crest, its name derives from its metallic plumage, reminiscent of a peacock. It gathers in large flocks in the agricultural areas and wetlands of the Venice Lagoon during the winter months. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Hoopoe
March – September<\/p>

An unmistakable bird with its orange-cinnamon crest tipped with black, black and white wings, and long curved beak.
Its undulating flight resembles a giant butterfly!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Shelduck<\/strong>
March \u2013 August<\/p>

This duck is easily recognizable by its white plumage with dark bands and black head, on which the colorful red beak stands out.
It moves in the shallow waters of the lagoon in search of molluscs, crustaceans and small invertebrates.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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All year round<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Grey heron<\/strong><\/p>

With its typical ash-grey plumage and black crest, it frequents the lagoon where it remains motionless in shallow water, ready to pierce fish, amphibians and small reptiles with rapid and precise blows with its beak.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Oystercatcher<\/strong><\/p>

The Eurasian Woodcock is known for its long, robust, reddish-orange, chisel-like beak, which it uses to pry open the shells of bivalve mollusks by repeatedly striking them. Many individuals are now sedentary. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Mute Swan<\/strong><\/p>

White and slender-necked, we see it swimming majestically in the fishing valleys and canals of the Venice Lagoon, filtering aquatic plants and small invertebrates with its beak.

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Cormorant<\/strong><\/p>

With its sleek black body, it dives to catch fish and crustaceans in the lagoon. After fishing, we see it in its typical sunning pose, perched on a perch with its wings spread to dry in the sun. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Herring gull<\/strong><\/p>

An opportunistic bird, it frequents salt marshes, landfills, and urban centers in the Venice Lagoon, where it feeds on fish, eggs, small vertebrates, and even garbage. It has been observed chasing other birds to steal food. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Redshank, or Pantana<\/strong><\/p>

It frequents the lagoon, where it probes the mud with its long, straight bill to catch worms and crustaceans. Partly breeding locally, it is more abundant in winter during the wintering season. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Buzzard<\/strong><\/p>

We see this common diurnal bird of prey circling high over the marshes and valleys of the Venice Lagoon in search of rodents, birds, and reptiles. It is sedentary, and pairs, monogamous for life, are territorial. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Birdwatching in the Venice Lagoon Introduction to the Lagoon’s Birdlife The Venice Lagoon is not only a place of extraordinary beauty, but also a habitat rich in biodiversity, particularly for birdwatching enthusiasts. Nestled in a unique ecosystem, this area is home to a variety of bird species that can be observed year-round. From calm waters to wetlands, the lagoon offers refuge to many migratory and resident species, making every visit an unmissable opportunity for nature lovers. Throughout the year \u2192 we will be able to see, for example, pairs of Mute Swans gliding gently on the waters of the Lagoon or the canals, the Yellow-legged Gull (here also called Coc\u00e0l or Croc\u00e0i), the Cormorant, which we often see sunbathing with open wings and the Little Egret, symbol of the Cavallino Treporti Tourist Park. But it is in Spring \/ Summer \u2192 that the Lagoon is populated with life, hosting hundreds of migratory birds that go to spend the winter mainly in Africa, to return to Italy when there is more abundance of food and a milder climate. If you’re passionate about birdwatching and photography, we look forward to seeing you at Miramare! The true protagonist of the Lagoon: the Flamingo It needs no introduction: the Common Flamingo is a large aquatic bird easily recognizable by its long, sinuous neck, very long, thin legs, and characteristic thick, curved beak. The pink color comes from the carotenoid pigments present in the small crustaceans, molluscs and algae that constitute its diet: the more pigment they ingest, the more intense the pink of their feathers becomes. In the Venice lagoon it can be observed mainly between March and October, when the shallow, brackish waters offer abundant food and suitable sites for resting and breeding. The chicks (i.e. the little ones) are generally born between May and July, with grey-white plumage that will become pink in the following years thanks to nutrition. The flamingo feeds by filtering water with its special, upturned, spoon-shaped beak, which captures crustaceans, small molluscs, insect larvae, and algae. Summer Season During the summer, the Venice Lagoon transforms into a true paradise for birdwatchers. Great EgretMarch \u2013 November An elegant and slender bird, white with long, dark yellow legs and a slender neck. It moves slowly through the shallow waters of the lagoon and canals, searching for fish, frogs, and small crustaceans to catch with quick beak strikes. Common AvocetMarch \u2013 August It has black and white plumage and an unmistakable long, thin beak, curved upwards, with which the avocet “combs” the mud to catch insects, crustaceans and small molluscs. Short-toed EagleApril \u2013 September A diurnal bird of prey with light plumage on its back and darker plumage on its wings. In the lagoon, we see it flying low in search of rodents and amphibians. A migrant, it mainly passes through in spring and autumn. Black-winged StiltApril \u2013 August Unmistakable wading bird with black and white plumage and elegant, very long pink legs, perfect for moving in the shallow waters of the lagoon. Eurasian CurlewOctober – March We can easily recognize it thanks to its very long and strongly curved beak, which, rich in receptors, perceives the vibrations of the prey under the sediment before even touching them. Little EgretMarch \u2013 November Small heron with completely white plumage and a thin neck, with dark legs and yellow feet. During the breeding season, the male has ornamental, thread-like feathers on his head and back. Mallard DuckOctober \u2013 March Please note: in this duck, only the male has the characteristic bright, almost metallic colors: a green head, reddish breast, and a light gray body.The female, on the other hand, has a more sober, spotted brown coloration. European Bee-eaterApril – September A bird with spectacular colors: its plumage is green, blue, yellow and brown! The beak is thin and slightly curved, with which it hunts insects in flight, especially bees and wasps. Sacred IbisMarch – September Although it is often present in the lagoon year-round, it is most easily observed in spring and summer.Native to Africa, it is a large white bird with a bare black head and neck and a long, curved bill. KingfisherFebruary \u2013 October With its typical brightly colored plumage, it is able to remain perfectly still in the air, rapidly flapping its wings, and then diving into the water to catch mainly small fish. Greylag GooseOctober \u2013 March Duck with grey plumage streaked on the belly, neck and wings. We often see it in the lagoon feeding on seeds, aquatic plants and small invertebrates. LapwingOctober \u2013 March With its distinctive dark crest, its name derives from its metallic plumage, reminiscent of a peacock. It gathers in large flocks in the agricultural areas and wetlands of the Venice Lagoon during the winter months. HoopoeMarch – September An unmistakable bird with its orange-cinnamon crest tipped with black, black and white wings, and long curved beak.Its undulating flight resembles a giant butterfly! ShelduckMarch \u2013 August This duck is easily recognizable by its white plumage with dark bands and black head, on which the colorful red beak stands out. It moves in the shallow waters of the lagoon in search of molluscs, crustaceans and small invertebrates. All year round Grey heron With its typical ash-grey plumage and black crest, it frequents the lagoon where it remains motionless in shallow water, ready to pierce fish, amphibians and small reptiles with rapid and precise blows with its beak. Oystercatcher The Eurasian Woodcock is known for its long, robust, reddish-orange, chisel-like beak, which it uses to pry open the shells of bivalve mollusks by repeatedly striking them. Many individuals are now sedentary. Mute Swan White and slender-necked, we see it swimming majestically in the fishing valleys and canals of the Venice Lagoon, filtering aquatic plants and small invertebrates with its beak. Cormorant With its sleek black body, it dives to catch fish and crustaceans in the lagoon. After fishing, we see it in its typical sunning pose, perched on a perch with its wings spread to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3891,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3895","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3895"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3895\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3935,"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3895\/revisions\/3935"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/miramarevenezia.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}