EuroBirdwatch 2026: 4.8 million birds counted over one autumn weekend
Every year I look forward to the EuroBirdwatch numbers, and this year's wrap-up from BirdLife is a good read. Over 3-4 October, more than 23,000 people took part, 28 BirdLife Partners hosted 927 events across Europe and Central Asia, and participants recorded 4.8 million birds on their autumn migration routes. BirdLife Slovakia collected, analysed and published the data.
The country totals are striking. BirdLife Finland logged 1.6 million birds, BirdLife Sweden 742,877 and MME/BirdLife Hungary 628,635. The three most abundant species were Barnacle Goose (750,000), Common Starling (515,000) and Chaffinch (428,000). Hungary also led on events (176) and participants (3,807), followed by Switzerland on participants (3,414) and Greece (2,800); Vogelbescherming Nederland ran 150 events, second only to Hungary.
The notable sightings are what make a list like this fun. Red-throated, Richard's and Olive-backed Pipits turned up in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, and Yellow-browed Warbler in Denmark, Switzerland and Malta. Greece reported 73 or more Lesser White-fronted Geese and Egyptian Vultures, Italy had Bonelli's Eagle and Marbled Duck, and Scandinavia produced Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Cream-coloured Courser and Black-faced Bunting. Turkey counted 1,128 Lesser Spotted Eagles, while Iraq's list included Iraq Babbler, See-see Partridge, Grey-headed Swamphen and Dalmatian Pelicans.
The article also notes the earlier editions for comparison: over 15,000 participants and 3.52 million birds in 2023, and more than 27,000 participants in 2025. So this year's turnout is a little lower than last year's, although the bird count is the highest of the figures quoted.
Personally, I like how an event this simple, just going out and counting, adds up to a picture of the whole migration. It also reminds me that the common birds, geese, starlings and finches, are what make the totals.
Source: BirdLife International
The country totals are striking. BirdLife Finland logged 1.6 million birds, BirdLife Sweden 742,877 and MME/BirdLife Hungary 628,635. The three most abundant species were Barnacle Goose (750,000), Common Starling (515,000) and Chaffinch (428,000). Hungary also led on events (176) and participants (3,807), followed by Switzerland on participants (3,414) and Greece (2,800); Vogelbescherming Nederland ran 150 events, second only to Hungary.
The notable sightings are what make a list like this fun. Red-throated, Richard's and Olive-backed Pipits turned up in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, and Yellow-browed Warbler in Denmark, Switzerland and Malta. Greece reported 73 or more Lesser White-fronted Geese and Egyptian Vultures, Italy had Bonelli's Eagle and Marbled Duck, and Scandinavia produced Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Cream-coloured Courser and Black-faced Bunting. Turkey counted 1,128 Lesser Spotted Eagles, while Iraq's list included Iraq Babbler, See-see Partridge, Grey-headed Swamphen and Dalmatian Pelicans.
The article also notes the earlier editions for comparison: over 15,000 participants and 3.52 million birds in 2023, and more than 27,000 participants in 2025. So this year's turnout is a little lower than last year's, although the bird count is the highest of the figures quoted.
Personally, I like how an event this simple, just going out and counting, adds up to a picture of the whole migration. It also reminds me that the common birds, geese, starlings and finches, are what make the totals.
Source: BirdLife International
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