Our Best Tours for Bird Lovers

For a bird lover, there’s nothing like the moment you spot a rare species perched in the branches of a tree, or soaring over the ocean, or flitting about the flowers in search of nectar.  It’s such an exciting experience – and it’s one that happens on a number of Odysseys trips.

And while we don’t consider our tours to be birding vacations, there’s no denying that among all the incredible experiences offered, sightings of rare and iconic birds often rank highly for our bird-loving travelers.

The tours included below will provide you with fantastic opportunities to see birds from all over the world – some cute, some majestic, others just downright peculiar.

Please note:  Since birdwatching is largely based on chance, particularly with rare birds, sightings of the birds associated with a given tour cannot be guaranteed.

BIRDS IN CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA

South America alone boasts over 3,000 species of birds, while Central America has more than 1,100.  And many of our trips to these regions take us to the places where rare birdlife abounds …

The Galapagos Islands

What better place to lead off the list than the world’s “living museum and showcase of evolution”?  The Galapagos Islands collectively boast 56 species of birds, 45 of them endemic.

Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands

During our time in Española Island on our Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands tour, some of the many birds we could see include Nazca and blue-footed boobies, the critically endangered waved albatross, and Galapagos mockingbirds.

Machu Picchu to the Galapagos

Like our Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands tour, Machu Picchu to the Galapagos also gives us the opportunity to see rare birds that are endemic to the Islands.

And on Day 11’s naturalist-led walk, we encounter the largest colony of frigate birds, a nesting colony of blue-footed boobies, and sightings of swallow-tailed gulls.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Natural Heritage

A birding highlight on our Costa Rica’s Natural Heritage tour comes on Day 7 when we visit the Hummingbird Gallery at Monteverde’s biological reserve, home to 14 species of hummingbird.

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve also boasts a number of visually striking birds including the green-crowned brilliant, purple-throated mountaingem, and quetzal (pictured below) …

Argentina & Chile (Patagonia)

Patagonia’s extreme location, combined with its utterly singular topography of snow-capped mountains, ocean, and fjords, make for a travel experience like no other.  As luck would have it, Patagonia’s birdlife also happens to be quite diverse – and we experience it firsthand on our Patagonia Explorer and Patagonian Frontiers tours.

Patagonia Explorer

On Patagonia Explorer, our time exploring Torres National Park – with its 118 bird species – could include sightings of black-necked swan, Andean condor, lesser horned owl, the flightless (but fast-running) lesser rhea, rufous-collared sparrow, and Magellanic woodpecker.

Patagonian Frontiers

And we’re sure to see the iconic Magellanic penguin throughout our 4-night Southern Patagonia cruise on our Patagonian Frontiers tour – particularly on Day 9, when we visit Magdalena Island.

Colombia

Colombia Rediscovered

Colombia boasts some 1,900 bird species (about 18% of the world’s total; more than Europe and the United States combined).

Among the most well-known is the Andean condor, which we could see on Day 5’s visit to Cocora Valley on our Colombia Rediscovered tour …

BIRDS IN AFRICA

On a continent with perhaps the world’s most impressive array of wildlife, Africa’s birds may not always get their due credit.  But as any bird lover knows, Africa’s 2,341 bird species are among the world’s rarest and most striking.

Southern Africa:  Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia

Africa’s Wildlife

A highlight for birders on our Africa’s Wildlife tour comes on Days 7 and 8 when we visit Botswana’s Chobe National Park, home to 450 species of birds. Here, we may get the opportunity to see the sacred ibis, fish eagle, kingfisher, and many other birds …

We also enjoy unparalleled bird viewing on Day 11 at the massive sanctuary at Mana Pools Reserve and Lower Zambezi National Park (UNESCO site) – a region that stretches across the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The colorful southern carmine bee-eater (also present in Chobe National Park) is one of the many species we may see.

Southern Africa Odyssey

Sea bird lovers will enjoy our cruise along the storied Namibian coast on Day 12 of Southern African Odyssey.  On our cruise, we’ll likely encounter petrels, greater and lesser flamingos, pelicans, and other sea birds.

Southern Africa Odyssey’s post-tour extension to the Kapama Private Game Reserve, adjacent to the enormous Kruger National Park, also offers some spectacular bird-watching opportunities.

The Reserve itself boasts more than 250 bird species, including the coqui francolin, lilac-breasted roller, purple-crested turaco, secretary bird, and southern ground hornbill.

East Africa:  Kenya & Tanzania

Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania

Day 7 of Classic Safari:  Kenya & Tanzania takes us to Lake Manyara/Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where we’ll be on the lookout for flamingo, saddle-bill stork, knob-billed duck, and Hottentot teal.

We may also see the beautiful lilac-breasted roller …

Tanzania Adventure

Another birder’s paradise comes on Day 5 of our Tanzania Adventure tour, when we visit Tarangire, home to 550 avian species, including the yellow-collared love bird.

BIRDS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Australia alone boasts about 830 bird species. And though one could hardly call New Zealand an ideal destination for bird lovers, the country has a high number of rare species that are notable for their flightlessness and longevity.

Australia

Exploring Australia & New Zealand

On our Exploring Australia & New Zealand tour, we get a unique opportunity to visit Featherdale Wildlife Park, which features the most sizeable collection of Australian bird species in the country, including black-breasted buzzards, emus, and little penguins.

New Zealand Adventure

On our New Zealand Adventures tour, we meet get to the world’s rarest species of kiwi bird during our visit to New Zealand’s West Coast Wildlife Centre. 

BIRDS IN EUROPE

Many of our European tours put us in view of a number of the continent’s 700 bird species.

Iceland

Exploring Iceland

Our Exploring Iceland tour offers us the chance to see thousands of birds, including puffins, black guillemots, fulmars, and Arctic terns.  For departures that happen before the puffin migration, the Puffin Island bird cruise on Day 5 is a particular highlight.

France

Discovering Provence

On our Discovering Provence tour, a highlight for birders comes on Day 6 when we visit Pont de Gau ornithological reserve in the heart of the Camargue Regional Natural Park …

In Camargue, we’ll spot heron, numerous birds of prey, and – perhaps most notably – the pink flamingos for which the Park is known.

Scotland

Scotland:  Highlands and Islands

For those interested in the intersection of history and ornithology, look no further than Day 7 of our Scotland:  Highlands and Islands tour …

Our visit to Dunrobin Castle & Gardens, dating back to the 14th century, includes a falconry demonstration.  For much of the Middle Ages, falconry was considered a sport for royalty.

BIRDS IN ALASKA

Untamed Alaska

Of the roughly 10,000 bird species in the world, nearly 500 can be found in the state of Alaska.  Our Untamed Alaska tour take us through the vast wildernesses and wildlife centers where the rarest and most iconic of these birds can be found.

On Day 7 we visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park where we may get a chance to see the US national symbol soar …

Day 8 affords us the opportunity to see notable birds in rehabilitation at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage Valley …

BIRDS IN INDIA

Mystical India

As a continent, Asia ranks highly for diversity of bird species, especially in India and southeast Asia.  On our Mystical India tour, we get to experience Asia’s impressive avian variety firsthand.

India’s Ranthambore National Park alone (which we visit on Days 8 and 9) is home to 320 bird species.  A sampling of birds commonly seen at the park includes graylag goose, woodpeckers, common kingfishers, Indian gray hornbills, bee eaters, cuckoos, Asian palm swifts, parakeets, and nightjars.

Of course, there are many more birds to be seen on the tours listed above – and for that matter, many more trips on which we encounter beautiful or interesting birds.

But we hope this sampling of our best tours for bird lovers gives you something to chirp about as you consider your next vacation with Odysseys – flying south or not.