Wild Birds of Naxos

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The island of Naxos has a variety of habitats and lays on the eastern Mediterranean migratory route for wild birds. You can read more on the different kinds of habitats of the island here!
Resident and migratory species can be found on the island throughout the year.
The species listed below have either been observed on the field by members of “Naxos Wildlife Protection’s” association and/or have been hospitalized at our first aid care station. We are certain there are more species to be found!

When it comes to providing medical care to wild birds, “Naxos Wildlife Protection” functions as a first aid care station in cooperation with the Aegean Wildlife Hospital “ALKYONI”.

The Griffon Vultures

“Naxos Wildlife Protection” has been observing systematically the condition of the resident population of Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) since 2017 and runs different projects every year, such as reintegration of hospitalized or new individuals, as well as monitoring the population trend and the nests. Many decades ago, the resident population of Griffon Vultures was high, but due to anthropogenic causes such as poisoning, poaching, habitat disturbance and prejudice from locals (that the Vultures fed on their cattle), it decreased to approximately 35 individuals ιν 2017.
Today, the population numbers to more than 70 individuals.
This is thanks to the education of the residents of the island and the cooperation of local livestock breeders and Vultures.
Nowadays, Griffon Vultures have become a highlight of one’s road trip to the mountainous part of the island playing a vital role in the ecosystem of the island, as they feed exclusively on carcasses, thus cleaning nature from carrion and the diseases they might carry.

Threats

On the island of Naxos, the main threat against the wild avian fauna is hunting and many protected species end up losing their lives or get seriously injured. Additionally, hunting during non-hunting period takes place, which not only harms the already declining populations of many species, but also creates nuisance, affecting the behavior of the birds and causing health issues.
Besides that, poisoning and poaching with illegal methods, such as net trapping and limesticks takes place. Some species of birds, such as Robins (Erithacus rubecula), are considered in some areas of the island a delicacy and served in restaurants, even though they are a protected species according to the Birds Directive of the E.U..
Wild birds are also caught for keeping as pets, a tradition especially in Greece focusing mostly on songbirds like Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis).
Also, wild birds are caught for illegal marketing.
Habitat loss, due to uncontrolled development, agriculture and illegal logging, and human-caused nuisance, such as too many cars during the summertime, use of pyrotechnics and free-roaming pets are some more threats of the wild birds of the island.

The Law

Greece, being a member of the European Union, has committed to specific laws according to the EU Birds Directive (Council Directive 2009/409/EEC) abiding to protecting wild bird species and their habitats, as well as the national law on Conservation of Biodiversity (Law 3937/2011).
The central points of these laws are as follows:

• All wild birds are protected. Their capture, killing and persecution is prohibited (with the exception of legal hunting). This applies to their eggs, nests and habitats.
• Use of traps, electronic callers, live decoys and nets is prohibited.
• Hunting outside the hunting season is prohibited (in Greece the hunting period lasts in general from end of August until the end of February).
• Within recognized Wildlife Refuges, hunting, capturing and persecution of all wild fauna is prohibited (even during hunting season).
• Deliberate disturbance of the wild birds is prohibited, especially during breeding and nesting season.
• The sale, transport for sale, keeping for sale and the offering for sale of live or dead wild birds is prohibited.

Since the beginning of “Naxos Wildlife Protection’s” work, our volunteers have searched, located and filed complaints to the authorities against illegal actions in order to protect and rescue wild birds and their habitats (e.g. the case of the Wildlife Refuge in Western Naxos).

How you can help!

Species of Wild Birds of Naxos

Below, you can find a list with the species of wild birds found on Naxos island.

Common name	Scientific name	M: migratory R: resident
Griffon Vulture	Gyps fulvus	R
Short-toed eagle	Circaetus gallicus	M
Bonelli’s eagle	Aquilla fasciata	R
Marsh harrier	Circus aeruginosus	M
Hen harrier	Circus cyaneus	M
Buzzard	Buteo buteo	R
Honey buzzard	Pernis apivorus	M
Eurasian sparrohawk	Accipiter nisus	M
Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	R
Red-footed kestrel	Falco vespertinus	M
Hobby	Falco subbuteo	M
Eleonora’s falcon	Falco eleonorae	M
Long eared owl	Asio otus	Μ
Short eared owl	Asio flammeus	Μ
Barn owl	Tyto alba	R
Little owl	Athene noctua	R
Scops owl	Otus scops	R
Hooded crow	Corvus cornix	R
Carrion crow	Corvus corone	R
Long legged buzzard	Buteo rufinus	M
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	M

Common name	Scientific name	M: migratory R: resident
White fronted goose	Anser albifrons	M
Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	M
Ruddy shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	M
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	M
Pintail	Anas acuta	M
Shoveler	Anas clypeata	M
Wigeon	Anas penelope	M
Teal	Anas crecca	M
Garganey	Anas querquedula	M
Pochard	Aythya ferina	M
Ferruginous duck	Aythya nyroca	M
Slavonian grebe	Podiceps auritus	M
Black necked grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	M
Little grebe	Taehybaptus ruficollis	M
White pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus	M
Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	M
Bittern	Botaurus stellaris	M
Little bittern	Ixobrynchus minutus	M
Night heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	M
Cattle egret	Bubulcus ibis	M
Squacco heron	Ardeola ralloides	M
Little egret	Egretta garzetta	M
Great egret	Ardea alba	M
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea	M
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea	M
White stork	Ciconia ciconia	M
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	M
Flamingo	Phoenicopterus ruber	M
Water rail	Rallus aquaticus	M
Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	M
Coot	Fulica atra	M
Crane	Grus grus	M
Oystercatcher	Haematopus astralegus	M
Avocet	Recuruirostra avosetta	M
Black winged stilt	Himantopus himantopus	M
Little ringed plover	Charadrius dubius	M
Kentish plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	M
Golden plover	Pluvialis apricaria	M
Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	M
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	M
Wood sandpiper	Tringa glareola	M
Black tailed godwit	Limosa limosa	M
Spotted redshank	Tringa erythropus	M
Ruff	Philomachus pugnax	M
Mute swan	Cygnus olor	M
Grey plover	Pluvialis squatarola	M
Great crested grebe	Podiceps cristatus	M

Common name	Scientific name	M: Migratory R: Resident
Shag	Phalacrocorax aristotelis	R
Black headed gull	Chroicoceplahlus ridibundus	M
Herring gull	Larus argentatus	R
Audouin’s gull	Larus audouinii	M
Mediterranean gull	Ichthyaetus melanocephalus	M
White winged tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	M
Little gull	Hydrocoloeus minutus	M
Scopoli’s shearwater	Calonectris d. dimonedea	M
Yelkouan shearwater	Puffinus yelkouan	M
Storm petrel	Hydrobates pelagicus	M
Gull-billed tern	Gelochelidon nolitoca	M
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis	M
Slender billed gull	Chroicocephalus genei	M

Common name	Scientific name	M: Migratory R: Resident
Cirl bunting	Emberiza cirlus	R
Serin	Serinus serinus	M
Siskin	Carduelis spinus	M
Greenfinch	Chloris chloris	M
Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	R
Linnet	Carduelis cannabina	M
Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	M
Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	M
Olivaceous warbler	Iduna pallida	M
Sardinian warbler	Sylvia melanocephala	M
Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	M
Stonechat	Saxicola rubicola	M
Black eared wheateater	Oenanthe hispanica	M
Robin	Erithacus rubecula	M
Willow warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus	M
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	M
Cetti’s warbler	Cettia cetti	M
Red backed shrike	Lanius collurio	M

Common name	Scientific name	M: Migratory R: Resident
Turtle dove	Streptopelia turtur	M
Collared dove	Streptopelia decaocto	R
Hoopoe	Upupa epops	M
Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	M
Bee eater	Merops apiaster	M
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica	M
White wagtail	Motacilla alba	M
Yellow wagtail	Motacilla flava	M
Grey wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	M
Blue rock thrush	Monticola solitarius	M
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes	M
Chukar	Alectoris chukar	M
Quail	Coturnix coturnix	M
Corncrake	Crex crex	M
Woodcock	Scolopax rusticola	M
Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	M
Crested lark	Galerida cristata	R
Eurasian stone curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus	M
Sand martin	Riparia riparia	M

Birds of prey on Naxos island: (clockwise) Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Eleonora’s falcon (Falco eleonorae), Scops Owl (Otus scops).

Aquatic birds: (clockwise) Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Ruddy Shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea), Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Pintails (Anas acuta), White Storks (C. ciconia), flock of Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber).

Seabirds: (clockwise) Slender-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus genei), flock of Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica), Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis), White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)

Passerine and Songbirds: (clockwise) Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), Goldfinch (C. carduelis), Siskin (Carduelis spinus), Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Greenfinch (Chl. chloris), Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus)

Other birds: (clockwise) Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), a Chukar and her chicks (Alectoris chukar), Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava).