Birds of Kosovo

Welcoming at Tirana International Airport – Transfer to Prishtina

Upon arrival at Tirana International Airport, you will meet your guide and begin the journey toward Kosovo. The drive to Prishtina takes approximately 2.5 hours, following a scenic route through the Drin Valley and across the Morina border crossing. Depending on the time of arrival, we will make a few strategic stops along the way for birding, especially in riverine and agricultural habitats that often host species such as European Bee-eater, Red-backed Shrike, Common Buzzard, Black-headed Bunting, and European Roller during the breeding season. Short pauses near mixed woodlands and open landscapes may also give us our first chances to see Golden Oriole, Corn Bunting, and various warblers.

Upon arriving in Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo, we will check in at a comfortable hotel located in the city center. Prishtina is a vibrant and youthful city, known for its café culture, Ottoman-era mosques, and nearby natural areas that will serve as excellent birding grounds in the following days. After settling in, we will enjoy dinner at a traditional restaurant offering delicious Kosovar cuisine, where we can review the upcoming itinerary and prepare for the days ahead.

Overnight in Prishtina.

Henci Wetland and Surrounding Areas

Today, during the first part of the day, we will explore the Henci Wetland, an artificial but highly productive freshwater habitat located just outside Prishtina. The wetland was formed as part of a water management and irrigation system and has since developed into a thriving birding hotspot. With its reedbeds, shallow pools, muddy edges, and surrounding agricultural land, Henci regularly attracts a wide range of waterbirds, waders, and passerines year-round. It is considered one of the best birding sites near Prishtina, especially during migration.

We will enjoy a picnic lunch at Henci after visiting several vantage points and scanning the reedbeds, marshes, and open water.

Afterwards, we will explore agricultural areas around the wetland, which include open fields, meadows, scattered shrubs, and small patches of taller trees. These mosaic landscapes are excellent for species such as Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra), Crested Lark (Galerida cristata), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola), Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator), and Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava). Raptors such as Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus) and Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) are also frequently observed hunting over the fields.

In the afternoon we will head back to Prishtina, rest for a while, and then go for dinner.

Amazing Mountainous Region of Rugova

Today we will leave our hotel in Prishtina and drive west toward the breathtaking mountainous region of Rugova. This spectacular alpine valley is part of the Accursed Mountains (Bjeshkët e Nemuna), one of the most dramatic and biodiverse mountain ranges in the Balkans. Rugova is known for its steep limestone cliffs, glacial lakes, dense coniferous and mixed forests, alpine meadows, and crystal-clear rivers.

The region is exceptionally rich in biodiversity due to its combination of altitude, microclimates, and intact natural habitats. It supports numerous mountain specialists, including high-elevation raptors, woodpeckers, alpine passerines, and forest species.

We will spend the day birding one of Rugova’s scenic valleys. Target species include Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia), Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana), Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba), and various tits, warblers, and finches typical of high-mountain environments.

We will enjoy a picnic lunch in the valley and stay overnight in a mountain guesthouse in Rugova for today and the next day.

National Park of Sharri

Today we will leave Rugova and drive south toward the National Park of Sharr (Sharri), one of Kosovo’s most spectacular and biologically rich mountain regions. Stretching along the country’s southern border, the Sharr Mountains form a vast protected area of dramatic alpine landscapes, high meadows, deep glacial valleys, fast-flowing rivers, and ancient mixed forests. This national park is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Balkans, hosting an exceptional number of plant species—including many Balkan endemics—as well as a rich assemblage of mammals, butterflies, and mountain birds. Its mosaic of alpine pastures, spruce and beech forests, rocky slopes, and subalpine scrub provides prime habitat for upland species, making it a superb destination for birdwatching.

We will spend the whole day birding in the Sharr Mountains, focusing on upland and alpine species such as ring ouzel, alpine chough, rock bunting, black redstart, crested tit, woodpeckers, and a variety of raptors that patrol the high ridges. The variety of microhabitats in this park gives us excellent chances to observe many characteristic species of the high Balkans.
Lunch will be taken as a picnic in one of the beautiful valleys, surrounded by panoramic mountain scenery.

In the late afternoon, we will drive to the historic city of Prizren. Before dinner, we will take a walk through the old town—one of Kosovo’s most charming cultural centres. Prizren is renowned for its beautifully preserved Ottoman-era architecture, stone bridges, artisan quarters, and atmospheric narrow streets lined with cafés and traditional shops. The iconic Sinan Pasha Mosque, the old bazaar, and the hilltop Prizren Castle create a unique backdrop that blends history, culture, and striking views over the city. This gentle evening walk offers a perfect conclusion to a full day in nature.

Dinner will be served in a very nice traditional restaurant in Prizren.