Wildlife of Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is wedged between the Mediterranean and the Collserola massif, giving it a very unusual big-city wildlife mix — wild boar in the suburbs, monk parakeets colonising the parks, and dolphins and loggerhead turtles just offshore. The nearby Ebro delta is one of the most important wetlands in the western Mediterranean.
Best timeApril – May for spring migrants along the coast, September – October for the fall passage.
- 1Rose-ringed and monk parakeets have breeding colonies in Ciutadella Park.
- 2The Collserola park behind the city holds wild boar, badgers and genets.
- 3Peregrines nest on the Sagrada Família scaffolding.
Signature species
Curated for Barcelona, Spain, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- LC
European bee-eater
Merops apiaster
- VU
Iberian lynx
Lynx pardinus
Nearest population 300km south.
- LC
Genet
Genetta genetta
- LC
Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
- NT
European hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Hike Collserola at dawn for wild boar and genet tracks.
- Support SEO/BirdLife nest-box projects.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't feed the parakeets — they outcompete native birds.
- Don't drive quads in coastal dune reserves.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 50km, last 30 days.
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