Hortobágy National Park

🇭🇺 Hungary

🐦 Great Egrets Over the Puszta Marshes
🌍 #128 Global · 3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #1 in Europe #10 in Temperate Forest
Eastern Europe, Hungary 470 spp. recorded

Hortobágy National Park is a protected grassland and wetland region situated on the Great Hungarian Plain in Eastern Europe. Unlike densely forested reserves, this open temperate habitat features vast alkaline plains, shallow marshes, and slow-moving rivers that stretch across the horizon.

47.663° N   21.154° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Great Bustard ★
EN

Great Bustard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Otis tarda

0–10% · With luck
Common Crane ★
LC

Common Crane

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Grus grus

40–50% · Likely
Eurasian Spoonbill ★
LC

Eurasian Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea leucorodia

50–60% · Likely
White-tailed Eagle ★
LC

White-tailed Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus albicilla

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

80–90% · Very likely
Western Marsh-Harrier
LC

Western Marsh-Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus aeruginosus

70–80% · Very likely
European Starling
LC

European Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnus vulgaris

70–80% · Very likely
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Lapwing
NT

Northern Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus vanellus

70–80% · Very likely
Rook
LC

Rook

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus frugilegus

70–80% · Very likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Common Kestrel
LC

Common Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco tinnunculus

70–80% · Very likely
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

70–80% · Very likely
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
LC

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer montanus

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Goldfinch
LC

Eurasian Goldfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Carduelis carduelis

50–60% · Likely
Mute Swan
LC

Mute Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus olor

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

40–50% · Likely
Western Roe Deer
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

30–40% · Possible
Muskrat
LC

Muskrat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ondatra zibethicus

20–30% · Possible
European Mole
LC

European Mole

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Talpa europaea

20–30% · Possible
Northern White-breasted Hedgehog
LC

Northern White-breasted Hedgehog

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Erinaceus roumanicus

Insufficient data
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

Insufficient data
Asian Wild Horse

Asian Wild Horse

Mammal

Equus przewalskii

Insufficient data
Mound-building Mouse
LC

Mound-building Mouse

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mus spicilegus

Insufficient data
Eurasian Beaver
LC

Eurasian Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor fiber

Insufficient data
European Badger
LC

European Badger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Meles meles

Insufficient data
Stoat
LC Endemic

Stoat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mustela erminea

Insufficient data
Eurasian Harvest Mouse
LC

Eurasian Harvest Mouse

Mammal

Micromys minutus

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Great Bustard ★
EN

Great Bustard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Otis tarda

0–10% · With luck
Common Crane ★
LC

Common Crane

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Grus grus

40–50% · Likely
Eurasian Spoonbill ★
LC

Eurasian Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea leucorodia

50–60% · Likely
White-tailed Eagle ★
LC

White-tailed Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus albicilla

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

80–90% · Very likely
Western Marsh-Harrier
LC

Western Marsh-Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus aeruginosus

70–80% · Very likely
European Starling
LC

European Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnus vulgaris

70–80% · Very likely
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

70–80% · Very likely
Northern Lapwing
NT

Northern Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus vanellus

70–80% · Very likely
Rook
LC

Rook

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus frugilegus

70–80% · Very likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Common Kestrel
LC

Common Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco tinnunculus

70–80% · Very likely
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

70–80% · Very likely
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
LC

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passer montanus

60–70% · Likely
Eurasian Goldfinch
LC

Eurasian Goldfinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Carduelis carduelis

50–60% · Likely
Mute Swan
LC

Mute Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus olor

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

grass snake
LC

grass snake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Natrix natrix

50–60% · Likely
Sand Lizard
LC

Sand Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lacerta agilis

40–50% · Likely
European Pond Turtle
NT

European Pond Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Emys orbicularis

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

European Tree Frog
LC

European Tree Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hyla arborea

50–60% · Likely
European Fire-Bellied Toad
LC

European Fire-Bellied Toad

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Bombina bombina

30–40% · Possible
Green Toad
LC

Green Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Bufotes viridis

30–40% · Possible
Danube Crested Newt
LC

Danube Crested Newt

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Triturus dobrogicus

20–30% · Possible
Marsh Frog
LC

Marsh Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pelophylax ridibundus

20–30% · Possible
Common Spadefoot
LC

Common Spadefoot

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pelobates fuscus

Insufficient data
Smooth Newt
LC

Smooth Newt

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Lissotriton vulgaris

Insufficient data
Agile Frog
LC

Agile Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Rana dalmatina

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐦

Great Bustard Display

MarAprMayJun

During spring, male Great Bustards perform elaborate courtship displays with puffed-up necks and tail feathers, offering a unique wildlife spectacle.

Great Bustard
EN

Great Bustard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Otis tarda

0–10% · With luck
🐦

Autumn Crane Migration

SepOctNov

Thousands of Common Cranes gather at Hortobágy’s wetlands and surrounding agricultural fields, creating one of Europe’s most spectacular bird migrations.

Eurasian Spoonbill
LC

Eurasian Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea leucorodia

50–60% · Likely
Common Crane
LC

Common Crane

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Grus grus

40–50% · Likely
🐦

Winter Waterfowl Concentration

DecJan

Hortobágy’s frozen and open waters attract dense congregations of waterfowl, including swans, geese, and diving ducks, providing exceptional birdwatching opportunities.

Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

70–80% · Very likely
Mute Swan
LC

Mute Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus olor

50–60% · Likely
White-tailed Eagle
LC

White-tailed Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus albicilla

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
Great Bustard
<5
<5
10–20
0–10
<5
0–10
0–10
10–20
0–10
<5
<5
<5
Common Crane
20–30
40–50
20–30
10–20
20–30
20–30
30–40
20–30
60–70
80–90
70–80
40–50
Eurasian Spoonbill
20–30
30–40
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
30–40
10–20
20–30
White-tailed Eagle
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
50–60
70–80
50–60
70–80
Great Egret
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
90–100
80–90
60–70
80–90
Western Marsh-Harrier
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
60–70
70–80
European Starling
80–90
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
60–70
70–80
Grey Heron
60–70
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
60–70
70–80
Northern Lapwing
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
50–60
Rook
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
70–80
Mallard
40–50
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Common Kestrel
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
Black-headed Gull
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
80–90
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
50–60
Eurasian Goldfinch
30–40
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
Mute Swan
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
30–40
50–60
Animal Events
🐦 Great Bustard Display
🐦 Winter Waterfowl Concentration
🐦 Autumn Crane Migration

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐦 Great Egrets Over the Puszta Marshes

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
352
🐒 Mammals
90
🦎 Reptiles
15
🐸 Amphibians
13
470 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
29 Threatened 10 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
72%
📊
Coverage (185 species at ≥5% of 470 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
39%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
47% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
149
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
6
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
44
⚖️

Hortobágy or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

Kiskunság National Park 📍 158 km 🦅 Saker Falcon Circles Kiskunság Wetlands

Kiskunság National Park

🇭🇺 Hungary 🌍 #194 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #5 in Europe #29 in Temperate Forest
Tatra National Park 📍 185 km 🐐 Chamois on the Tatra Ridgelines

Tatra National Park

🇸🇰 Slovakia 🌍 #235 Global · 3.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #12 in Europe #46 in Temperate Forest
Fertő-Hanság National Park 📍 300 km 🐦 Great Egret Marsh Spectacle

Fertő-Hanság National Park

🇭🇺 Hungary 🌍 #160 Global · 3.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #4 in Europe #18 in Temperate Forest
Triglav National Park 📍 578 km 🦎 Fire Salamanders After Alpine Rain

Triglav National Park

🇸🇮 Slovenia 🌍 #275 Global · 2.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #22 in Europe #63 in Temperate Forest