Pyrénées National Park

🇫🇷 France

🐐 Pyrenean Chamois Above the Cirques
🌍 #196 Global · 3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #6 in Europe #30 in Temperate Forest
Western Europe, France 706 spp. recorded

Pyrénées National Park is a protected alpine reserve stretching along the French border with Spain. Deep temperate forests, steep green valleys, and high rocky ridges define this dramatic mountain landscape, where narrow dirt trails wind beneath beech and pine trees.

42.723° N   1.961° 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

Griffon Vulture ★
LC

Griffon Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps fulvus

60–70% · Likely
Pyrenean Chamois ★
LC

Pyrenean Chamois

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rupicapra pyrenaica

40–50% · Likely
Pyrenean Brook Salamander ★
LC

Pyrenean Brook Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Calotriton asper

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Wall Lizard
LC

Common Wall Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Podarcis muralis

70–80% · Very likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

70–80% · Very likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

60–70% · Likely
European Robin
LC

European Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Erithacus rubecula

60–70% · Likely
Great Tit
LC

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

60–70% · Likely
European Common Frog
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

50–60% · Likely
Carrion Crow
LC

Carrion Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corone

50–60% · Likely
Blue Tit
LC

Blue Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanistes caeruleus

40–50% · Likely
Black Redstart
LC

Black Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicurus ochruros

40–50% · Likely
Alpine Marmot
LC

Alpine Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota marmota

40–50% · Likely
White Wagtail
LC

White Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla alba

40–50% · Likely
Blackcap
LC

Blackcap

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sylvia atricapilla

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Pyrenean Chamois ★
LC

Pyrenean Chamois

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rupicapra pyrenaica

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Alpine Marmot
LC

Alpine Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota marmota

40–50% · Likely
Western Roe Deer
LC

Western Roe Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Capreolus capreolus

30–40% · Possible
Red Deer
LC

Red Deer

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

20–30% · Possible
Eurasian Red Squirrel
LC

Eurasian Red Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus vulgaris

20–30% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

20–30% · Possible
European Badger
LC

European Badger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Meles meles

10–20% · With luck
Common Hedgehog
NT

Common Hedgehog

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Erinaceus europaeus

10–20% · With luck
Coypu
LC

Coypu

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Myocastor coypus

10–20% · With luck
Spanish Ibex
LC

Spanish Ibex

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Capra pyrenaica

10–20% · With luck
Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

10–20% · With luck
Fallow Deer
LC

Fallow Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Dama dama

10–20% · With luck
Lesser Horseshoe Bat
LC

Lesser Horseshoe Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Rhinolophus hipposideros

0–10% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Griffon Vulture ★
LC

Griffon Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps fulvus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

70–80% · Very likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

60–70% · Likely
European Robin
LC

European Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Erithacus rubecula

60–70% · Likely
Great Tit
LC

Great Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Parus major

60–70% · Likely
Carrion Crow
LC

Carrion Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corone

50–60% · Likely
Blue Tit
LC

Blue Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanistes caeruleus

40–50% · Likely
Black Redstart
LC

Black Redstart

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicurus ochruros

40–50% · Likely
White Wagtail
LC

White Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla alba

40–50% · Likely
Blackcap
LC

Blackcap

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sylvia atricapilla

40–50% · Likely
Red Kite
LC

Red Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus milvus

40–50% · Likely
Coal Tit
LC

Coal Tit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Periparus ater

40–50% · Likely
Common Chiffchaff
LC

Common Chiffchaff

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phylloscopus collybita

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Wall Lizard
LC

Common Wall Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Podarcis muralis

70–80% · Very likely
Western Green Lizard
LC

Western Green Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lacerta bilineata

30–40% · Possible
Asp Viper
VU

Asp Viper

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Vipera aspis

20–30% · Possible
Catalonian Wall Lizard
LC

Catalonian Wall Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Podarcis liolepis

20–30% · Possible
Slow Worm
LC

Slow Worm

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anguis fragilis

20–30% · Possible
Moorish Gecko
LC

Moorish Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Tarentola mauritanica

20–30% · Possible
Viviparous Lizard
LC

Viviparous Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Zootoca vivipara

20–30% · Possible
Viperine Snake
LC

Viperine Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Natrix maura

20–30% · Possible
Green Whip Snake
LC

Green Whip Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Hierophis viridiflavus

20–30% · Possible
Large Psammodromus
LC

Large Psammodromus

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Psammodromus algirus

10–20% · Possible
Ocellated Lizard
LC

Ocellated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Timon lepidus

10–20% · With luck
Smooth Snake
LC

Smooth Snake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Coronella austriaca

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Pyrenean Brook Salamander ★
LC

Pyrenean Brook Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Calotriton asper

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

European Common Frog
LC

European Common Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana temporaria

50–60% · Likely
Giant Toad
LC

Giant Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Bufo spinosus

40–50% · Likely
Fire Salamander
VU

Fire Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Salamandra salamandra

40–50% · Possible
Palmate Newt
LC

Palmate Newt

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lissotriton helveticus

20–30% · Possible
Common Midwife Toad
LC

Common Midwife Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Alytes obstetricans

20–30% · Possible
Iberian Green Frog
LC

Iberian Green Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pelophylax perezi

10–20% · With luck
Pyrenean frog

Pyrenean frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Rana pyrenaica

10–20% · With luck
Catalonian Midwife Toad
LC

Catalonian Midwife Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Alytes almogavarii

10–20% · With luck
Natterjack Toad
LC

Natterjack Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Epidalea calamita

10–20% · With luck
Mediterranean Tree Frog
LC

Mediterranean Tree Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Hyla meridionalis

10–20% · With luck
Mediterranean Painted Frog
LC

Mediterranean Painted Frog

Amphibian

Discoglossus pictus

0–10% · With luck
Common Parsley Frog
LC

Common Parsley Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pelodytes punctatus

0–10% · With luck

Animal Events

🐦

Griffon Vulture Cliff Roosting

JulAugSep

Hundreds of Griffon Vultures gather at communal roosts on limestone cliffs, performing thermal soaring displays at dawn and dusk.

Griffon Vulture
LC

Griffon Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps fulvus

60–70% · Likely
🦌

Pyrenean Chamois Rutting Season

OctNov

Male Pyrenean Chamois engage in dramatic head-butting contests on rocky slopes to establish dominance and attract mates.

Pyrenean Chamois
LC

Pyrenean Chamois

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rupicapra pyrenaica

40–50% · Likely
🦌

Alpine Marmot Emergence

MayJun

After hibernation, Alpine Marmots emerge from burrows, basking on sunny slopes and emitting high-pitched whistles to alert of predators.

Alpine Marmot
LC

Alpine Marmot

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Marmota marmota

40–50% · 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
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
Griffon Vulture
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
Pyrenean Chamois
20–30
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
Pyrenean Brook Salamander
20–30
0–10
0–10
20–30
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
10–20
Common Wall Lizard
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
30–40
30–40
Chaffinch
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
70–80
80–90
80–90
Eurasian Blackbird
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
European Robin
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
Great Tit
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
European Common Frog
20–30
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
70–80
70–80
50–60
40–50
20–30
20–30
Carrion Crow
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
Blue Tit
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
60–70
Black Redstart
20–30
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
20–30
Alpine Marmot
<5
<5
0–10
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
20–30
10–20
<5
White Wagtail
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
Blackcap
10–20
20–30
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
Animal Events
🐦 Griffon Vulture Cliff Roosting
🦌 Pyrenean Chamois Rutting Season
🦌 Alpine Marmot Emergence

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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🐐 Pyrenean Chamois Above the Cirques

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
484
🐒 Mammals
132
🦎 Reptiles
59
🐸 Amphibians
31
706 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
50 Threatened 22 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
58%
📊
Coverage (167 species at ≥5% of 706 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
24%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 1 reptile, 1 amphibian, 1 mammal)
47% Global avg
56%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
100
🌟
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
4
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
18
⚖️

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