It’s here! – Birds in Berlin: The Guidebook
My Favorite Bird Watching Locations in Berlin
This list is by no means comprehensive. Berlin is a sprawling metropolis with a large number of parks, ponds and waterways, all well distributed throughout the city and within easy reach of public transit. Unlike in many urban areas, it is possible to find a spacious and quiet spot to observe birds within a few minutes walk of even the most densely populated sections of the city. Even if you are only in town for a day or two, a stroll through the Tiergarten or a half hour in a nearby cemetery will bring rewards.
If you are in Berlin you are likely to be passing through the Tiergarten anyway, so you might as well do a little birding while there. Check out the quieter sections on the north-west side of the park near the Bellevue S-Bahn Station and the Englisher Garten for Goshawks, owls and many of the Berlin songbirds. The woods behind the Schloss Bellevue, near the Spree, are great for a lovely evening walk accompanied by the songs of Nightingales and Blackbirds. You might spot a red fox too!
Most of the birds featured on this site were photographed in the Tiergarten, near Hansaviertel, as that’s where I lived while in Berlin.
The slow-moving Spree hosts a parade of bird life throughout the year. Coots nest in the quiet bends, tiny Little Grebes pop up here and there, and herons fish near Merkel’s offices at the Kanzleramt. The touring boats that clog the waters during the summer can ruin a lot of the fun, but outside of tourist season a walk along the Spree or one of the many canals in the city is sure to pay off.
This incredible space, a decommissioned airport with a remarkable history, is worth visiting birds or no birds, but there are many birds! Notably Skylarks and Kestrels. Prepare for wind and lots of walking.
This large park in the east is bordered by the Spree and tends to be less busy as it is further from the center. It is a great spot for both waterfowl and general bird watching.
Some of my favorite birdwatching moments in Berlin have been in cemeteries. If you are tired of circumnavigating tourists and stumbling upon less-than-savory activities in the parks, the cemeteries are perfect for quiet, wholesome hours of birding. Simply find the closest cemetery on the map (‘Friedhof’ or ‘Kirchhof’ in German) and go to it and sit for a while. I especially recommend those near the Südstern U-Bahn station in Kreuzberg.