Eleonora's Falcon & Birdwatching on Skyros
Skyros hosts the world's largest colony of Eleonora's falcons and over 200 bird species. Where and when to watch them, the Palamari and Trachy wetlands, and the wild south.
Last updated 29 June 2026
Few visitors expect it, but Skyros is one of Greece’s great birding islands, and the summer home of a remarkable raptor. From April to October, the cliffs of the wild south host the world’s largest colony of Eleonora’s falcons.
In short: Skyros hosts the world’s largest colony of Eleonora’s falcons, more than a thousand pairs that nest from April to October, the very months of a slow Skyrian summer. The island records over 200 bird species. The best watching is around the Palamari and Trachy wetlands in the north and along the cliffs of the wild south near Mount Kochylas.
The Eleonora’s falcon
The Eleonora’s falcon is a slender, migratory bird of prey that comes to the Mediterranean to breed, and Greece hosts the great majority of its world population. Skyros is its single most important stronghold: more than a thousand pairs nest on the island and its surrounding islets, arriving in spring and staying through to October. Watch for them riding the thermals and hunting along the southern cliffs in the late afternoon, an unforgettable sight against the open Aegean.
Where to watch
- Palamari and Trachy (north Skyros), the island’s key wetlands, where the stream estuary and plain draw freshwater birds, shrub and phrygana species, raptors and seabirds. They pair naturally with a visit to the Bronze Age site of Palamari.
- The wild south around Mount Kochylas, the cliffs and open country where the Eleonora’s falcons nest and hunt.
- The wetlands at Kalamitsa, another important stop-over for migrating birds.
When to go
The falcons are present from April to October, with the surrounding spring and autumn migrations bringing the greatest variety of species, more than 200 have been recorded here. Early morning and late afternoon are the best watching hours. Bring binoculars, water and patience.
FAQ
Why is Skyros important for Eleonora’s falcons? It hosts the world’s largest breeding colony, over a thousand pairs nesting from April to October.
Where is the best birdwatching on Skyros? The Palamari and Trachy wetlands in the north, and the cliffs of the wild south around Mount Kochylas.
How many bird species are on Skyros? More than 200 have been recorded, with the greatest variety during spring and autumn migration.
Part of Walks & Nature. Plan your trip →