🐦Wildlife & nature

Best Birdwatching Destinations in 2026

By WanderTourScore EditorialPublished 22 March 2026Last updated 22 March 2026

We scored 25 countries for birdwatching potential using IUCN threatened bird species counts, which work as a proxy for avian diversity and endemism, along with natural landscape quality, climate comfort, and accessibility. The top destinations span tropical countries, island nations, and a few less obvious picks that experienced birders already know well.

#	Country	Score	🐦 Birdwatching	🌿 Natural Beauty	🛡️ Safety
1	🇧🇳BruneiSouth-Eastern Asia	86	89	100	64
2	🇰🇭CambodiaSouth-Eastern Asia	78	75	88	60
3	🇧🇹BhutanSouthern Asia	78	72	100	65
4	🇪🇨EcuadorSouth America	77	92	69	26
5	🇭🇰Hong KongEastern Asia	77	75	100	81
6	🇳🇿New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand	75	86	76	74
7	🇰🇷South KoreaEastern Asia	74	86	66	79
8	🇨🇷Costa RicaCentral America	74	79	80	38
9	🇯🇵JapanEastern Asia	74	74	84	87
10	🇳🇵NepalSouthern Asia	74	82	63	58
11	🇲🇾MalaysiaSouth-Eastern Asia	74	83	58	77
12	🇸🇨SeychellesEastern Africa	72	64	100	22
13	🇵🇦PanamaCentral America	72	72	84	33
14	🇧🇬BulgariaSoutheast Europe	72	69	84	71
15	🇭🇷CroatiaSoutheast Europe	71	68	81	78
16	🇸🇮SloveniaCentral Europe	71	60	100	81
17	🇵🇪PeruSouth America	71	70	71	33
18	🇵🇭PhilippinesSouth-Eastern Asia	71	90	40	44
19	🇱🇦LaosSouth-Eastern Asia	71	70	68	68
20	🇬🇷GreeceSouthern Europe	70	68	73	73
21	🇮🇩IndonesiaSouth-Eastern Asia	70	77	50	77
22	🇹🇭ThailandSouth-Eastern Asia	69	76	53	56
23	🇸🇳SenegalWestern Africa	69	67	67	60
24	🇩🇴Dominican RepublicCaribbean	68	70	70	34
25	🇱🇰Sri LankaSouthern Asia	68	65	68	50

Methodology

Rankings are computed from real-world open data sources including the Global Peace Index, World Bank (intentional homicides as a civilian-safety signal, WGI political stability, PPP-based price level affordability, protected areas, forest cover, international tourism receipts, and IUCN threatened species counts), US State Department travel advisory levels, UNDP (Human Development Index, Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, and Planetary Pressures-adjusted HDI), ILGA-style legal protections plus TGEU/Transrespect anti-violence reporting for LGBTQ+ traveler scoring, Open-Meteo (climate normals), UNESCO (heritage sites and gastronomy-city recognitions), Wikidata (distinguished restaurant counts and winter-sports results), and OpenStreetMap (restaurant density, cuisine diversity, and luxury hotel counts). Countries with a Level 3+ US State Department travel advisory are excluded. Learn more about our methodology on the About page.

Data current as of May 2026 and may change. Rankings are generated algorithmically from publicly available datasets and are not a substitute for independent research. Do not rely solely on this information when making travel decisions. Always verify conditions with official government sources. Terms of Use · About our data