Hortobágy National Park, in eastern Hungary, protects the largest continuous natural grassland in central Europe, the puszta, along with fishponds and marshes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Hungary’s first national park. Every autumn, huge numbers of common cranes gather here on their way from Scandinavia and Russia to southern Europe and North Africa, in one of Europe’s great bird spectacles.
At a glance
| Best time | October (peak crane numbers); May to June for breeding birds |
| Getting there | About 2.5 hours by road from Budapest; near Debrecen |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 days |
| Big draws | Common cranes, great bustards, red-footed falcons, grasslands |
| Good for | Birders, photographers |
The crane migration
- From September to November, tens of thousands of common cranes stop at Hortobágy. Peak counts in recent years have exceeded 100,000 birds in October.
- Cranes feed in fields by day and fly in to roost in shallow fishponds and marshes at dusk, calling loudly in long V formations. See our red-crowned crane profile for a related species.
- The dusk flight is best watched from observation towers and hides; local guides know the current roosts.
- The Hortobágy Crane Festival is held in October.
Other birds
- Great bustards: a small population on the grasslands. See our great bustard profile.
- Red-footed falcons: breed in nest boxes in tree lines in summer.
- Eastern imperial eagles, saker falcons and white-tailed eagles.
- Waterbirds: pygmy cormorants, spoonbills, herons and many waders at the fishponds.
- Aquatic warbler and bluethroat in the marshes; European rollers and bee-eaters in summer.
The puszta
The grasslands are grazed by traditional Hungarian breeds: grey cattle with lyre-shaped horns, racka sheep with spiral horns, water buffalo and horses. Herders (csikós) perform horse shows at the Hortobágy village. A Przewalski’s horse population lives in the Pentezug reserve.
When to go
- Late September to November: cranes, with the peak in October.
- April to June: breeding season, great bustard displays, red-footed falcons.
- Winter: white-tailed eagles, rough-legged buzzards, long-tailed ducks.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see cranes at Hortobágy? October, when numbers peak.
How many cranes visit Hortobágy? Counts in October have exceeded 100,000 in recent years.
Where should I watch the cranes? At dusk from towers overlooking the roosting fishponds; ask the park visitor centre or a local guide.
Can I see Przewalski’s horses at Hortobágy? Yes, in the Pentezug reserve, with guided visits.
Related guides
- Sandhill crane migration on the Platte River
- Birding in Extremadura and Monfragüe
- Danube Delta birding guide
- Animal profiles: Great bustard, Przewalski’s horse, White stork
Cover photo: Frank Paul Silye, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons