Wildlife to see in Italy in December
4 spectacles at their peak in Italy in December, and 4 more still going on. Wild animals only: no zoos, no wildlife parks, no hunting. Open Italy in December in the interactive calendar for listening times on the day you pick.
At their peak in December
Eagle owl winter callingDeep 'oo-hu' territorial hoots from cliffs, sometimes in male–female duet, echoing off rock.
Starling murmurations in RomeMillions of starlings wheeling over the Tiber and EUR, then a massive chattering roar in the city trees against traffic and bells.
Winter wetlands: geese, ducks & cranesGoose flights at dawn, whistling wigeon rafts, cranes bugling as they pass north in late winter.
Chamois & ibex rutSnorts and whistles, horn clashes echoing off cliffs, and the stillness of snowy valleys.
Also going on in December
Wolf howlingChorus howls from family packs, including pups' high wavering howls, answering from across a valley.
Flamingo colonies & courtshipGoose-like gabbling of big flocks, and the synchronised 'marching' displays with a constant honking.
Golden jackal choruses on the KarstRising yelping group howls — faster and higher than wolves — answered by neighbouring families across the limestone plateau; the densest population in Italy.
Griffon vultures of the Bosa coast, SardiniaMostly visual: Italy's largest griffon colony riding the updraughts of volcanic sea cliffs. Sound is the Mediterranean swell under the cliffs, the wing-rush of birds passing close, hissing at the ledges, blue rock thrush and, in summer, Eleonora's falcons chattering along the coast.