Fauna in Lisbon
In Lisbon, we can find an interesting variety of fauna, although many of the species are adapted to the urban environment. Some of the most common animals in the city include pigeons, seagulls, sparrows and doves.
Autochthonous wild fauna is protected by law for the sake of its conservation, and private individuals are prohibited from keeping these animals or disturbing them.
Birds are the most representative group of fauna among vertebrates. However, the most numerous group is the invertebrates, which include insects, arachnids and worms.
Assistance and recovery
Generally adapted to life in an urban environment, wildlife here faces increased risks that can lead to the need for intervention and referral to a wildlife recovery center.
Weakened, sick, injured or illegally captive wild animals are received at the Wild Animal Recovery Center, where their rehabilitation is promoted with a view to their reintegration into the wild.
Main species
In built-up areas: swallow | barn owl | spotted starling | common sparrow | rock pigeon.
In parks, gardens and wastelands: white-winged warbler | wren | decoy | blackbird | collared parakeet | goldfinch | red-breasted robin.
In forest areas, such as Monsanto and other forests: black tit | great tit | black starling | jay | barn owl | partridge | common finch.
Along the banks of the Tagus River: dwarf tern | white-faced cormorant | great tern | common tern | mallard | black tern | sanderling | heron | stork.
This is the most abundant group and the one with the greatest number of species: butterflies | bees | dragonflies | ladybugs | ants | beetles | cockroaches | grasshoppers | earthworms | crickets | cicadas | tailors | spiders | earwigs | coffee plants | centipedes.
In the Monsanto Forest Park and other forests there are traces of: wild rabbit | field mouse | shrew | mole | red squirrel | hedgehog | mongoose | gineta | fox.
The Tagus River is home to fish such as: eel | taínha | bass | xarroco.
In some garden ponds it is common to find: redfish | pimpernel | carp | gambussia | barramundi.
Lizards, frogs and geckos can be found all over the city. Others, such as sardines, snakes, frogs, terrapins and salamanders, can only be found in Monsanto and other forests or parks.