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Sicily Information Sicily is one of the most varied, multicoloured, legendary and fascinating region of Europe. A universe to discover at every corner with its rocky and sandy coast, its dunes and its coastal and inland wetlands. The mountains, the woodlands and the crystal sea where, thanks to one of the mildest climes in Europe, is it still possible to swim outside the summer season. Many endemics are found in its fauna and flora. The list of birds recorded in Sicily (notwithstanding the low number of birdwatchers) is one of the largest of every other single European region. A total of 410 species have in fact been recorded up to the present day (a check-list is available on request), more than in many European nations. Further to this, many interesting and distinctive races are observable. Three of these are surely good species for seperation and may soon be split: The Sicilian Rock Partridge, the Sicilian Long-tailed Tit and the Sicilian Marsh Tit. Sicily offers possibilities of observing many birds rarely encountered elsewhere in Europe or even the world. This is the case with European Lanner (Falco biarmicus feldegii), a beautiful and distinctive bird found on the list of few birders. For gulls, in winter and early spring, Sicily has some of the most important sites including one of the biggest concentrations of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (of every race) in the Mediterranean, as well as Caspian and the rare Great Black-headed Gull (regular in Europe only in Sicily). Another pearl of the Sicilian avifauna is Richard's Pipit, regularly wintering in Italy only in Eastern Sicily (and in Europe in only a handful of sites). In general, in a single day is it possible to observe between 80 to 190 species of birds. In a week, 160 to 230! Apart from birds, many other animals live in the region. For example, the insects are very interesting with many endemic species, and in particular butterflies and coleopterans which are especially numerous and beautiful. Concerning the flora, and of international interest, are the marvellous orchids flowering in different periods of the year that attract experts from several European countries.
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