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Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, the Kizilirmak Delta in Samsun serves as a critical stopover and breeding ground for hundreds of migratory bird species each spring, drawing nature enthusiasts from across Türkiye and abroad.
Among the first small passerines to appear as temperatures rise, the wagtail signals the start of spring migration season across the delta's open fields and wetland edges.
The species is a common early-season arrival, frequenting the delta's agricultural margins and open grasslands as it passes through on its northward migration route.
The hoopoe is among the more recognizable species to return to the delta each spring, using its long, curved bill to probe the ground for insects.
A black-necked grebe moves through a bloom of white aquatic flowers on one of the delta's shallow lakes.
The species transitions into its breeding plumage during spring, with the vivid red eye and dark neck becoming more pronounced as the season advances across the wetland.
One of the delta's year-round residents, the heron occupies shallow water zones where it hunts fish and amphibians — habitat that expands significantly as spring floodwaters recede.
Storks are among the most visible large migrants to pass through and nest in the region each spring, with the delta's wetlands and surrounding farmland providing essential foraging territory during the breeding season.
Cranes use the delta as a staging ground during their northward migration, gathering in open fields to feed before continuing their journey.
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