Seasonal calendar · Germany
From white-tailed eagles on the Baltic coast to chamois in the Alps: this is the year in German nature, month by month. For each month you can also see what is in season in the kitchen, from Christmas carp to Matjes herring.
Germany is a big country: in the Alps the seasons run weeks behind the northern lowlands. Check the weather and snow before you travel.
Winter
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| December | Grey seals give birth on the Düne of Helgoland; chamois rut in the Alps | Christmas carp (Weihnachtskarpfen) and the Christmas goose |
| January | Wolf mating season; the white-tailed eagle starts its display | Carp and zander |
| February | Lynx mating season; white-tailed eagles are already nesting | Carp, still into spring |
Spring
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| March | Cranes fly back north; the black woodpecker drums | Whitefish (Felchen) from Lake Constance |
| April | Capercaillie display in the Black Forest and the Bavarian Forest; marmots wake up in the Alps | Whitefish and trout |
| May | Roe deer fawns lie hidden in the grass; the first chamois kids | Whitefish and zander |
Summer
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| June | Ibex kids in the Alps; raccoons have young | Start of Matjes season: young herring |
| July | Roe deer rut; rock ptarmigan chicks | Tench and whitefish |
| August | The roe deer rut continues; the mountain hare wears its brown summer coat | Matjes, tench and wels catfish |
Autumn
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| September | Start of the red deer rut; the first cranes arrive | Start of the carp season in Franconia and the Upper Palatinate; game |
| October | Peak of the crane migration, from Diepholz to Rügen; fish ponds are drained and harvested; mouflon rut | Roe deer, venison and wild boar with red cabbage |
| November | Fallow deer and chamois rut; the first seal pups on Helgoland | St Martin’s goose on 11 November |
Out and about: read where to go crane watching in Germany in autumn, and where to see bearded vultures, chamois and marmots in Berchtesgaden.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the seasons in Germany
When can you see cranes in Germany?
In autumn, from September into November, peaking in October. In spring they fly back in February and March. Read where in our guide to crane watching in Germany.
When is carp season in Germany?
Traditionally in the months with an r, from September to April. The highlight is the Christmas carp.
When can you see seal pups on Helgoland?
Grey seals give birth from about late November to January on the beach of the Düne. Always keep at least 30 metres away.
Other countries: The Netherlands · Belgium · France · Spain. Or see the general seasonal calendar and all animals in Germany.
