Helsingborgs Djurpark
The Zoo in Helsingborg

The Zoo in Helsingborg
This private zoo originally started as a personal bird collection many years ago. It opened to the public in 2001 as "Fågelparken" (The Bird Park), and at that time only kept birds.

As we know, bird parks tend to struggle today, especially in Sweden where interest in birds seems fairly low. That likely played a role in the park expanding with more mammals and rebranding as Helsingborgs Djurpark. Even so, it's still very obvious that this began as a bird park. Birds make up the majority of the collection, including both common and rarer species.

From a species collector perspective, this is where the park really stands out. The collection has included some quite rare species over the years, particularly among parrots and Estrildidae. To me, this is the most interesting public bird collection in Sweden, especially if you're looking for unusual species.

It's a fairly small park, but the layout is pleasant. Very green and cozy, with a forest-like atmosphere. Small aviaries, buildings, ponds, and enclosures are spread along a winding path, which makes it nice to walk through. Parts of the park feel a bit dated, especially the tropical house, but the collection more than makes up for it.

If you're into birds, this is absolutely worth a visit if you're in the area. It may not be the biggest zoo in Sweden, but if you're interested in bird species, especially the less common ones, I don't think there's a better place to visit.