Both mountains are protected Natura 2000 areas and Important Bird Areas, and both lie on major migration routes. Taygetos has over 100 species, about half of them seasonal visitors – among them golden, booted and short-toed eagles, honey buzzards, goshawks and alpine birds such as the alpine accentor and wallcreeper.
Parnon is even richer, with at least 249 species, 80 of them needing special protection, including the black stork, imperial eagle and pallid harrier. The Moustos wetland on the coast is an important resting place for migrating birds. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.