Birds

Buitre en vueloThe Sierra de Guadarrama National Park and its Peripheral Protection Zone host 135 avian species having a regular presence sometime in the year, whether they are summer, wintering or standing species. The preservation actions on this fauna group have been noticeable particularly from the approval of the 79/409/EEC Directive on the conservation of wild birds and their habitats. Without this directive, the wide diversity of species living in the National Park and its Peripheral Protection Zone would not have been acknowledged.

The Directive and its implementation in Spain have resulted in the creation of a number of “Birds Special Protection Areas” (SPAs), which sole aim is to preserve the classified bird populations and their habitats. In the National Park and its Peripheral Protection Zone; this status protects a surface over 52.589 ha; 44.723 ha belong to the Sierra de Guadarrama SPA -ES0000010, in the province of Segovia, and 7.866 ha belong to the Alto Lozoya SPA -ES0000057, in the province of Madrid.

The first striking topic is the existence of many avian species whose habitat is linked to mountain areas. They are species reproducing in mountain zones and nesting rarely in foothill areas, whether because of their northerly origin or because they need non-degraded habitats. We can mention the Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris), the Hedge Accentor (Prunella modularis), the Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), the Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi), the European Honey Buzzard (Perins apivorus), the White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), the Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), the Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) or the Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella), as the most representative ones.

The so-called “umbrella species” are another noticeable protected bird class in the National Park area. These are the species whose protection indirectly protects the many other ones living in their habitat. They use to be easily monitored, since they have a large body size and need wide land extensions as to reach viable populations. The Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus), the Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the Red Kite (Milvus milvus), or the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) are some of the most relevant. Monitoring these species can also help to assess the conservation status of their habitat.

Overall, it can be assumed the bird species nesting in the Sierra de Guadarrama widest variety is reached between 800m and 1.500m height.

Down below, a brief outline on the most relevant National Park bird species is shown:

{tab Some birds living in the National Park}

Buitres negrosThe Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) is the largest wingspan bird living in Europe (almost 3 m from wing end to end). It is particularly noticeable amongst the raptors birds group because of its abundant presence in the area, being one of the National Park species with greater protection needs, as a result of its threat status on a global scale. The National Park Black Vulture population is the greater nesting colony in the Peninsula central area and an important core for the species conservation. Despite last decades recovery, it remains a threatened specie, classified as extinction danger status at the Community of Madrid level, and country wide as vulnerable status.  It is also mentioned in the Birds Directive Annex I.

This specie has some particular features, as a long reproductive cycle, which lasts from the end of December, when the mating season begins, until the end of September, when nesting period concludes. The Black Vulture colony living in the National Park, has increased significantly in recent years, further to management decisions and to the intensive monitoring activity held at both slopes of the Sierra.


Águila imperialThe Iberian Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) is a great size raptor bird. The adult specimens are dark brown, with whitish shoulders. It is one of the endemism to the Iberian Peninsula living in the National Park, and one of the most threatened birds in our fauna, remaining under a country wide extinction danger status. Likewise, the specie is mentioned in the Birds Directive Annex I.

It lives in the peninsular center and south western areas, basically in mountains with great extensions of Mediterranean forest, though in the National Park, its habitat are the wild pine groves. There are nesting zones in both slopes of the Sierra, but there is just one breeding pair in the Madrid side.


 

Acentor alpinoThe Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris), is a sturdy and compact bird, with a bigger size than the Hedge Accentor. It shows brown-blackish upper parts, with a red head, a slate grey breast and reddish white listed flanks and belly.

This bird is adapted to high mountain living conditions, and it is virtually the only which can be observed in winter time in the National Park summits. It uses approaching inhabited areas and it is very confident in human presence. The specie is classified under special interest status only at the Community of Madrid level.


 

Bandada de chovasThe Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax): this species lives the rocky areas in the National Park summits, and can be observed in summer, in Peñalara, Los Claveles or La Maliciosa ridges.

It forms great groups with more than 200 specimens. The specie is classified as special interest status at the Community of Madrid level, and it is mentioned in the Birds Directive Annex I.

{tab Birds table and Protection status}

Common nameSpeciesNotes
Carmine Bee-eater Merops apiaster Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Native
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level.
Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis Native
Short-toed Tree-Creeper Certhia brachydactyla Native
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Short-toed Snake-Eagle Circaetus gallicus Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Iberian Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti Native, iberian endemism and country wide classified as extinction risk status
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Native and classified as vulnerable to habitat alterations status at the Community of Madrid level
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus Native and country wide classified as vulnerable status (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator Native
Dorsirrojo Shrike  Lanius collurio Native
Great Gray Shrike Lanius excubitor Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Native
Gadwall Anas strepera Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Native
Eurasian Scops-Owl Otus scops Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Northern House-Martin Delichon urbica Native
Eurasian Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Native
Pale Martin Riparia Riparia Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Native
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Native
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris Native
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Native
Long-eared Owl Asio otus Native
Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Black Vulture Aegypius monachus Native, classified as extinction risk status in the Community of Madrid and country wide as vulnerable status
Tawny Owl Strix aluco Native
Eurasian Great Tit Parus major Native
Coal Tit Parus ater Native
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Native
Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Native
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Red-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus ruficollis Native
Eurasian Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Native
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
White Stork Ciconia ciconia Native, classified as vulnerable status at the Community of Madrid level (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Black Stork Ciconia nigra Native, classified as extinction risk status at the Community of Madrid level and country wide as vulnerable status (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Quail Coturnix coturnix Native
Maghreb Lark Galerida cristata Native
Thekla Lark Galerida theklae Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Native
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Native
Western Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica Native
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Carrion Crox Corvus corone Native
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Native
Common Raven Corvux corax Native
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla Native
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Native
Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata Native
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis Native
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana Native
Rock Bunting Emberiza cia Native
Cirl Bunging Emberiza cirlus Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor Native
Common Coot Fulica atra Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Native
Lesser Striated Swallow Hirundo daurica Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia Native
House Sparrow Passer domesticus Native
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Native
Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula Native
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Native, classified as vulnerable status at the Community of Madrid level
Crested Tit Parus cristatus Native
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus Native
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Native
White-backed Wagtail Motacilla alba Native
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Native
Barn Owl Tyto alba Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Black-eared Kite Milvus migrans Native
Cape Verde Kite Milvus milvus Native, classified as vulnerable status at the Community of Madrid level and country wide as extinction risk status
White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Native
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Native
Little Owl Athene noctua Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Native
Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli Native
Eurasian Golden-Oriole Oriolus oriolus Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Rock pigeon Columba livia Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus Native
Stock Pigeon Columba oenas Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Native
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Native
Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa Native
European Robin Erithacus rubecula Native
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Native
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Native
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Native
Eurasian Green Woodpecker Picus viridis Native
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Iberian Magpie Cyanopica cooki Native, iberian endemism
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Native
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus Native
Goldcrest Regulus regulus Native
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush Monticola saxatilis Native
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola soIitarius Native
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Native
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
European Stonechat Saxicola torquata Native
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Native
Syke's Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
European Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Wood Lark Lullula arborea Native
Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta europaea Native
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra Native
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Native
Common Swift Apus apus Native
European Serin Serinus serinus Native
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Citril Finch Serinus citrinella Native, classified as specie of interest status at the Community of Madrid level
Tricolored Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)
Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta Native
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus Native
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos Native (only in Peripheral Protection Zone)

The table only includes breeding birds in the Sierra de Guadarrama. In addition to these, there are some other migratory species living in the environment at a time of the year, but not breeding in the area.

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