Dehesa (wood pasture) is mainly dominated by holm oaks and cork oaks, although at higher altitudes also by Pyrenean and Portuguese oaks. It is the most representative landscape of Extremadura, occupying 35% of the surface area. Dehesas result from the progressive clearing of Mediterranean forest by people, who through periodic pruning and clearing have managed to create a complex and sustainable ecosystem.
In dehesas with a high density of trees, the birds are typically forest birds: Eurasian Hoopoe, European Turtle Dove, Iberian Green Woodpecker, European Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Chaffinch, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Western Orphean Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Iberian Magpie, Common Rock and Spanish Sparrows, European Greenfinch… to which can be added Woodlark and Sardinian, Western Subalpine and Dartford Warblers where scrubby habitat remains. As the density of trees decreases, other species appear, such as Thekla Lark, European Stonechat, Corn Bunting, and even Stone Curlew. In winter, Common Crane and Common Wood Pigeon, attracted by the abundance of acorns, arrive in large flocks. Northern Lapwing, White Wagtail, European Robin, Black Redstart, Song Thrush and Redwing. Common Chiffchaff and Eurasian Bullfinch also appear. It is also the breeding habitat of birds of prey such as Black-winged Kite, Black Kite, Common Buzzard, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, and others such as the Spanish Imperial and Bonelli’s Eagles, and carrion feeders such as Griffon, Cinereous and Egyptian Vultures come in search of food.
The most representative SPAs of this type of habitat are: Embalse de Cornalvo and Sierra Bermeja; Dehesas de Jerez; Vegas del Ruecas, Cubilar and Moheda Alta; Monfragüe and the surrounding Dehesas; Puerto Peña and Sierra de los Golondrinos; Sierra de la Moraleja and Piedra Santa, Sierra de Siruela and Sierra de Hornachos.
