Many of the Extremaduran mountain ranges are crowned by large quartzite rocks, which emerge above the dense vegetation of the Mediterranean forest or dehesas. These crags are often inaccessible, with a dense barrier of vegetation on the slopes below them and are chosen by birds as nesting areas, safe from human disturbances or their natural predators.
Among the typical breeding birds of the rocky areas are threatened birds of prey such as the Griffon Vulture, which usually forms typically large colonies such as those in Monfragüe, which have more than 500 breeding pairs. Other species include Egyptian Vulture, Bonelli’s and Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, Common Kestrel and Eagle Owl. More than 40% of the Black Stork population breeds on cliffs rather than large trees. This habitat is also key for other species such as Crag Martin, Alpine and White-rumped Swifts, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrush, Common Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting, Western Jackdaw, Common Raven and Red-billed Chough. In winter, in mid- and high-altitude mountains, you can find Alpine Accentor and very exceptionally Wallcreeper.
The best rocky areas to see birds are found in the following SPAs: Monfragüe and the surrounding Dehesas, Orellana Reservoir and Sierra de Pela, Sierra de Villuercas and Guadarranque Valley, Canchos de Ramiro and Ladronera, La Serena and surrounding Sierras, Sierras de Peñalsordo and Capilla, Sierra de la Moraleja, Sierra de Hornachos and the Central Sierras and Alange Reservoir.
