Mediterranean biodiversity:

“Big 5” of species in Andalusia

Andalusian biodiversity… Many species to discover. In each section, you will find species to discover in our region.

“Big 5” Common mediterranean birds

Birdwatching in the Mediterranean region offers a diverse avifauna and stunning landscapes. Some common species are among the most attractive for their shape, colouration and behaviours. Andalusia is no exception: the Iberian magpie is endemic from Spain and Portugal and common in Doñana and Sierra Morena. Beginner’s checklist of birds of Andalusia.

Iberian Magpie

“Big 5” Common mediterranean orchids

Orchids in Andalusia can be best spotted in Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de las Nieves, mountains with bedrock of limestone and milder climate. Bee orchids such as Yellow, Mirror and Sawfly bee orchids are especially abundant in meadows and small grassy patches. Check our illustrated guide of Andalusian wild orchids to discover the 10 species within the genus Ophrys.

Orchis homme-nu

“Big 5” Raptors of Southern Europe

Not only Spain harbours among the highest densities of birds of prey in Europe, its mountains and mediterranean forests hosts populations of rare and threatened species. Spanish imperial eagle is definitively a Big 5, on the brink extinction in the 80′, this iconic raptor is nowadays recovering in Sierra Morena. Cinereous and Bearded vultures are thriving in Iberia like in no other territory.

Black-shouldered kite

“Big 5” Amphibians endemic to Spain

The Iberian Peninsula is highly isolated by the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean sea. As a consequence, in terrestrial groups with limited mobility such as the amphibians, a high rate of endemicity can be observed. Nearly all Andalusian amphibians are restcited to Spain and Portugal, a few species with a narrow distribution such as the Penibetic salamander and the Betic midwife toad.

Iberian painted frog

“Big 5” Southern species of mammals

The fauna of southern Spain typically presents abundant populations of large herbivores and diverse medium-size carnivores. The Iberian lynx is the “Big 5” mammal without a doubt. Otter and the Egyptian mongoose also are attractive species which can bee seen with a bit of luck. No many European regions present such interest to the wildlife observer.

Cabrera’s vole

“Big 5” Doñana waterfowl and waterbirds

Red-knobbed coot

“Big 5” Reptiles in Andalusia

It is no exaggeration to state that Spain has the highest diversity of reptiles in Europe. Cold blooded animals are favoured by the Mediterranean climate and its geographical position originates endemics such as Spanish algyroides and Iberian Worm Lizard. Identification is generally straightforward, but small lizards of the genus Podarcis has been recently split and require close examination of specimens pictures.

Lataste’s viper

“Big 5” Rare Andalusian orchids

Among the sixty or so orchids present in Andalusia (2/3 of the Spanish inventory), a few species are extremelly rare and restricted to habitats of little extent: borders of mountain streams, wet grasslands, temperate woodlands. Green butterfly-orchid, Gennaria and Cazorla orchids are rarities of special beauty and difficult to locate in the field.

Gennaria

“Big 5” Marine fauna of the Strait of Gibraltar

For wildlife observers, some parts of the Andalusian coast are more attractive: the Gibraltar Strait, Doñana beaches, Punta de Calaburras, Punta Entinas or Cabo de Gata. Marine birds, cetacean, sea turtles and some fish like tuna, flying-fish or moonfish are visible without diving, with telescopes from the coast line. 100% of Balearic shearwaters cross the Strait twice a year, alternating their breeding in the Mediterranean with wintering in the NW Atlantic.

Blue flyingfish

“Big 5” Iberian steppe birds

In Europe, the most threatened birds, as a group, are the farmland/steppes specialists, which habitat suffers heavily from the industrialization of agriculture. The largest populations of steppic birds are still located in Spain with its immense extents of plains and wheat fields. Bustards, sandgrouses, rollers and other farmland birds are every year more scattered and rare, missing real conservation programs for their recovery.

European roller

“Big 5” Rare birds in Europe

About sixty species of regular and non vagrant birds present in Andalusia are extremely rare at the European scale. Either they are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and can only be seen in this territory ; Either Spanish populations are the most important ones in the continent by far ; Either they are African species making their way throrought Andalusia. For this reason, Spain is considered a paradise for birdwatchers with many targets to look at anywhere. Of course, Andalusia is the most visited region by wildlife observers.

Black-eared wheatear

Common bulbul

A few remarkable plant species

Cork oak

Outstanding invertebrates and insects

Iberian spoonwing

“Big 5” Common Mediterranean birds

Purple swamp-hen

Birdwatching in the Mediterranean region offers a diverse avifauna and stunning landscapes. Some common species are among the most attractive for their shape, colouration and behaviours. Andalusia is no exception: the Iberian magpie is endemic from Spain and Portugal and common in Doñana and Sierra Morena. Beginner’s checklist of birds of Andalusia.

“Big 5” Common Mediterranean orchids

Sawfly orchid

Orchids in Andalusia can be best spotted in Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de las Nieves, mountains with bedrock of limestone and milder climate. Bee orchids such as Yellow, Mirror and Sawfly bee orchids are especially abundant in meadows and small grassy patches. Check our illustrated guide of Andalusian wild orchids to discover the 10 species within the genus Ophrys.

“Big 5” Raptors of Southern Europe

Bearded vulture

Not only Spain harbours among the highest densities of birds of prey in Europe, its mountains and mediterranean forests hosts populations of rare and threatened species. Spanish imperial eagle is definitively a Big 5, on the brink extinction in the 80′, this iconic raptor is nowadays recovering in Sierra Morena. Cinereous and Bearded vultures are thriving in Iberia like in no other territory.

“Big 5” Amphibians endemic to Spain

Betic midwife toad

The Iberian Peninsula is highly isolated by the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean sea. As a consequence, in terrestrial groups with limited mobility such as the amphibians, a high rate of endemicity can be observed. Nearly all Andalusian amphibians are restcited to Spain and Portugal, a few species with a narrow distribution such as the Penibetic salamander and the Betic midwife toad (habitat).

“Big 5” Southern species of mammals

Egyptian mongoose

The fauna of southern Spain typically presents abundant populations of large herbivores and diverse medium-size carnivores. The Iberian lynx is the “Big 5” mammal without a doubt. Otter and the Egyptian mongoose also are attractive species which can bee seen with a bit of luck. No many European regions present such interest to the wildlife observer.

“Big 5” Doñana waterfowl and waterbirds

Marbled teal

“Big 5” Reptiles in Andalusia

Common wall gecko

It is no exaggeration to state that Spain has the highest diversity of reptiles in Europe. Cold blooded animals are favoured by the Mediterranean climate and its geographical position originates endemics such as Spanish algyroides and Iberian Worm Lizard. Identification is generally straightforward, but small lizards of the genus Podarcis has been recently split and require close examination of specimens pictures.

“Big 5” Rare Andalusian orchids

Cazorla orchid

Among the sixty or so orchids present in Andalusia (2/3 of the Spanish inventory), a few species are extremelly rare and restricted to habitats of little extent: borders of mountain streams, wet grasslands, temperate woodlands. Green butterfly-orchid, Gennaria and Cazorla orchids are rarities of special beauty and difficult to locate in the field.

“Big 5” Marine fauna of the Strait of Gibraltar

Balearic shearwater

For wildlife observers, some parts of the Andalusian coast are more attractive: the Gibraltar Strait, Doñana beaches, Punta de Calaburras, Punta Entinas or Cabo de Gata. Marine birds, cetacean, sea turtles and some fish like tuna, flying-fish or moonfish are visible without diving, with telescopes from the coast line. 100% of Balearic shearwaters cross the Strait twice a year, alternating their breeding in the Mediterranean with wintering in the NW Atlantic.

“Big 5” Iberian steppe birds

Pin-tailed sandgrouse

In Europe, the most threatened birds, as a group, are the farmland/steppes specialists, which habitat suffers heavily from the industrialization of agriculture. The largest populations of steppic birds are still located in Spain with its immense extents of plains and wheat fields. Bustards, sandgrouses, rollers and other farmland birds are every year more scattered and rare, missing real conservation programs for their recovery.

“Big 5” Rare birds in Europe

Rufous-tailed scrub robin

About sixty species of regular and non vagrant birds present in Andalusia are extremely rare at the European scale. Either they are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and can only be seen in this territory ; Either Spanish populations are the most important ones in the continent by far ; Either they are African species making their way throrought Andalusia. For this reason, Spain is considered a paradise for birdwatchers with many targets to look at anywhere. Of course, Andalusia is the most visited region by wildlife observers.

Glossy ibis

A few remarkable plant species

Moorish sundew

Outstanding invertebrates and insects

Stone-grasshoppers

Our G3-guides of vertebrates in Andalusia

Introduction to invertebrates in southern Spain

Our G3-guides of vertebrates in Andalusia

Introduction to invertebrates in southern Spain